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Methodologies For Studying NIH Funded Laboratory Output: A Mixed Methods Approach
No full textMy research is focused on methodologies for increasing funding for National Institute of Health (NIH) funded laboratories. More specifically I am interested in exploring how mixed methods of research, such as guided survey methods, semi-structured interviews, and bibliometrics can provide a greater number of comprehensive metrics for attaining/continuing funding.For NIH funded laboratories, producing metrics that show NIH objectives were met is necessary for demonstrating the value of the laboratory’s efforts and value of their research. The primary way that laboratories can ensure funding will continue to support their efforts is by showing how funds are being used in the laboratory, and the value that award funding provides to the scientific community, as well as public health. To meet NIH objectives around the development of large-scale laboratories Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), Centers for Translational Science Awards (CTSA), other translational science efforts and initiatives, investing in efforts that record greater metrics and additional records of valuable output from laboratories is imperative for growth. The thread of these three chapters provides sufficient evidence that positive ontological direction for NIH funded laboratories can happen with integrating more inclusive evaluation frameworks. Former frameworks for evaluating laboratories involved collecting totals of output that exclusively captured scientific dissemination via publication metrics, this includes citation rates, publication counts, patents, completed therapy trials (to name a few). For a better direction, I am proposing that new benefits models are tested in addition to these common methods of collecting metrics, such as the Translational Science Benefits Model (TSBM). The TSBM includes over 16 indicators that can track scientific benefits in addition to the traditional counts (citations, publications, patents, therapy, and drug trials). The TSBM includes educational initiatives, public health resources, legislative progress, and other indicators that the funding the laboratory receives is being used to do beneficial work for science and the communities that are touched by the funded laboratory. By widening the metrics by evaluating a lab to include other evidence of value in science, laboratories can better illustrate the innovation coming from their laboratories
Using Neighborhood Information to Improve Fiber Direction Estimation from Neuroimaging Data
No full textAccurately estimating neuronal fiber directions is crucial in neuroimaging analysis. The Ball-and-Stick Model (BSM), introduced by Behrens et al. (2003), and widely used in software tools like FSL, remains one of the most popular models for this purpose. BSM analyzes each voxel individually, based solely on its signal information.In this dissertation, we propose modifications to BSM, that incorporate signal information from neighboring voxels in the estimation process, potentially improving the accuracy of the estimates. Additionally, within the estimation process, we introduce two novel proposal distributions to enhance the efficiency of the Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling procedure on the simplex domain. By mapping the simplex domain to a circular manifold and making use of the projected gamma distribution, these proposal distributions avoid restrictions arising from narrow regions of simplex vertices and edges, resulting in improved efficiency of the sampler.
We implement these enhancements in R and use extensive simulations to study the properties of the resulting estimates. The proposed modifications are found to give rise to statistically significant improvement in the accuracy of the estimates, when compared to the traditional BSM
Impact of Placement Disruption on School Outcomes in Maltreated Youth
No full textSchool attendance is a crucial component of a youth’s ability to access resources and attain educational success. Maltreated youth are at increased risk for school absences, poor school performance, impairment in cognitive processes, and development of psychopathology. Disruption from their known systems (i.e., family, social, school) as a result of removal from home creates unique and substantial barriers for maltreated youth in attending and engaging in school. The present study used a sample of maltreated youth and binomial logistic regression analyses to determine if the number of lifetime placements impacts school outcome variables of school attendance, classroom behavior, and academic achievement. The present study highlighted the educational impacts of placement disruption and explored implications for public policy regarding maltreated youth. Hypothesis 1 was that a significant relationship would be found between impairment across school outcome variables and the number of lifetime transfers in housing. Hypothesis 2 was that a significant relationship would be found between clinician’s ratings of disruptive classroom behaviors and the number of lifetime transfers in housing and a youth’s demographic variables (i.e., race, gender, age, longevity in DFS, assessed before or after COVID-19 shutdown). Hypothesis 3 was that a significant relationship would be found between impairment across school outcome variables and the number of lifetime placements within high-risk settings (i.e., inpatient psychiatric treatment facilities, and detention centers). Binomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the hypotheses. Hypotheses were partially supported. Findings determined youth were 2.1 times as likely to experience problematic classroom behaviors for every 9.60 placements after initial 9 placements. Furthermore, 3 lifetime placements within inpatient psychiatric care settings increased the likelihood of problematic classroom behaviors by 1.59 times. No association between school achievement and the lifetime number of placements, demographic variables, or high-risk placements was found. Age was a significant predictor of problematic school attendance in that older youth were 1.29 times as likely to experience problematic school attendance for every year they age. The present study’s findings have implications for policies focusing on research specific to CPS-involved youth, the incorporation of trauma informed school systems, increased mental health access, and stabilization for home and school placement at the local, state, and federal levels. Additional research is necessary to further evaluate the impact of CPS involvement on school outcomes
