Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
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Intensity specific responses to single-limb leg extension exercise to failure
No full textThe intensity-duration relationship is hyperbolic across modalities. It can also be represented linearly as the relationship between total work performed and duration. The asymptote of the intensity-duration relationship is synonymous with the slope of the work-duration relationship. This value is termed the critical intensity and separates the heavy and severe intensity domains. A separate supra-severe intensity domain, termed the extreme domain, has been established where task failure occurs before VO2max can be obtained. These domains and relationships have been tested during dynamic constant external resistance exercise; however, the critical intensity has been predicted to cause task failure ~2 minutes compared to critical intensity in other modalities occurring between 15-30 minutes. The purpose of this study was to examine the critical intensity (critical load) estimates using traditionally used intensities for deriving critical load (CL) and loads that elicit task failure around the same time as the intensities used to predict the critical intensity of other modalities. The secondary purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses to resistance exercise within the severe and extreme domains. 24 resistance-trained subjects (12M, 21.7±1.4 years, 12F, 22.5±2.0 years) participated in this study where a one-repetition maximum (1RM) was tested on a single-limb leg extension machine followed by 6 subsequent visits with randomized intensities for a repetitions to failure test (3 loads eliciting time to task failure between 2-15 minutes, termed S1, S2, and S3 as well as 70%1RM, 80%1RM, and 90%1RM). Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVCs) were tested before and after each task failure trial. Electromyography and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy was measured on the belly of the vastus lateralis. CL was estimated to be 3±2%1RM for severe exercise (S1-S3) compared to 48±16%1RM for extreme exercise (70%, 80%, and 90%; p<0.001). Severe intensity exercise had higher performance fatigability (pre:post MVCs) compared to extreme intensity exercise (p<0.001). These findings indicate that the intensity domains derive different CL values. The CL value derived via traditionally used intensities is not synonymous with the critical intensity of other modalities; however, the severe intensity predicted CL is similar, and possibly synonymous with the critical intensity of other modalities
Estimation of the leakage of output and income from a regional economy using input-output analysis
No full textBeyond the stars: Exploring the characteristics of highly rated books on Goodreads
No full textUnderstanding the characteristics that contribute to five-star reviews is essential for authors and publishers aiming to optimize book development and marketing strategies. Despite the significance of this topic, limited data driven research exists on how book attributes influence reader ratings. This study addresses the research question: What characteristics lead to higher average book ratings? The goal is to identify key factors that drive higher ratings and provide actionable insights for positioning books to enhance reader satisfaction. The analysis methods utilized include exploratory data analysis, principal components analysis, and decision tree modeling. First, exploratory data analysis helps to identify relationships between characteristics of books and their ratings. Then, principal components analysis (PCA) is used to group genres as variable inputs for the model. Lastly, decision tree modeling assesses the predictive power and significance of book characteristics. Findings suggest that price, number of reviews, and specific genres are associated with higher ratings. This research provides valuable insights into reader preferences, enabling authors and publishers to tailor their book development strategies and marketing approaches. These findings can improve reader satisfaction, increase book popularity, and guide authors and publishers in refining their overall strategies for success in a competitive market
Maternal resilience after the neonatal intensive care unit: Examining post-NICU stress recollections and maternal depressive symptoms
No full textThis dissertation investigated the long-term psychological effects of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experiences on maternal depressive symptoms. Guided by resilience theory, the study examined how mothers’ retrospective perceptions of NICU-related stress—specifically stress related to infant appearance and behavior, parental role alteration, sights and sound, and overall NICU stress—were associated with current levels of depressive symptomatology. The sample included 149 mothers whose infants had previously been admitted to a NICU, with time since discharge ranging from under one year to over 40 years.
A quantitative, cross-sectional design was used. Participants completed surveys assessing NICU stress, depressive symptoms, and five proposed protective factors: maternal self-efficacy, posttraumatic growth, hope, maternal age at NICU admission, and time since NICU experience. Regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations between NICU stress factors and maternal depressive symptoms, while testing potential moderating effects of the protective factors.
Findings revealed that three NICU stress domains—infant appearance and behavior, parental role alteration, and cumulative NICU stress—were significantly and positively related to depressive symptoms, even after controlling for maternal education and income. Of the five protective factors examined, maternal self-efficacy, posttraumatic growth, and hope were significantly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms, indicating their potential role in promoting maternal adaptation. Notably, maternal hope emerged as the strongest protective factor predictor. Moderation analyses provided minimal support for moderating effects; only one marginally significant interaction was found: time since NICU moderated the link between infant appearance and behavior stress and depressive symptoms.
