bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between employment setting and job satisfaction among	CRC personnel
Authors: Armstrong Amy J. , Hawley Carolyn E. , Lewis Allen N. , Blankenship Charlene , Pugsley River A.
Published: November 2024

The exploration of job satisfaction among rehabilitation counselors is not a new undertaking, but few studies have evaluated this construct across a full array of professional employment contexts. This investigation explores employment settings of rehabilitation counselors and their relationship to both job satisfaction and intentions to quit. The results revealed that employment setting does influence job satisfaction and retention for certified rehabilitation counselors. Overall, employees of the vocational rehabilitation system (the majority within this setting consisted of State vocational rehabilitation personnel n=662, followed by Veteran's Administration, Community Rehabilitation Programs, One Stop Centers and Independent Living Centers, n=88) reported the lowest amount of job satisfaction and a substantial degree of intention to quit.
Assessment of working conditions and implementation of changes	among employees with spinal cord lesion – A case series
Authors: Sandsjö Leif , Valtonen Kirsi , Grundell Lena Olsson , Karlsson Ann-Katrin , Viikari-Juntura Eira
Published: November 2024

The objective of this study was to identify work situations of concern, implement changes, and evaluate how these changes affect working conditions in a group of employees with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and meningomyelocele (MMC).

Six persons with traumatic SCI and one with MMC were visited by an ergonomist at their workplace and assessed regarding accessibility and physical workload factors, especially risk factors for neck/shoulder disorders. The working conditions were documented by means of video, questionnaires, and the ergonomist's own observations. From situations identified, including the participant's own reporting of problematic situations, possible changes were discussed and implemented if feasible. All participants were offered to take part in a myofeedback intervention, aiming at reducing muscle load of the neck and shoulder muscles.

A remodelling of the workplace to get better access to items and tools was carried out in five out of seven cases. After these changes, the number of identified situations of concern was reduced. The relative rest time (RRT) improved in the neck and shoulder after the intervention in the four participants that completed the myofeedback training.

This study demonstrates that the working conditions of persons with spinal cord lesion (SCL) can be improved by an ergonomic intervention.
Emerging employer views of people with disabilities and the future	of job development
Authors: Luecking Richard G.
Published: November 2024

Employer views of people with disabilities and vocational rehabilitation programs have evolved along with societal views of disability and legislative initiatives to prevent employment discrimination. This article discusses relevant literature on these employer perspectives, relates these perspectives to an evolving paradigm of dual customer and demand-side job development, and discusses the implications of these perspectives for job development practice, especially as they relate to facilitating job development with job seekers who have requirements for unusual or extensive accommodation and support.
Job matching: Development and evaluation of a web-based instrument	to assess degree of match among employment preferences
Authors: Morgan Robert L.
Published: November 2024

To increase the probabilities of successful employment, job seekers with disabilities require precision assessment of their skills in relation to the job's requirements. Assessment of job seeker characteristics in relation to job requirements has been referred to as job matching. Ideally, job matching should be predicated on identification of an individual's job preferences and yield a listing of preferred jobs in terms of degree of match. This article describes job preference assessment, one method for assessing degree of match across preferred jobs, and initial field evaluation. Results from 18 young adults with developmental disabilities indicate the web-based program may yield scores useful in assessing degree of job match. Results are discussed in terms of implications for job seekers with disabilities and the need for additional research.
Enhancing transition outcomes for youth with disabilities: The	partnerships for youth initiative
Authors: Muthumbi Jane W.
Published: November 2024

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) encouraged the establishment of partnerships to address employment barriers facing individuals with disabilities and emphasized the coordination of services in order to improve the employment outcomes of these individuals. In response to WIA requirements, New York State established partnerships with local workforce investment boards, one-stop centers and their partners, school districts, employers, community and employment service providers to coordinate resources that would improve school-to-work transition and particularly employment outcomes for students with disabilities. While increased awareness and utilization of workforce development and vocational rehabilitation systems were positive outcomes of these initiatives, systemic issues in these systems are likely to undermine long-term transition outcomes of youth.
School-to-work program participation and the post-high school	employment of young adults with disabilities
Authors: Shandra Carrie L. , Hogan Dennis P.
Published: November 2024