Institutional Design of Intergovernmental Organizations: Cooperation, Vitality, and Evolution
No full textIntergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are critical institutions in the international system through which states cooperate and compete. Much scholarship has examined the role and operation of IGOs, but many questions about how they facilitate cooperation, their vitality, and their evolution remain. The functions of IGOs are impacted by their institutional design, which then affects operation and vitality. IGO’s perform their roles through multiple mechanisms that facilitate state interaction. IGOs enable states to overcome credibility issues and cooperate. The institutional design of IGOs, their membership, their resources, and their institutionalization, all impact the functioning of the IGO. I examine empirically how joint membership in more institutionalized IGOs impacts general cooperation between member states. I then test how institutionalization affects the survival of IGOs comprised of non-democratic members. Finally, I examine IGO succession using a novel sample of 44 IGO pairs and show that institutional design evolves through successor institutions. These analyses provide evidence demonstrating the importance of institutional design on the functioning, vitality, and evolution of IGOs and contributes to our understanding of the important role that IGOs play in the international system
Biological Reduction of Mixed Oxyanions in Wastewater Brine
No full textTreatment of contaminated brine water is an area of active research spurred by the use of advanced treatment technologies, such as membrane separation, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, etc. for water reuse and recycling, which has become critical due to the impact of climate change on water resources throughout the globe. Biological reduction of harmful organic and inorganic pollutants in water has been demonstrated as an effective method for water and wastewater treatment and would be a potential technology for brine treatment. However, biodegradation of contaminants in high salinity waters is challenging because most microbial communities cannot survive brine environments. The biotreatment of high-salinity brines and wastewater is dependent on the identification and isolation of robust halophilic microbes (microbes that require high salinity environments for survival) that have the specific enzymatic structures to reduce targeted organic and inorganic contaminants under extreme salinity conditions.
Two halophilic microbes, Halomonas elongata and Haloferax mediterranei were used to biologically reduce co-occurring oxyanion contaminants (nitrate, perchlorate, and chromate) in brines ranging from 8% (w/v) to 20% (w/v) NaCl salinity. Batch microcosm testing was performed with different salt concentrations and varying amounts of contaminants, mimicking concentrations found in industrial waste brines. Previous studies have indicated that these halophilic microbes have specialized nitrate and perchlorate reductase enzymes and are capable of reducing chromium, perchlorate, and nitrate individually. This research sought to determine the mechanism behind chromium reduction from toxic hexavalent Cr(VI) to the less toxic form, Cr(III) in the presence of halophilic microbes and extended the insight into the ability of halophilic microbes to reduce a co-occurring consortium of oxyanions, consisting of nitrate, perchlorate, and chromium.
The results show that chromium speciation analysis is a good tool to differentiate Cr(VI) and total(Cr) in the samples, which provided a main line of evidence that Cr(VI) was being reduced to Cr(III) by the halophilic microbes. Microbial growth and abiotic controls supported the hypothesis. The experimental results also showed that Halomonas can reduce a mixture of Cr(VI) and NO3- and Haloferax can reduce a mixture of Cr(VI), NO3-, and ClO4-. The reduction sequence was observed to be chromate\u3enitrate\u3eperchlorate for both halophilic microbes, which is supported by previous studies and stoichiometry. Long acclimation periods, 4 days to 33 days, were observed between Cr(VI) and subsequent reduction of the other oxyanions, and faster reductions and acclimation periods were observed for lower concentrations of oxyanion contaminants.
The results show that promise in the ability of Halomonas elongata and Haloferax mediterranei to successfully bio-reduce chromium and a mixed consortium of oxyanions in brine. An investigation into halophilic biodegradation as a means to treat brine wastes can assist with developing a cost-effective, complete reduction method to treat heavily contaminated brines, resulting in a contaminant-free brine and the potential recovery of salt and water in the process
Effects of Climate Change on (Semi)-Arid Ecosystems in the Southwestern United States
No full textClimate change is considered amongst the most severe threats to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems globally. Ecosystems in the southwestern United States have specifically been impacted by intense drought conditions since 2000. Higher temperatures combined with altered precipitation stresses many ecosystems; however, ecosystem specific responses to such stressors may vary. Here, the effects of climate change on semi-arid ecosystems are analyzed for some of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the southwestern United States: lacustrine, riparian, and dryland ecosystems.
