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An Empirical Investigation of Afghanistan���s Organizational Culture
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine Afghanistan culture using Geert Hofstede's Value Survey Module (VSM-2013). This research aimed to uncover and interpret the VSM profiles for Afghanistan, particularly focusing on differences across gender, ethnicities, languages, and religions in relation to Hofstede���s six cultural dimensions: power distance (PD), individualism���collectivism (IC), masculinity���femininity (MF), uncertainty avoidance (UA), long-term���short-term orientation (LSO), and indulgence���restraint (IR). Survey data were collected from 2,071 students across 15 universities in five provinces ���Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Balkh, and Nangarhar. After ensuring the reliability and validity of the data, the study employed two main analytical techniques: Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to explore cultural variances across groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, language, and religion) and Hofstede���s Classic VSM-2013 technique to compute VSM indices for Afghanistan as well as those groups. The results revealed insightful distinctions and similarities in cultural dimensions among Afghan men and women, as well as across various ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. The study's findings are particularly valuable for addressing the need for empirical evidence on Afghanistan���s national culture. Understanding these cultural contexts is critical for the effective management of human resources in Afghanistan
Machine Learning for Design Space Exploration
No full textDesign space exploration is a crucial, yet time-intensive aspect of the silicon design lifecycle. With the increasing focus on domain-specific architectures, companies are engaged in evaluating, developing, and verifying a growing number of designs [1]. Performance architects face the challenge of identifying the optimal design within an ever-expanding design space, compounded by the complexity of modern microarchitecture designs. Architects perform design space exploration (DSE) after the microarchitecture has been finalized. DSE typically entails utilizing a scatter approach, where architects explore different configurations of parameters believed to return optimal performance numbers. This is guided by their intuition, borne out of extensive experience in the field from having designed numerous processors. Alternatively, they may perform parameter sweeps, fixing certain values, while experimenting with a subset of parameters to observe the outcomes. Architects must optimize for a wide suite of workloads, including SPEC [2], where each benchmark exhibits a unique program structure and flow, leading to an exponential design space. Additionally, cycle accurate simulators such as ChampSim [3], although faster than EDA flows and RTL models, can still take hours to run a configuration over many benchmarks. Another key issue of any simulation is the serial nature of how processors work, with running simulations, either a RTL or a C/C++ model, requires a serial processing of the instructions to simulate on the hardware. The combination of time consuming simulations with a large number of workloads makes design space exploration a costly and time consuming process.
Design space exploration in microprocessor design is an ideal candidate for the application of machine learning, considering the lengthy simulation times and the complexity of the optimization problem at hand. The rise of machine learning presents an opportunity to apply these optimization and techniques towards design space exploration. These techniques aim to teach models to find correlations through training on large amounts of data. This not only assists less experienced individuals in finding optimal solutions but also complements the expertise of seasoned architects. The proposed work aims to explore the use of machine learning for simulation predictions to shorten the total simulation time. The results can then be used to train optimization algorithms to find an optimal configuration within a design space exploration
Are Open Contacts Associated with Peri-implant Disease?
No full textAims: This study was conducted to determine if open contacts are associated with peri-implant disease. Also, possible associations concerning the width of an open contact as they relate to disease and food impaction were evaluated.
Material and Methods: A clinical exam was performed including: probing depths, interproximal contact status (open vs. closed), microbial sampling from 16 implants, report or observation of food impaction, and review of existing radiographs. This information was used to determine the implant diagnosis. The microbial samples were studied using qPCR. Spearmann���s correlation test was performed to determine whether any associations around the desired variables could be found.
Results: 44 (22 open contacts/ 22 closed contacts) sequential implants in 25 patients were evaluated in the Texas A&M School of Dentistry���s dental clinics. The prevalence of peri-implant mucositis was 22.7%, and the prevalence of peri-implantitis was 11.4%. No statistically significant associations were found between open contacts and peri-implant health status or rate of food impaction. No statistically significant association was found between food impaction and rates of peri-implant disease as well. The width of an open contact also did not impact the health status of the implants or the rates of food impaction. However, peri-implant disease was associated with elevated levels of Peptostreptococcus micros. Also, there was a positive association between the number of Capnocytophaga species bacteria present and the increased width of open contact.