Previous research on the education-to-employment transition for students with disabilities has suggested that participation in school-to-work programs is positively associated with post-high school success. This article utilizes data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) to extend these findings in several ways. First, we assess the efficacy of specific types of school-based and work-based initiatives, including job shadowing, mentoring, cooperative education, school-sponsored enterprise, technical preparation, internships, and career major. Next, we extend the usual focus on the employment outcomes of work status and financial compensation to consider job-specific information on the receipt of fringe benefits. Overall, results from longitudinal multivariate analyses suggest that transition initiatives are effective in facilitating vocational success for this population; however, different aspects of school-to-work programs are beneficial for different aspects of employment. School-based programs are positively associated with stable employment and full-time work while work-based programs most consistently increase the likelihood that youth with disabilities will be employed in jobs that provide fringe benefits. Analyses also indicate that – once individuals with disabilities are stably employed – they can be employed in "good" jobs that provide employee benefits.
The progress towards integrated employment in the UK
Authors: Beyer Stephen
Published: November 2024

Introduction: The UK has a significant body of equality legislation to underpin social inclusion of disabled people through employment. It has a mixed model of employment that includes factories, individualized employment support and supported employment. It does not have dedicated funding for supported employment however and these services rely on a jigsaw of funding. There has been a shift to bring people with health problems on welfare benefit into employment on health and cost grounds. Results: 45.6% of disabled people are employed compared to 76.2% for non-disabled people. Relative measures of employment advantage suggest that the situation for disabled people is getting worse. There has been a shift in the last 10 years from allocation to a programme to a more individualised service response and from factory to community employment. People with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems remain relative poorly served. Conclusions: If inclusion is to be achieved there is a need for adequate investment in the intensity and type of employment support appropriate to the needs of the person. Consideration should be given to policies that improve the availability of jobs, flexibility and inclusiveness among employers as well as measure that focus on the disabled person.
Assent practices in applied behavior analysis : the correlation between self-reported changes in practices and continuing education related to assent
Authors:   , Breaux Cassi Ami
Published: November 2024

The field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) has faced criticism from autistic advocacy groups. In response, assent-based ABA has emerged. There is extremely limited research on assent and the knowledge and behaviors of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) regarding assent procedures. The current study compared the self-reported behaviors of 1,354 BCBAs before experiencing asynchronous continuing education focused on dignity and assent with the self-reported behaviors of BCBAs directly after the continuous education experience. Results indicated that participating in an asynchronous online continuing education unit on assent practices led to statistically significant increases in self-reported assent scores, ableism scores, client dignity scores, and total scores, with an insignificant improvement in six-month follow-up scores. Differences in pre-test scores by demographic groups and prior assent experiences are discussed.
Are missing skills the key to success? A case study of behavior intervention support team (BIST) implementation in a small rural school district
Authors:   , Ficken Anthony James
Published: November 2024

The number of behavior concerns in schools is a growing concern in the United States. As schools seek solutions, many are turning towards Multi-Tiered Support Systems (MTSS) as a way to support struggling students. This qualitative case study sought to understand the experiences of teachers and administrators in a rural school district in Southwest Missouri on the topic of Behavior Intervention Support Teams (BIST). Interviews with current elementary and middle school staff were conducted to understand the experiences of the implementation process. The study produced the overarching themes of teacher leadership, professional development, consistency, turnover, and a lack of resources which influenced the successful implementation of the BIST system. Recommendations for practices for K-12 educators include recommendations in the areas of, communication and professional development all stemming from the overarching theme of teacher leadership.
Positive and negative reinforcement pathways linking sleep to alcohol use in daily life
Authors:   , Freeman Lindsey Kristin
Published: November 2024

