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T\u3csup\u3e3\u3c/sup\u3e-CIDERS: Fostering a Community of Practice in CI-and Data Enabled Cybersecurity Research Through a Train-the-Trainer Program
Get PDFWe present a training program named T³-CIDERS, the Train- The-Trainer approach to fostering cyberinfrastructure (CI)- and Data-Enabled Research in CyberSecurity. T³-CIDERS is a train-the-trainer program for advanced cyberinfrastructure (CI) skills that is designed to be synergistic with research, teaching, and learning activities in cybersecurity and cyber-related disciplines. The participants, termed \u27future trainers\u27 (FTs), are trained in effective instructional design and CI hands-on materials from DeapSECURE, developed in a previous CyberTraining program. T³-CIDERS aims to enhance cybersecurity research and education through broader adoption of advanced CI techniques such as artificial intelligence, big data, parallel programming, and platforms like high-performance computing (HPC) systems. T³-CIDERS includes pre-training, a weeklong summer institute, ongoing learning engagements, and local training activities. The FTs conduct local training tailored to the needs at their respective home institutions. They will also develop a new CI training module (called \u27Module X\u27) based on the observed common needs in the cybersecurity research community. Community building is integral to T³-CIDERS as its overarching goal. The first cohort of FTs who took the 2024 summer institute comprises faculty members, researchers, and students representing multiple states
17 - Mapping the spatial distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation using commercial satellite imagery
Get PDFSeagrass in the Chesapeake Bay has seen an increase due to restoration efforts since the 90s, but with the extreme change of climate, we are unsure if the seagrass will thrive or perish, and where it will occur in the bay. Seagrass stabilizes coastal sediments, reducing erosion and protecting shorelines. It provides crucial habitats and nursery grounds for a diverse range of marine species, supporting both biodiversity and fisheries. Additionally, they play a significant role in carbon sequestration, which mitigates the effects of climate change. This study specifically looked at the area from the mouth of the Rappahannock River up the shoreline to the Great Wicomico River. Using satellite imagery from the past 4 years, we use a system to classify where the seagrass presides over the course of each year. With this, we can see trends of where seagrass is increasing or decreasing through the years. With the current results and figures we have gathered, we can see that there is clear seasonal variability, dying back in the winter, and growth in the summer. Although overall the total amount of seagrass appears to be consistent throughout the years, some areas within the larger study site have larger interannual variation than other areas, this conclusion would suggest that we could see an impact on the animal diversity in the bay due to them using the seagrass as a habitat and food source. We could also see an impact on the coastline of the area researched due to erosion since seagrass is a barrier to waves and water fluctuations. The next step would be to further investigate what the contributing factors are that could be driving this observed variability whether it’s the salinity, water temperature, water clarity, or other factors
19 - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Prevalence and Distribution in Sediments Surrounding the WestRock Papermill and Port Richmond of the York River, VA
No full textPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic organic compounds primarily derived from human activities such as fuel combustion, fossil fuel processing, and wood burning. These pollutants enter aquatic environments through atmospheric deposition, industrial discharge, and surface runoff, leading to their accumulation in sediments. The WestRock paper mill is located on the upper York River and immediately downstream from an important cargo terminal, making this an area of interest for potential PAH contamination.
An earlier 1998 study was conducted to assess PAH contamination at sites along the York River to identify areas most affected. The present work revisits several of the sites to evaluate changes in PAH prevalence and distribution. Sediment samples were collected from six sites along the York River, along with two water samples from the nearby Pamunkey and Mattaponi Rivers. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified PAHs and their concentrations which were then linked to potential sources. Results show a wide range of PAHs present with 66 structures observed. Acenaphthylene was the most prevalent combustion PAH observed, with elevated concentrations of dimethylnaphthalene, fluoranthene, and chrysene. Total concentrations across the six sites ranged from 166 ng/g on the Mattaponi to 938 ng/g adjacent to WestRock on the Pamunkey. Although the distribution of observed PAH’s differed, total concentrations were within the range seen from the 1998 study at concentrations of 283 to 337 ng/g in suspended sediments. This comparison provides insight into long-term contamination trends and the potential influence of industrial activity and environmental factors on PAH distribution
08 - Blue Carbon Sequestration and Sediment Storage in Seagrass Meadows of South Bay
Get PDFBlue carbon is stored in coastal and marine ecosystems like seagrass meadows and salt marshes, which helps combat climate change by preventing greenhouse gas emissions. This study examines the role of seagrass in carbon storage by comparing sediment cores from a mud channel and a seagrass meadow in South Bay.