Conclusions: Within the confines of this study open contacts around dental implants are not associated with peri-implant disease. There is a noted increase of Peptostreptococcus micros around diseased dental implants. More research is necessary to corroborate these findings
An Exploration of Theoretical and Methodological Typologies of Faith-Based Health Interventions
No full textChronic diseases and conditions continue to pose a significant public health challenge in the United States, affecting a large portion of the population. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors contribute significantly to chronic disease development, emphasizing the need for effective multi-level health promotion and prevention strategies. Faith communities have emerged as key community partners in addressing health disparities and promoting public health initiatives, particularly concerning chronic diseases. However, despite their commendable efforts, there needs to be more clarity and standardization in defining and operationalizing faith-based health interventions. This conceptual ambiguity hinders the development of evidence-based interventions and limits their effectiveness. This study aims to address the need for more clarity within faith-based health interventions (FBHIs) pertaining to 1) definitions and operationalization, 2) intervention typologies, and 3) conceptual frameworks, guidelines, and models. This systematic review explores the current state of research, implementation, and evaluation of faith-based health intervention typologies and methodologies. Additionally, the theory utilization quality scale (TQS) and methodological utilization quality scale (MQS) were used to assess articles in this review. This review synthesized n=27 articles and highlighted a need for standardized terminology and conceptual frameworks in FBHIs, diverse participant samples, rigorous methodologies, and systematic analyses. While many interventions show promise in improving health outcomes, mixed findings underscore the necessity for robust research designs. The dissertation proposes a faith-based health intervention model and checklist for researchers and practitioners to address current gaps and leverage evidence-based and practice-based approaches
Integrated Techno-Economic and Life-Cycle Assessment of Subsurface Energy-Storage Technologies for Renewable Energy
No full textThe Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has encountered significant renewable energy losses, known as curtailments, due to the fluctuating nature of wind and solar energy, which strains the electric grid. Although energy storage technologies have the potential to alleviate this issue by managing the energy supply, the lack of efficient methods and understanding of their impact has limited their integration into the electric grid. This thesis aims to provide an integrated
techno-economic and life-cycle assessment of two emerging storage technologies, namely subsurface hydrogen (H���) storage and synthetic geothermal storage, to determine the optimal storing option based on estimated efficiency, levelized cost, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Various phases were analyzed for H��� storage, including H��� production through electrolysis, compression, pumping, subsurface storage, withdrawal, and power generation through a fuel cell. Geothermal storage phases included water heating through an electric-powered hot water/steam
boiler or concentrated solar power (CSP), pumping, storage in geological porous media, withdrawal, and power generation through steam turbines. The monthly averages of ERCOT���s curtailed energy from 2017 to 2021 were used in this study and projected for the next 5 years. Additionally, a reservoir simulation model was utilized to determine the withdrawal efficiency of the geothermal storage. Results showed that around 32-49% of curtailed energy can be recovered through subsurface H��� storage at a minimal levelized cost of 31-50/MWh. Synthetic geothermal storage exhibited higher life-cycle annual emissions and energy consumption, compared to subsurface H��� storage. Results suggest that subsurface H��� storage holds more promise for mitigating renewable energy curtailments
An Economic Analysis of Dynamic and Causal Impacts on the Red Meat Market in the United States
No full textThe red meat market has recently undergone several significant changes in response to changing market conditions, supply chain shocks, and policy impacts. The overall objective of this study is to contribute a better understanding of how segments of the red meat industry respond to shocks. Specifically, this study (1) uses a vector error correction model and directed acyclic graphs to analyze the dynamic interactions and causal effects between cold storage stocks, prices, imports, and exports in the red meat market (2) analyzes the impacts of California���s Proposition 12 animal welfare law on retail and wholesale prices using a difference-in-differences framework and (3) analyzes the dynamic interactions and causal inference patterns of U.S. pork exports to Mexico to further investigate the causes of changing pork export patterns and the impact of the price spread between bone-in and boneless hams on pork exports (volume) to Mexico.