The results highlight the need for early, ongoing mental health screening and psychosocial support for mothers post-NICU, targeted interventions to foster resilience through enhancing hope and self-efficacy, and integrated public policy geared towards pregnant women experiencing neonatal adversity. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of maternal mental health outcomes following early neonatal adversity
Biodegradation of imidacloprid and carbamazepine in municipal wastewater
No full textContaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting compounds, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides can be a major problem to the environment and human health. This study investigated the microbial degradation of imidacloprid and carbamazepine. The research focus on the challenge of degrading the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid and the prescription drug carbamazepine in wastewater treatment and directly downstream systems. Discovering how to improve the poor removal of these compounds from wastewater is important to environmental health. Importantly, as wastewater becomes more reused either directly or indirectly, the increasing need for CEC biodegradation will be important to human health. A component of the first objective of this work is in collaboration with Dr. Nair at the University of Oklahoma (OU) who operated wetland mesocosm experiments for stormwater and wastewater effluent treatment. This first objective finds the extent that these constructed wetlands enrich for CEC-degrading bacteria. In the second objective, an outlet stream of treated wastewater is analyzed for the enrichment of CEC-degrading bacteria. The third objective is to determine the ability to enhance CEC degradation in wastewater treatment sludge through vitamin addition, redox cycling, and longer solid retention time (SRT). The three objectives together illustrate the extent and mechanisms of imidacloprid and carbamazepine biodegradation in wastewater systems. Historically, a significant amount of research has been performed on different conventional contaminants (nutrients and BOD), however, wastewater treatment must advance towards the degradation of CECs as water reuse increases in necessity and scale. The hope of this research is to help in the design of systems such that CECs may be better biodegraded
Ethnographic study of repression: Exploring collective acts of self-censorship
No full textHow does repression function through self-censorship on social media? While scholars have approached self-censorship as an individual act, this study explores the collective dimensions of self-censorship in the context of the 2024 fall of Bangladesh’s authoritarian regime. Based on five months of social media observation, autoethnographic research, and interviews with members of a leftist student organization, this thesis describes the social processes behind the self-imposed repression of social media posts. Participants collectively make sense of what they can safely say, sharing drafts, discussing content, and ultimately editing or completely eliminating their posts. Through an exploration of how the climate of fear in offline life spills over to online life, to produce collective acts of self-censorship, this study explores how repression functions beyond formal censorship, and how social media posts emerge collectively from broader social and political dynamics
Do lawyer incentive programs alleviate rural legal deserts? Evidence from South Dakota's project rural practice
No full textPersistent gaps in access to legal services remain a persistent challenge in many rural areas, contributing to what has been termed the "rural legal desert" phenomenon. A lack of attorneys in these regions limits access to justice and places additional burdens on individuals seeking legal representation. In response, various states have implemented incentive programs aimed at attracting and retaining lawyers in rural communities. This study evaluates the effectiveness of one such initiative by analyzing the impact of South Dakota’s Project Rural Practice (PRP) program. The PRP program was established by the South Dakota Legislature in 2013 and made permanent in 2019. The program provides financial incentives to attorneys who commit to practicing in eligible rural counties for at least five years.
To assess the program’s effectiveness, we employ a difference-in-differences design, comparing trends in the number of lawyers and law offices per capita in rural South Dakota before and after the program’s implementation. We benchmark these changes against two alternative control groups: (1) rural counties in neighboring Iowa and Nebraska, which lacked a similar incentive program, and (2) non-rural areas within South Dakota. Our analysis leverages 20 years of annual firm-level data from the National Establishment Time Series (NETS) alongside sociodemographic data from the USDA Rural Atlas.
By isolating the impact of PRP, this study contributes empirical evidence to the broader discussion on addressing legal service shortages in rural areas. Findings will provide insights into whether financial incentives can sustainably increase the presence of rural attorneys, improve access to legal services, and serve as a viable policy model for other states facing similar challenges. The results have implications for policymakers, legal professionals, and rural communities by offering a data-driven evaluation of strategies aimed at reducing geographic disparities in legal representation
From colliders to cosmos: Investigating thermal history and baryon asymmetry of the universe
No full textThe Standard Model (SM) of particle physics describes the fundamental interactions of elementary particles with remarkable precision. However, it remains incomplete, as evidenced by several experimental observations, including the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe, neutrino oscillations, and the presence of dark matter. These shortcomings motivate the study of physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM), capable of addressing these gaps while remaining consistent with current data. This dissertation investigates various BSM scenarios that address these issues and explores their phenomenological implications for present and future experiments. The primary focus is on understanding the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry and examining the cosmological consequences of these models in the early Universe.
The structure of the Higgs potential plays a central role in the thermal history of the Universe. Within the Two-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM), we study the conditions for a strong first-order phase transition and explore how collider measurements and gravitational wave observations can jointly probe the Higgs potential. In the complex 2HDM (C2HDM), we investigate the impact of the tunneling profile on baryon asymmetry calculations during electroweak baryogenesis, comparing results from analytical approximations and explicit numerical solutions.
We also study the formation of primordial black holes (PBHs) from delayed vacuum decay in the singlet-extended Standard Model. We identify the conditions under which a supercooled electroweak phase transition can lead to PBH formation and analyze the corresponding gravitational wave signals. Additionally, we also explore the gravitational wave signals arising from a dark phase transition in a simple chiral dark matter model.
Finally, we examine leptogenesis mechanisms that simultaneously explain the baryon asymmetry and neutrino masses. We propose a SU(5) grand unified theory (GUT) that incorporates the Affleck-Dine mechanism, neutrino mass generation, and cosmic inflation. We also propose a Dirac leptogenesis mechanism within a class of left-right symmetric models, originally motivated by the strong CP problem, where Standard Model fermion masses emerge via a seesaw mechanism
Inquiry into language acquisition, nativism, and logical impossibility
No full textThis thesis explores the longstanding philosophical discussion concerning language acquisition and whether it is an innate human capacity. The inquiry focuses on the tension between Nativist and Empiricist perspectives. After defining key terms, like the distinction between domain-general and domain-specific cognitive functions, the paper outlines the typical Nativist argumentative structure, which often labels Empiricist explanations as logically impossible. The analysis focuses on Noam Chomsky’s “Poverty of the Stimulus” argument, a representative case of such argumentation. I argue that this approach overreaches, concluding logical impossibility where, at best, the evidence only proves empirical improbability. Further, I present Large Language Models as a crucial counterexample, as they acquire language through purely empirical means; the fact that LLMs acquire language solely by induction undermines the Nativist claims of logical impossibility. I conclude by recommending a shift in philosophical discourse away from arguments for logical impossibility, and toward inferences to the best explanation, as I establish how such a shift promises a more productive discussion