We collected a 100 cm core from the mud channel and a 55 cm core from the seagrass area, taking samples every 10 cm to analyze grain size and organic carbon content. Using a wet sieving method, we separated sand from mud and measured organic carbon through loss on ignition.
The findings showed no significant increase in carbon storage in seagrass sediments. Differences in grain size highlighted the effect of water movement on sediment deposition. The study concluded that seagrass meadows do not significantly enhance below-ground carbon storage, indicating that muddy environments are more important for storing organic material than the presence of plants alone
59 - The Relationship of LGB Bias and False Memories for Gender and Orientation Stereotypes.
No full textStereotypes are commonly held beliefs about the traits and behaviors of groups. Those who are minorities, receive many negative and harmful stereotypes from others. Understanding the ways these types of stereotypes are represented in memory and lead to biased judgments is important in understanding how stereotype information affects people\u27s cognition and behavior. These negative views affect the minorities because when people are recalling a memory and they fill in the gaps with general information that they know. When the schematic information is not accurate people tend to remember information that was not originally present. These are called false memories. This affects minorities because people will use their stereotypes when they recall memories with the minorities and if the stereotypes are negative, it tends to create more false memories that are negative. One way to see how stereotypes affect the way that we live, think, and view others is to see how someone\u27s memory can be altered when shown stereotypical information. The current study investigates whether stereotype consistent information leads to false memories, as it does in other schematic memory representations. In this study participants were presented stereotypical descriptive items describing a person who was randomly assigned a gender and sexual orientation, and performed a memory recognition task. Participants also completed a measure of LGB bias and social categorization tasks. This study can influence future research endeavors in order to mitigate the harmful influence of stereotypes and false memories on the LGBTQ+ community
60 - Racial and Gender Differences in Trauma-Related Cannabis Use: Examining PTSD Coping Mechanism in a Diverse College Sample
Get PDFPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly comorbid with cannabis use disorder (CUD). One explanation for this comorbidity is the self-medication model, which suggests that individuals may use cannabis to cope with or reduce PTSD symptoms. This behavior, referred to as trauma-related cannabis use to cope (TRCU), may differ across gender and racial groups; however, research on these variations remains limited. The present study investigated gender and racial differences in TRCU, as well as their potential moderating effects on the relationship between PTSD symptoms and TRCU. Participants were 596 diverse college undergraduates (76.9% women, 18.9% men; 35.8% Black, 49% White, 6.6% Other). We examined mean differences in TRCU across race and gender and assessed whether these variables moderated the association between PTSD symptom severity and TRCU. Results revealed that Black participants reported significantly higher levels of TRCU (M = 31.2) compared to White participants (M = 27.2; t = -2.61, p = .007). Additionally, the relationship between PTSD symptoms and TRCU was stronger for Black participants (β = .50) than for White participants (β = .34), with moderation analyses confirming a significant interaction (β = .10, p = .007). No significant differences in TRCU levels or moderation effects were found by gender. These findings underscore the importance of considering racial differences in trauma-coping behaviors and emphasize the need for culturally responsive interventions. Future research should further explore how racial and ethnic backgrounds influence the use of cannabis for trauma-related copin
62 - Getting the Story Wrong: Reading Literature with Machines
No full textGenerative AI has become a useful tool for professional copywriters, and composition researchers have understandably begun to study AI’s impact on the composition processes of expert and non-expert writers. But what might the impact of AI be on the reading processes of expert and non-expert readers, particularly in the realm of literature? For the purposes of this study, we developed a method for identifying material over the course of three successive readings of Isabel Allende’s short story, “And of Clay We are Created”-- material that could then be used to make and support claims regarding two questions: “What is the story about?” and “What’s the beginning, middle, and end of this story?” Allende’s story was selected because the work underwent three major revisions, each shifting the perspective from which the story was told. In addition, while “And of Clay” is a “whole” story unto itself, that “whole” is also a part of a larger narrative/collection of stories. We then developed a corpus of readings of this popular story generated by ChatGPT from online study notes and other online materials. We discovered that all of these readings identified the parts of the story in terms of plot, not in terms of the narrator’s action (the telling of the story). Our question: Given that machine learning has greatly enhanced the computer models of writing to grasp nuances of language (for example, humor and idioms), what challenge does “perspective” represent for machine readers