The first essay finds that imports and exports are primary drivers of changes in pork and beef cold storage stocks. The second essay finds that California���s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts��� Question 3 have resulted in price increases ranging from 6% to 21% throughout the supply chain. Finally, the last essay finds that a shock in price spread would cause a long-term impact on bone-in ham exports to Mexico, that a shock in price spread would only account for a small amount of forecast error variation in bone-in exports, and that there is not a direct contemporaneous causal relationship between the two. Ultimately, this study provides valuable information to producers, policy-makers, consumers, and other stakeholders regarding how segments of the red meat industry responds to changing market conditions, supply chain shocks, and policy impacts
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Implementation Experiences of High School Principals
No full textThis study aimed to explore the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) implementation experiences of three high school principals and their assistant principals in one North Texas public school district. The study utilized qualitative methods and case study design to better understand the principals��� overall impression of MTSS implementation and their suggestions for improving the conditions that may have hindered the implementation of MTSS on their campuses. The findings presented in this study are the analysis of data acquired through the Self-Assessment of MTSS Implementation (SAM) survey, the principal interviews, and document analysis. The analysis was guided by implementation science as proposed by Fixsen and Blas�� (2008). This analysis of the data showed that the three high schools in the study have stalled in their MTSS implementation efforts after five years, mostly during the program installation phase, despite their best efforts. To move the high schools forward from the program installation stage to the full operation stage on the implementation science continuum, I proposed recommendations that address the three main drivers of successful implementation: leadership drivers, organization drivers, and competency drivers. By systematically addressing these drivers, the high schools in the study can progress toward full implementation of MTSS
Effect of Select Interpretive Story-Telling Techniques on Narrative Transportation and Engagement Among Youth Educational Travelers
No full textThis study examined the effect of select story-telling strategies interpreters use on engagement and narrative transportation of youth educational travelers. Engagement is the subjective state of motivation that occurs when one���s attention is focused on a story being told. Narrative transportation can also occur during story experiences. The traveler (i.e., reader, listener, spectator) is carried, via imagination, to the destination of the story; a different time, place, and set of circumstances. Heritage interpreters and tour guides for youth educational travel experiences use a variety of techniques to invite narrative transportation and engagement, but the effects of such techniques have not been studied experimentally. Four strategies were evaluated: use of visual aids, verisimilitude, use of music, and self-relevance elicitation. One hundred forty-four experience observations from 18 4-H youth enrolled in an educational travel experience to Spain were analyzed. Youth visited different sites in Barcelona and Madrid. During the daily reflection period, the researcher told a fictional story set in the site or sites visited that day. The four techniques were systematically varied across eight different stories to determine the relative effect of each technique on narrative transportation and engagement. After listening to each story, youth completed an electronic questionnaire measuring narrative transportation, engagement, and down-stream outcomes (perceived value of time spent and proclivity to recommend). Verisimilitude and self-relevance increased engagement and engagement increased narrative transportation. The effects of music and visual aids were not significant. Narrative transportation increased with increases in engagement, and perceived value of time spent listening to the story and proclivity to recommend were positively correlated with narrative transportation
A State-of-the-Evidence Review: Impacts of Youth Agricultural Education Programs on Global Poverty, Resilience, and Food Security Results
No full textHistorically underestimated, youth can catalyze change towards positive community development. In developing countries, there is tremendous potential to engage youth, not only as passive participants in programming or as a vulnerable population in need of services, but as potential innovators, early adopters, and effective change agents towards the adoption of innovations to improve family and community well-being. However, the body of evidence exploring how youth agricultural education programs impact the necessary global goals of food security, resilience, and nutrition has yet to be systematically evaluated, synthesized, and mapped. This study, the first systematic review of youth agricultural education programs in low- and middle-income countries, employs a mixed methods, theory-based approach to identify evidence of program outcomes and impact, mapping the current state of the evidence to the U.S. Global Food Security Strategy results framework.