Patterns of heavy, fast-paced drinking are increasingly common among young adults, and are associated with significant harms, including blackouts, sexual victimization, injury, and risk for developing alcohol use disorder. However, most college students and young adults do not express motivation to make changes related to their drinking, requiring additional strategies to engage and treat young adults at risk for alcohol-related harm. Given robust associations between hazardous alcohol use and poor sleep health, sleep interventions have emerged as a promising intervention opportunity to help prevent alcohol-related harm among young adults. However, little is known about potential mechanisms that may underlie associations between sleep disturbances and alcohol use. We used ecological momentary assessment to test positive and negative reinforcement pathways proposed to help explain the link between sleep disturbances and alcohol use. The study aimed to test (1) whether alcohol use would be associated with perceived improvements in sleep onset and sleep quality, (2) whether later sleep timing and shorter sleep duration would be associated with subjective stimulation during drinking episodes, and (3) whether less time spent asleep in bed (i.e., worse sleep efficiency) and worse sleep quality would be associated with subjective sedation and decreased anxiety during drinking episodes. Young adults who reported regular blackouts (N = 56, MAge = 23.23, 78.6 percent female) reported on alcohol use, sleep patterns, and subjective effects 4+ times daily for 30 days. Results indicated that participants may be especially sensitive to perceived improvements in sleep onset latency following days in which they drink alcohol (regardless of amount consumed), though at the expense of worse sleep quality ratings and disruption of sleep timing. In terms of the positive reinforcement pathway, we found that although alcohol may not have a reinforcing effect for later sleepers in terms of increasing positive affect, those who tend to have later bedtimes/ waketimes may experience alcohol in ways that do provide some positive reinforcement (i.e., increased likelihood of feeling "lively" or energized while drinking). In terms of the negative reinforcement pathway, individuals with worse sleep efficiency and worse sleep quality were more likely to endorse feeling sleepy and relaxed during drinking episodes. Collectively, this study advances our understanding of how individuals with different sleep patterns respond to alcohol in their natural environments, as well as how these reinforcing effects may perpetuate hazardous alcohol use over time.
Investigating solid-state properties of organic materials : cycloaddition reactions, thermal expansion, and thermosalience
Authors:   , George Gary Curtis
Published: November 2024

Although countless crystal structures have been determined since the discovery of X-ray diffraction by crystals over 100 years ago, there is still much to be learned. With the development of supramolecular chemistry, crystal engineering, and cocrystallization, crystalline solids with desirable properties can be developed, and their structure-function properties can be studied to further advance the field. The solid-state reactivity of crystalline materials is of great importance, as these reactions follow some rules of green chemistry, including being solvent free and typically having high atom efficiency. They also allow for regio- and stereo-control of the product(s) formed. Although the number of molecules that are reactive in the crystalline state are much less than for solution-state reactions, the number has been growing since the time of Gerhard Schmidt, who proposed rules for topochemical photodimerization in crystalline materials. The advancement of solid-state reactions has also been greatly influenced by cocrystallization, which can be used to 'template' the reactive materials to help align the reactive moieties for a solid-state reaction. Furthermore, these solid-state reactions can be used to modify the properties of crystalline materials. Thermal expansion, the response of a material to temperature change, has long been studied for various materials such as building materials (steel, concrete, various piping, etc.) has long been studied, but the thermal expansion of organic materials, especially that of cocrystals, is an emerging field. Materials scientists can benefit greatly from understanding thermal expansion and the key features that play a role in it in order to develop advanced materials, such as micro-electronic materials that would be exposed to fluctuating temperatures.
Former parents, current students exploring identity sensemaking processes in special education
Authors:   , Milarsky Tracey Kenyon
Published: November 2024