Lakes and reservoirs in arid environments often serve as drinking water sources and recreational areas where high water quality is essential. Climate change may decrease water quality by shifting phytoplankton community structures to favor bloom forming and toxin producing species. In this chapter, I analyzed phytoplankton community compositions in Lake Mead, Nevada-Arizona, to detect trends in past communities and create predictive models for future communities. Results indicated stable community structures, apart from restricted shallow locations where temperature or phosphorus had increased. This study highlights the current buffering capacity of large, oligotrophic reservoirs to maintain stable phytoplankton communities even in the presence of environmental change, but also highlights potential rapid community shifts once this capacity is passed.
Riparian ecosystems are generally believed to be buffered from drought as many trees are phreatophytes with roots extending to groundwater. Recent observations of regional riparian woodland dieback and mortality suggest this ecosystem might be more vulnerable to climate change than previously believed. Understanding drivers of the mortality is important as riparian woodlands harvest high biodiversity, improve water quality, and aid in flood control. In this chapter, I studied riparian woodlands at sites in California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico to construct a conceptual model explaining the timing, regionality, and local occurrences of mortality through a sequence of extreme hydrological events: intensified drought and flooding. Drought can reduce shallow root activity, affecting the ability of riparian trees to deal with high groundwater levels during wet periods.
Dryland ecosystems cover approximately 40 percent of the Earth’s surface and contain various vegetation patterns. Patterns may emerge prior to the ecosystem reaching its tipping point, after which rapid shift in ecosystem states occurs which can lead to desertification. It is therefore important to understand drivers of pattern formation. In this chapter, I studied soil moisture as driver of vegetation patterns created by the western harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. Patterns increased soil moisture inside the ant created vegetation pattern by reducing moisture lost through transpiration. The vegetation pattern can disappear following increases in aridity and ant colony mortality, which decreases plant and animal diversity, making the ecosystem more vulnerable to change
How Couples Navigate Interethnic Differences in Asian American Population: A Grounded Theory Approach
No full textSeveral studies have discussed the impact of cultural factors in Asian American families. Previous research has demonstrated useful strategies used in dealing with distress and relationship dissatisfaction regarding cultural differences. There is limited data or studies that explore additional challenges faced by interethnic couples, rather than interracial couples and the impact of family dynamics on these relationships. Each partner’s identity development process was influenced by their understanding of different cultural traditions and customs. These unique experiences shaped their understanding of roles and expectations within their relationship and parenting styles. Additionally, these family relationships and cultural backgrounds play a role in the assimilation and acculturation process impacting how these couples navigate these dynamics. There are many misconceptions and stereotypes regarding Asian populations, and it would be important to address these aspects to gain a better understanding of potential issues they may face. It is significant to understand the process in how Asian American couples navigate their interethnic differences regarding cultural expectations and child-rearing practices. Grounded Theory is a qualitative method that was implemented in the study to analyze the data from a semi-structured interview with heterosexual Asian American couples who are from different ethnic background in the United States. This approach provided the appropriate framework to construct a theory and exploring the process of how Asian American couples navigate the cultural factors within their relationship. The themes that emerged from the data show six themes that demonstrate the process of how Asian American couples navigate the unique cultural experiences coming from very distinct ethnic backgrounds. The themes are family dynamics, identity development, culture and community, communication, expectations, and strategies to manage some challenges. Some of the strategies that were applied to manage the challenges around cultural differences include cultural adaptability and sensitivity
Federal Government: Assessing the Impact of Lithium Mineral Resource Extraction on Indigenous Communities in The State of Nevada
No full textThe research topic for this project is lithium mining which holds significance to indigenous populations in the State of Nevada and mineral extraction companies seeking to mine there. My research objective is to gain a deeper understanding of the direct impacts that lithium mining has had on indigenous communities, throughout history and today. Overall, the purpose of the project is to expound upon the implications of lithium mining on indigenous communities in response to the recent higher demand for the critical mineral in the United States. If it can be understood exactly how lithium mining has affected Nevada’s indigenous population, then assessing how to mitigate the negative affects through policy can be achieved
Homelessness Assessment of the Mountain West, 2023
No full textThis fact sheet examines 2023 homelessness assessment data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for five Mountain West states: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah
Nevada High School Students: Graduates from UNLV and UNR, 2010-2022
No full textThis fact sheet reports data for individuals who earned both a high school diploma from a Nevada high school and a bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) or the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) between 2010 and 2022, as well as the race/ethnicity and gender of these graduates