93887 research outputs found
Sort by
A Novel Research Design: Using Multilevel Discrete-Time Survival Analysis to Investigate the Effect of Calculus I on Engineering Student Persistence
Get PDFThe persistence of engineering students through graduation continues to be a concern in higher education. Previous studies have highlighted a link between students\u27 performance in introductory mathematics courses and graduation rates. Focusing on a crucial foundational course within the engineering curriculum, the purpose of this study is to investigate how students’ performance in Calculus I impact their persistence in the engineering program. Utilizing data from 22 diverse educational institutions using Multiple-Institution Database for Investigating Engineering Longitudinal Development (MIDFIELD), multilevel discrete-time survival analysis is employed to examine the longitudinal persistence patterns among the nested structure of students within institutions. Discrete-time analysis is an event-based approach that has the advantage of analyzing time in discrete chunks during which the event of interest could occur. The technique is a type of survival analysis, which has been used in other studies in engineering education and other educational studies. This approach addresses various challenges associated with analyzing student persistence data such as dealing with censored observations – observations for whom their entire educational pathway is not yet known because they are still enrolled. Using a multilevel form of this analysis approach also accounts for the hierarchical nature of the data involving students nested within institutions and incorporating variables that change over time. Thus, the study takes into account the variability and complexities inherent in the analysis of different institutions and examines persistence patterns more comprehensively than previous studies. By incorporating a diverse range of institutions, the study captures a broader spectrum of experiences and contexts, which enhances the generalizability of the results
Statistical Downscaling of Climate Datasets with Deep Generative Model and Bayesian inference
Get PDFFacing the challenges of global climate change, precise and high spatial resolution climate data are crucial and in pressing need for scientific research and analysis. However, most existing datasets are only available with very coarse spatial resolution and demand large-scale resolution enhancement. Meanwhile, climate datasets own much more intricate textures than natural images. Statistical downscaling or super-resolution (SR) with the deep-learning-based generative model might be a promising approach to address these challenges. It is worth noting that a learned Bayesian reconstruction with generative models (L-BRGM) method was proposed recently. The proposed Bayesian deep learning framework employs a single pre-trained generative model to solve different image restoration tasks and is feasible for large-scale image downscaling. In this work, we applied it to the statistical downscaling of geospatial datasets. With a case study of wind velocity and solar irradiance datasets, we exhibit that the L-BRGM method can reconstruct high-resolution images with large scaling factors (64×) on climate datasets through Maximum a-posteriori (MAP) estimation
Dieta de la Milpa: A Culturally-Concordant Plant-Based Dietary Pattern for Hispanic/Latine People with Chronic Kidney Disease
Get PDFChronic kidney disease (CKD) disproportionately affects minorities in the United States, including the Hispanic/Latine population, and is a public health concern in Latin American countries. An emphasis on healthy dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets, has been suggested as they are associated with a lower incidence of CKD, slower CKD progression, and lower mortality in kidney failure. However, their applicability may be limited in people from Latin America. The Dieta de la Milpa (Diet of the Cornfield) was recently described as the dietary pattern of choice for people from Mesoamerica (Central Mexico and Central America). This dietary pattern highlights the intake of four plant-based staple foods from this geographical region, corn/maize, common beans, pumpkins/squashes, and chilies, complemented with seasonal and local intake of plant-based foods and a lower intake of animal-based foods, collectively classified into ten food groups. Limited preclinical and clinical studies suggest several health benefits, including cardiometabolic health, but there is currently no data concerning CKD. In this narrative review, we describe and highlight the potential benefits of the Dieta de la Milpa in CKD, including acid-base balance, protein source, potassium and phosphorus management, impact on the gut microbiota, inflammation, and cultural appropriateness. Despite these potential benefits, this dietary pattern has not been tested in people with CKD. Therefore, we suggest key research questions targeting measurement of adherence, feasibility, and effectiveness of the Dieta de la Milpa in people with CKD
Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Road Assessment: A Novel Approach to the Pavement Condition Index and VIZIR Methodologies
Get PDFThis paper presents an innovative approach to road assessment, focusing on enhancing the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and Visión Inspection de Zones et Itinéraires Á Risque (VIZIR) methodologies by integrating Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) technology. The research was conducted in an urban setting, utilizing a UAS to capture high-resolution imagery, which was subsequently processed to generate detailed orthomosaics of road surfaces. This study critically analyzed the discrepancies between traditional field measurements and UAS-derived data in pavement condition assessment. The study findings demonstrate that photogrammetry-derived data from UAS offer at least similar or, in some cases, improved information on the collection of a comprehensive state of roadways, particularly in local and collector roads. Furthermore, this study proposed key modifications to the existing methodologies, including dividing the road network into segments for more precise and relevant data collection. These enhancements aim to address the limitations of current practices in capturing the diverse and dynamic conditions of urban infrastructure. Integrating UAS technology improves the measurement of pavement condition assessments and offers a more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable approach to urban infrastructure management. The implications of this study are significant for urban planners and policymakers, providing a robust framework for future infrastructure assessment and maintenance strategies
Genetic background of juniper (Juniperus spp.) consumption predicted by fecal near-infrared spectroscopy in divergently selected goats raised in harsh rangeland environments
Get PDFBackground
Junipers (Juniperus spp.) are woody native, invasive plants that have caused encroachment problems in the U.S. western rangelands, decreasing forage productivity and biodiversity. A potential solution to this issue is using goats in targeted grazing programs. However, junipers, which grow in dry and harsh environmental conditions, use chemical defense mechanisms to deter herbivores. Therefore, genetically selecting goats for increased juniper consumption is of great interest for regenerative rangeland management. In this context, the primary objectives of this study were to: 1) estimate variance components and genetic parameters for predicted juniper consumption in divergently selected Angora (ANG) and composite Boer x Spanish (BS) goat populations grazing on Western U.S. rangelands; and 2) to identify genomic regions, candidate genes, and biological pathways associated with juniper consumption in these goat populations.