This qualitative study explores how five adults, former special education students who now parent children in similar special education classrooms engage in identity sensemaking. The research purpose of this study is to explore how these adults, now parents of children identified with educational disabilities, make sense of their special education experiences as former students and current parents. Using discursive-narrative methods, the stories and talk from online Story Circle, small group, and individual interview sessions are analyzed by using Gee's identity analysis (2000) and De Fina's level 3 positioning (2013) analytic frameworks. These analyses focus on how identity is recognized and positioned in conversation with dominant narratives about educational disability. The results of these analyses show the prevalence of stigmatizing silences related to disability. Links to dominant narratives found in these participants' narrated experiences also reveal how silences were interrupted by messages that specialized instruction related to identified educational disability could be escaped or overcome and that the experience of being in special education was marked with messages that disability identity was situated within a stigmatized hierarchy of dis/ability. Each participant made sense of their experiences as students in ways that involved combinations of accepting, rejecting and complicating dominant messages about what it means to be the kind of student who is in special education. All recognized their unique positioning to intentionally model what it is like to be the kind of person identified as needing special education for their children. These participants valued the opportunity to disrupt stigmatizing silences connected to this identity. This study offers valuable insights for special education, including potential future directions for the field to increase work focused on understanding the lived experiences of students identified with educational disabilities.
The accountability of education : policy analysis of the evaluation of K-12 districts in the state of Missouri
Authors:   , Ravens Samantha
Published: November 2024

This policy analysis examined the intersection of a statistical model and locus of control to recommend an accountability model that best upholds the criteria of equity, efficacy, and impact on student learning for Missouri schools. Using Eugene Bardach's eightfold path and informed by the quality education in schools framework, this analysis first explored the three most viable statistical models for accountability: status, improvement, and growth. Those models are then analyzed in the context of their locus of control, be it the local or state level. This intersection created six alternatives and formed the basis for policy recommendation. The analysis indicated that a valued-added growth model controlled at the state level best meets the established criteria. This policy allows for an increased level of equity using the value-added model and increases efficacy by generating comparative data on a state-level. While this model cannot confirm significant impact to student learning, data generated by the model could contribute to further research into best instructional practice.
Geochemical evidence for the origin of th-ree mineralization in the Lemhi Pass District, Idaho/Montana
Authors:   , May Rebecca A.
Published: November 2024

The Lemhi Pass district, recognized as the largest known thorium (Th) occurrence and the fifth largest rare earth element (REE) occurrence in the U.S., is part of a larger trend of Th-REE mineralization extending along the central Idaho-Montana border. The deposits occur in hydrothermal veins, and the nature and origin of the mineralizing fluids are not well characterized. Salinities of the mineralizing fluids were found to vary, with quartz-hosted fluid inclusions ranging from 12 to 31.1 equiv. wt. percent NaCl and fluorite-hosted fluid inclusions from 14 to 25.2 equiv. wt. percent NaCl. Homogenization temperatures (Th) also varied widely. Quartz-hosted fluid inclusion Th ranged from 100 to 392 degrees C. Fluorite-hosted fluid inclusion THanged from 76 to 174 [degrees] C. A combination of fluid inclusion microthermometry and Zr-in-rutile geothermometry from samples of the Last Chance mine suggest mineralizing fluid temperatures likely were between 468 and 538 [degrees] C and pressures between 4.9 and 9.8 kbars. These results indicate a depth of formation between 18 and 33 km. The pressure and temperature data suggest a metamorphic or magmatic origin for the Lemhi Pass fluids, though Lemhi Pass fluid inclusion compositions deviate from the typical compositional ranges of metamorphic and magmatic fluids. Lemhi Passfluid inclusion compositions more closely match those in carbonatites from the Tuva region in Russia and Amba Dongar, India, suggesting a possible carbonatite source for the Lemhi Pass mineralizing fluids. The Lemhi Pass mineralizing fluids were not particularly Th- or REE-rich. Most of the fluid inclusions did not contain detectable concentrations of Th or REEs. Those that did had REE concentrations mostly in the range of tenths to 10s of ppm and Th concentrations from about 1 to 12 ppm. The fluids were rich in base metals, with Zn and Pb concentrations up to 1000s of ppm and Cu concentrations up to 100s of ppm. However, Lemhi Pass contains little base metal sulfide mineralization, possibly due to the low pH of the mineralizing fluids, which may have been between 2.3 and 2.6 at the Lucky Horseshoe deposit. The oxidizing nature of the mineralizing fluids could have further inhibited base metal sulfide mineral precipitation. The elevated levels of fluoride and chloride in the mineralizing fluids are likely to have increased the solubility of Th and REEs, contributing to their enrichment in the Lemhi Pass deposits.
Cycles and drivers of spatiotemporal variation of forest soil respiration at the intra-landform scale
Authors:   , Seubert Hunter Anton
Published: November 2024