64 - Switching the Narrative: Pastor’s Beliefs and Reasonings
No full textAlthough many African Americans experience mental health/addiction (MH/A), only 39% of the population seek professional treatment (Singh, 2023). Several significant barriers contribute to their ability to seek treatment such as insurance coverage limitations, readily accessible transportation, poverty, cultural misrepresentation, distrust of treatment providers, and the scarcity of ethnic matching. Many African Americans feel more comfortable relying on the Black Church and pastors for support. However, many pastors are not prepared to support the MH/A needs of their parishioners thus leaving those who seek help without the proper MH/A care they need. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions held by African American pastors on preparedness based on experience and theological beliefs to address MH/A issues within the Black Church. This current study also sought to understand how pastoral views can influence potential collaboration with MH/A professionals and how to develop directions for potential collaborations. Using a narrative approach, I analyzed three interviews conducted by Tarver and her colleagues (2021) that ranged from 20-60 minutes with three of the pastors in their respective churches. The African American pastors were stationed in the Hampton Roads Area, had pastored for at least five years, and were at least 50 years of age or older. The pastors were recruited for the original study using snowball sampling. Results from this current study revealed that pastors’ MH/A experiences and theological beliefs did not lead to a greater perception of preparedness in addressing MH/A issues among their parishioners. Additionally, pastors’ views of potential collaboration with MH/A professionals were ambiguous or conditional. The results suggest that pastors would benefit from more training on how to address MH/A issues and greater knowledge of and accessibility to resources for their parishioners, requiring MH/A providers to integrate more holistic approaches to treatment
Healthcare Provider Perspectives on a Clinical Decision Tool to Support Individualized Exercise Prescriptions and Discussions for Breast Cancer Survivors
Get PDFPurpose: We evaluated healthcare providers\u27 current knowledge, practices, and perspectives on a novel clinical decision tool (beta-version) to facilitate individualized exercise prescriptions and discussions in clinical settings.
Methods: We recruited healthcare providers who had treated or provided care to breast cancer survivors aged \u3e= 35-years in the past 12 months. The participants were presented with a tool to provide individualized exercise recommendations considering women\u27s individual, clinical, and contextual characteristics. Validated and reliable pre-existing instruments were used to survey providers\u27 current knowledge, practices regarding exercise discussions, and perspectives on the beta-version (paper-draft) of the novel tool.
Results: The sample consisted of complete survey responses from 177 healthcare providers including breast oncologists (27.7%), primary care physicians (10.7%), exercise specialists (19.8%), occupational/physical therapists (18.1%), advanced care providers, nurses, navigators, and social workers (23.7%). Median years of experience was 8-years (range: 5-13). Overall, 62.1% (n = 110) reported that they were knowledgeable about counseling survivors based on exercise guidelines. Among breast oncologists and primary care physicians (n = 68), only 39.7% reported that they were knowledgeable about identifying patients for exercise referrals. The majority agreed that they would find the tool offering individualized information useful (n = 148, 83.6%), and would use it regularly to inform practice (82.5%). \u27Exercise Readiness\u27, \u27Exercise Resources at Home\u27, and \u27Quality-of-Life\u27 were the highest rated items for inclusion in the tool for exercise prescriptions. Provider perspectives were incorporated into the beta-version of the tool.
Conclusion: A clinical decision tool considering individual, clinical, and contextual characteristics may support exercise prescriptions and discussions in clinical settings. Implications for cancer survivors: An evidence-based tool for exercise prescriptions may increase healthcare provider confidence to discuss, educate, encourage, and provide exercise referrals for breast cancer survivors.
Implications for cancer survivors: An evidence-based tool for exercise prescriptions may increase healthcare provider confidence to discuss, educate, encourage, and provide exercise referrals for breast cancer survivors