Results
The average juniper consumption was 22.4% (± 18.7%) and 7.01% (± 12.1%) in the BS and ANG populations, respectively. The heritability estimates (realized heritability within parenthesis) for juniper consumption were 0.43 ± 0.02 (0.34 ± 0.06) and 0.19 ± 0.03 (0.13 ± 0.03) in BS and ANG, respectively, indicating that juniper consumption can be increased through genetic selection. The repeatability values of predicted juniper consumption were 0.45 for BS and 0.28 for ANG. A total of 571 significant SNP located within or close to 231 genes in BS, and 116 SNP related to 183 genes in ANG were identified based on the genome-wide association analyses. These genes are primarily associated with biological pathways and gene ontology terms related to olfactory receptors, intestinal absorption, and immunity response.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that juniper consumption is a heritable trait of polygenic inheritance influenced by multiple genes of small effects. The genetic parameters calculated indicate that juniper consumption can be genetically improved in both goat populations
Promoting Innovation Via a University-Organized Online Hackathon
Get PDFThis article presents a study of a full-day, university-organized, online hackathon that aimed at designing solutions to problems raised in remote learning and teaching. The event, with about 80 participants, was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic when many schools were closed and shifted to emergency remote teaching. The hackathon participants were challenged to design innovative solutions to authentic problems that have been raised during this situation. Using an online questionnaire, to which 28 of the hackathon participants responded, we quantitatively and qualitatively examined how the event had affected them. Findings suggest that participating in the hackathon mostly contributed to the participants\u27 recognition of the importance of collaboration, and their thinking about academy–society relations. These contributions were driven by the way the hackathon was designed and handled, and the fact that it was held online enabled some of its unique contributions. We also show that online, shorter-than-usual hackathon still has a meaningful, multi-faceted contribution to their participants, and conclude with recommendations for planning such events
Learners Authoring their Agency Related to an English for Academic Purposes Course
Get PDFGiven the demands of modern working life, university studies should support students’ life-long learning and agency. This article explores the types of agency learners from an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course described in interviews. The interviews were conducted in two groups in 2 consecutive years, in two stages: at the end of the EAP course as well as 6 to 7 months later. Through thematic content analysis, three types of agency were identified: instrumental agency, operational agency, and reflective agency. These types usually differed in terms of the contexts in which the learners placed the agency, the positions the learners took, and their descriptions of whether the agency continued or ended. Furthermore, individual learners often described different types of agency within the same interview. This highlights the messiness, fluidity, and dynamic changes in the ways of speaking as the key aspects when learners were authoring their agency. The findings are used to critically evaluate current higher education language teaching practices and discuss what kind of higher education language teaching challenges the students’ answers reveal, particularly in regards to compulsory language studies for students of other fields
Research in Practice and Practicing Research: Teaching Women and Leadership Discourse
Get PDFIn this article, we examine the course Women and Leadership Discourse as research in practice. As Craig and Tracy have argued (1995; 2021), practical theory examines data from everyday practices and is consequential to social life. The course centers on women\u27s leadership, issues of leadership dynamics, and women’s roles in organizations. As scholars and instructors, we move to transform research into embodied awareness, teaching students of all genders to be poised for career satisfaction because they understand how critical encounters in organizations work, and how to navigate them. In discussing course design, we describe the pedagogical ways which facilitate collaboration, engagement, and critical thinking while using a constructive learning framework. In addition, we offer an outline of course practices and assignments that combine research, action, interest, and awareness. This model framework is an understanding of leadership as discursive construction (Fairhurst, 2007), thus providing students with the tools to manage organizational life