Spatiotemporal variability of soil respiration (RS) is a primary driver of large uncertainties associated with forest carbon budgets. However, most studies focus on either spatial or temporal variations, not both. As the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as heavy rain and drought, increase it is crucial to understand how these stressors affect the spatial variation of RS to reduce uncertainties in carbon budgets. We analyzed a decades-long data set of continuous chamber measurements from a temperate deciduous forest in the central USA to examine spatiotemporal variations of RS and the influence of water status on these patterns. Our findings reveal that spatial variation of RS changes seasonally and is significantly affected by water status. During drought conditions, the mean daily spatial variation of summer RS increased from a CV of RS of 16.6 percent to a CV of RS of 28.1 percent, and the daily amplitude also rose. A power analysis indicated that spatial variation observed at the MOFLUX forest prevented detection of changes in RS between MOFLUX and a hypothetical forest. Spatial variability peaked at soil water content levels of 0.2 m^3 m^-3 and 0.5 m^3 m^-3, indicating that in the extremes, soil water content drives spatial variation. Additionally, our analysis showed that soil water content (SWC) and soil temperature (Tsoil) are key drivers of spatial variation of RS, with the influence of these drivers shifting seasonally. During the non-growing season, soil climatic variables explained more of the spatial variation among chambers compared to the growing season. These results highlight the seasonality in the drivers of spatial variation of RS, where soil climatic variables have greater explanatory power during the non-growing season. Our results demonstrate that both seasonality and extreme water conditions significantly influence the spatiotemporal variability of RS, providing valuable insights for improving understanding of forest RS spatial variation.
Exploring the views of cultural competence of strategic communication practitioners on the example of public service advertisements against domestic violence through in-depth interviews
Authors:   , Belobrovkina Evgeniia
Published: November 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] Cultural competence is one of the cornerstones of effective strategic health communication in public service advertising: the cultural competence of strategic communication practitioners influences the outcomes of interventions developed by them -- public service advertisements (PSAs). Specifically, cultural competence contributes to developing more persuasive PSAs since culture influences behaviors and how people perceive messages, meaning that culture should be considered when designing PSAs. The importance to consider culture in public service advertising especially increases for countries that have significant cultural diversity (e.g., the United States) and for addressing issues that are much rooted in culture, such as domestic violence -- a crucial issue in public health worldwide and relevant public service advertising. However, there is not much known about whether strategic communication practitioners are aware of the concept of cultural competence. In this light, the dissertation aimed to explore the awareness, understanding, and views of cultural competence as well as the experiences with cultural competence of strategic communication practitioners who have been involved in developing domestic violence PSAs in the United States through the method of in-depth interviews. For the reason that, to the author's knowledge, there existed no conceptual definition of cultural competence in mediated strategic health communication obtained through a systematic process of concept explication as a method, the dissertation, applying a concept explication method by McLeod and Pan, provides a tentative conceptual definition of cultural competence, including its dimensions (i.e., cultural knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and cultural awareness). Next, nine strategic communication practitioners were interviewed for the study, where the interview guide was based on the conceptual definition of cultural competence. Thematic data analysis has brought the following key findings. First, the practitioners in the sample showed their awareness of cultural competence, positive attitude toward cultural competence, and ranked its importance for the effectiveness of PSAs against domestic violence highly. Second, cultural competence may relate to cultural diversity in the person's environment (e.g., in the workplace or community). Last, external factors at the different levels of the socio-ecological model (i.e., the relationship, community, and societal levels) may much facilitate developing cultural competence. Through both the concept explication and empirical study, the dissertation establishes the foundation for the further theorizing of cultural competence and empirical research and promotes consistency in the concept's use. Future research should continue examining the concept of cultural competence and its role in effective mediated strategic health communication.
Transformations in the Midwest landscape through perennial agriculture
Authors:   , Caruthers Andria Deneise
Published: November 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] Integrating perennial crops into working lands is proposed as one strategy to support ecologically-friendly farming practices that benefit farmer livelihoods and healthy lands. However, transitioning into perennial practices must occur in an agricultural regime that increasingly prioritizes the cultivation of a few annual crops on a very large scale. These agricultural practices benefit from institutional support and mechanisms that rarely extend to perennial crops. Accordingly, growers who wish to adopt perennial crops as a livelihood strategy are required to innovate, assemble resources, and strategize to meet their objectives. This study uses spatial autocorrelation methods, semi-structured interviews, and a survey to explore current trends and perennial cropping practices in the US. The interviews and survey use American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) production to understand growers' values, motivations, and challenges they experience with elderberry production. Results from these studies are intended to provide guidance on optimizing strategies for targeting technical assistance, policy, programs, and provide a deeper understanding of the various capitals and resources that growers use and need to maintain and enhance production. Addressing these knowledge gaps will hopefully improve the efficacy of perennial agriculture as a viable livelihood strategy that continues to spread through US working lan
Electrochemistry and surface chemistry study of transition metal-ionic liquid interfaces : electrochemical applications
Authors:   , Chen Tongtong
Published: November 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] In summary, this dissertation work is one of the first to systematically investigate the fundamental electrochemistry and surface chemistry at the transition metal electrode and ionic liquid-based electrolyte interface and study their electrocatalytic properties for the important environmental molecules: TCE and CO2 for electrochemical application development. Our findings show that transition metals and ionic liquids provide sustainable electrochemical systems for electrochemical sensors and electrochemical mitigation of important chemicals by taking advantage of the reactivities of the transition metals and the unique properties and tunability of the ionic liquid electrolytes and solvents.
Glass curtain wall and anchorage system response under blast loading
Authors:   , Elkilani Ahmed Mohamed Elazab Ahmed
Published: November 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] Extreme events, such as blasts, pose a severe threat to a building's structural integrity. The building envelope serves as the primary defense against external explosions. Blast hazards continue to pose a threat to occupant safety. To address such problems, research and development of blast-resistant materials and structures continue to be a critical need. In addition, the development of engineering analysis and design methodologies is necessary; that can be used to create a set of minimum standards to be incorporated into all construction. Glass curtain walls (CW), widely used in administrative and commercial buildings, offer an aesthetic and lightweight solution. They transfer lateral loads to the main structure, comprised of vertical and horizontal aluminum mullions. Laminated glass (LG) is secured using rubber gasket glazing, consisting of multiple glass panes with polymer interlayers. This research focuses on developing recommendations for response prediction of laminated glass CW systems and their improved design under blast loading. It employs both numerical and experimental analyses of CW materials, components, anchorage systems, and the entire structure to predict their performance under blast loads. An extensive experimental investigation was conducted on seven different cured and uncured polymeric LG interlayers to evaluate their quasi-static and dynamic responses. The study assessed the performance of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), and SentryGlas [registered trademark symbol] (SG) from two suppliers, as well as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), under varying temperatures. Additionally, it evaluated the static resistance function of LG panels using a full-scale water chamber and developed finite element (FE) numerical models to predict their dynamic responses, which were verified using field experiments. The validated numerical models will be used to examine the effects of different design parameters. Furthermore, an experimental program was developed to assess the quasi-static response of full-scale CW mullions. These tests were conducted on both conventional and improved design specimens, as well as mullions utilizing various substrates, using a 16-point loading tree. For the entire CW system, quasi-static vacuum chamber testing was performed on full-scale CW systems. Using a vacuum chamber, quasi-static loading was applied to these systems until failure, including both conventional and improved designs. Numerical models were developed and validated using experimental data to predict the response of CW systems under quasi-static loading. The results of this study can be used to enhance existing methods for predicting the dynamic response of CW systems under blast conditions and to provide cost-effective design recommendations.
Administrator experiences responding to "hate speech" incidents at public colleges and universities
Authors:   , Forqueran Kelsey Danielle
Published: November 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] As often as "hate speech" incidents occur on college and university campuses, little research has been conducted on the experience of Equity and Compliance administrators at public colleges and universities who work to respond to and resolve such incidents on their campuses. The purpose of this study was to better understand how public college and university Equity and Compliance administrators have responded to "hate speech" incidents on their own campuses, by exploring the challenges they face when responding to incidents, what training or preparation they received to respond to "hate speech" incidents, and what recommendations they would provide to others responding to "hate speech" incidents on their campus. Participants described challenges when responding to incidents including no shared definition of "hate speech," world events, and their own mental health and wellbeing. Participants provided information about their training and preparation to respond to "hate speech" incidents which includes backgrounds in law and law enforcement. Participants also shared recommendations for administrators who are tasked with responding to "hate speech" incidents, including increased training and education for campus communities regarding the First Amendment, building a response team, and having a plan in place before an incident occurs.
Alleviating the stress response in porcine embryos due to embryo culture
Authors:   , Noland Rylie Suzanne
Published: November 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] Assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro production of porcine embryos, are a crucial part of biomedical and agricultural research. They can be used to create models of disease, to study development, or to improve different production traits. These embryos are highly valuable, because most pig embryos that are transferred have been genetically modified. However, the culture system used to produce these embryos is generally inefficient; thus, there is an interest in improving the system to enhance the production of genetically modified pigs. Preimplantation embryos can adapt to the stress of the in vitro culture environment, but the quality of such embryos is often impaired. Furthermore, significant embryo loss occurs during the first few weeks of gestation in the pig. This loss is even greater in pregnancies using valuable in vitro produced embryos. Therefore, different components of porcine embryo culture media were investigated, with the goal of potentially making modifications to improve development of embryos in vitro. The first aim was to determine if gentamicin has an adverse effect on the quality of porcine embryos cultured in vitro. The second aim was to evaluate different p53 inhibiting compounds for their ability to encourage porcine to embryos resist apoptosis. The third aim was to determine if a combination of three antioxidants could improve porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development in vitro. These studies ultimately provide information which can be used to better understand the embryo's interaction with the in vitro culture environment or to improve the system.
Low-overhead zero trust for communication and computation tasks in tactical edge networks
Authors:   , Poduvu Saketh Narayan Reddy
Published: November 2024