With the aim of greater policy and programmatic relevance, this study employs mixed methods theory-based systematic review methodology. The findings provide evidence of how access to information, innovations, and social systems through well-planned, and locally adapted agricultural education can have significant positive influence on individual and family-level changes. However, rigorous evaluation of the outcome and impact-level results of investments in agricultural education is woefully inadequate, and the majority of evaluations of youth agricultural education programs neglect to address dynamics of gender and social inclusion in the evaluation design or reporting. Going beyond the descriptive quantitative systematic review results with the aim of greater policy and programmatic relevance, this paper discusses the results of the qualitative analysis of the 79 included studies, identifying enablers and barriers to positive program outcomes in agricultural education programs, to summarize the individual-level, program-level, and enabling environment factors influencing program outcomes. Ultimately, the paper presents an emerging conceptual framework for the design of youth agricultural education programs in low- and middle-income countries. The detailed results of this study provide insight to build on what we know (scale what is working), improve what we are currently doing (drawing from the lessons learned), and invest in improved evaluation and measurement, presenting recommendations for future programs, policy, and research
Genetic Ablation of PITPNC1 Impairs Proliferation and Tumor Growth in Murine Melanoma via Mitochondrial Dysregulation
No full textPhosphoinositides (PIPs), the phosphorylated derivatives of phosphoinositols (PtdIns) are critical for eukaryotic cellular signaling. Major dysregulation of PIP signaling pathways has catastrophic effects, as subtle changes can cause neurodegenerative diseases and cancer in mammals. In this context, studying phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) urges our interest. Recent studies have indicated an important role for PITPs in determining the biological outcomes of PIP signaling, via a novel mechanism in which they likely do not function as lipid carriers.
PITPNC1, a member of under-investigated mammalian phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs), is overexpressed in several metastatic tumors, including breast, colon, pancreatic, and melanoma. The tumor suppressor micro-RNA miR-126 also identifies PITPNC1 as a crucial target, of disease relevance. However, to date, no studies have emphasized the role of PITPNC1 in a complete knockout and immunocompetent environment. This has left critical gaps in understanding the role of protein in the signaling and metabolism of cancer cells and addressing these issues remain our primary focus. Our research demonstrates that PITPNC1 knockout mice are born alive and do not display overt phenotypes. However, phenotypic characterization of PITPNC1-/- mouse reveals changes in body fat and non-shivering thermogenesis in the females. PITPNC1 is associated with reduced patient survivability in melanoma cancer and its expression correlates with metastatic progression in murine and human melanoma cells. To understand the role of PITPNC1 in the context of melanoma, we employed a syngeneic murine melanoma model in which B16 melanoma cells were introduced to immunocompetent mice by subcutaneous injection. We demonstrated that PITPNC1 overexpression promotes tumor growth and metastasis in melanoma tumors. In addition, CRISPR-Cas9 generated PITPNC1 knock-out melanoma cells inhibit melanoma cancer progression in vivo in both non-cell-autonomous and cell-autonomous manner. Next, our findings indicate that PITPNC1 deletion alters the lipidomic profile in B16F10 melanoma cancer with loss of PIP3 lipid and cholesterol esters and accumulation of acylcarnitine and triglycerides, suggesting compromised fatty acid oxidation, which potentially underlies mitochondrial dysregulation in the PITPNC1 null condition. Lastly, we demonstrated that PITPNC1 null cells have a defective mitochondrial function with increased mitochondrial fragmentation in B16F10 melanoma cells. In this study, we conclude that PITPNC1 overexpression promotes tumor metastasis while genetic ablation of PITPNC1 impairs tumor growth in murine melanoma via mitochondrial dysregulation