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] Tactical Edge Network (TEN) environments are critical to deploy applications in e.g., military, disaster response, and industrial manufacturing environments. With TENs involving dynamic interactions of edge devices and users, cyber attacks aim to disrupt computation and communication (C&C) tasks in a critical mission. Therefore, implementing a suitable Zero Trust (ZT) security architecture is necessary to enforce e.g., the law of least privilege, microsegmentation, and continuous authentication/access verification to limit attack impacts. However, there is a need to transform ZT security principles that are typically developed for unconstrained data center environments with reliable networking and abundant computing power and are not suitable in a TEN setting that is characterized as Denied, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited (DDIL). In this thesis, we present a novel ZT architecture viz., Arculus with a risk-based ZT scale approach that tailors security measures to scenario-associated risk levels, while having low resource overheads. Specifically, we devise a Bayesian Network model to evaluate communication request risk based on metrics indicating possible attacks. In addition, we formulate a ZT metric based on the evaluated risk, environmental constraints, and entity attributes resulting in an assigned grade reflecting these factors. We tie this ZT architecture to Task-Based Access Control (TBAC) that secures C&C tasks in TENs relating to a collaborative drone swarm (CDS) use case by dynamically assigning and revoking privileges in a just-in-time manner. We also detail how the Arculus-TBAC can handle DDIL constraints (e.g., limited battery, physical hijacking and network partition scenarios) via a sliding-scale ZT approach to ensure mission success in a situation-aware manner. Lastly, we implement our Arculus-TBAC approach using a realistic CDS testbed featuring a 'stealthy reconnaissance and resupply mission' in a TEN setting, and demonstrate the efficiency (i.e., without excessive privileges) and efficacy (i.e., ability to handle DDIL constraints) of our Arculus approach to secure TEN-based applications.
Investigating the MRI Lesions and Their Relationship With Cognition Condition for Multiple Sclerosis
Authors:   Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Firoozgar General Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Ebrahimi Ramin , Kateb Hamideh ,   Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Firoozgar General Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Moshfeghi Saeedreza ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Research Center, School of Medicine, Five Senses Health Research Institute, Hazrat-e Rasool General Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran., Haji Akhoundi Fahimeh ,   Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Firoozgar General Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Published: November 2024

Background and Aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system, causing demyelination and axon loss. Cognitive impairment is also prevalent in patients. This study aims to measure magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and their relation to cognitive impairments in MS patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 50 patients with a definite diagnosis of MS at Firoozgar Hospital in Tehran Province, Iran, from 2019 to 2021. MRI, complete neurological and psychological examinations, and information documented in the records were used to prepare a complete list of clinical, neurological, and psychological manifestations. The severity of these symptoms was assessed, and patients were scored according to the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), cholinergic pathways hyperintensities scale (CHIPS), and brief international cognitive assessment for multiple sclerosis (BICAMS) criteria. Results: This study included 36 women and 14 men with a mean age of 34.14±9.4 years. Relapse and remission were observed in 70% of patients. CHIPS score had a significant relationship with spinal symptoms. Also, the BICAMS score of patients showed a significant relationship with limbic involvement in MRI. The third ventricular diameter and CHIPS score were positively correlated with the BICAMS score. Patients’ EDSS score had a significant relationship with the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) score. Conclusion: In this study, a significant relationship is observed between the size of the third ventricle and the CHIPS score with decreased cognitive function in MS patients. Therefore, MRI can be used to suspect cognitive disorders in MS patients.
Understanding SIP and VoIP: Fundamental Technologies in Modern Communication Systems
Authors: Naga Praneeth Yerram
Published: November 2024

This comprehensive article examines the fundamental technologies driving modern unified communications, specifically Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems. The article analyzes SIP's technical framework and architecture, exploring its critical role in establishing, maintaining, and terminating multimedia communication sessions across IP networks. The investigation delves into VoIP's technical foundations, examining digital voice transmission processes, infrastructure components, and economic implications in enterprise deployments. Through detailed case studies of prominent platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the study illuminates practical implementation strategies and challenges in real-world scenarios. The article also addresses emerging trends, including the integration of artificial intelligence, 5G networks, and advanced security protocols, while identifying crucial areas for future research and development. The article demonstrates that SIP and VoIP technologies offer significant cost advantages and serve as catalysts for digital transformation in enterprise communications. This analysis provides valuable insights for IT professionals, system architects, and business leaders seeking to understand and leverage these technologies in their unified communication strategies.
ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ОПТИЧНОГО ПОГЛИНАННЯ ТА СТРУКТУРИ ТОНКИХ ПЛІВОК ПОЛІАМІНОАРЕНІВ
Authors: МАРКІВ Юлія , КОНОПЕЛЬНИК Оксана , АКСІМЕНТЬЄВА Олена , ЦІЖ Богдан
Published: November 2024

Спряжені полімери, у тому числі поліаміноарени, активно використовуються у багатьох галузях досліджень, зокрема, для вдосконалення сенсорів, оптоелектронних та фотонних пристроїв завдяки унікальним фізико-хімічним властивостям пов’язаним з наявністю π-спряжених електронних зв’язків, делокалізованих вздовж полімерного ланцюга. Останніми роками зріс інтерес до використання спряжених полімерів у сенсорах (хемосенсорах) як чутливих до дії різних газів полімерних плівок. Вивчено особливості структури та оптичного поглинання тонких плівок поліаміноаренів – поліаніліну та поліортотолуїдину на прозорих скляних субстратах з нанесеним шаром оксиду олова. Для отримання зразків використано метод хімічної окисної полімеризації аміноаренів у водному розчині сульфатної кислоти під дією еквімолярної кількості персульфату амонію. Проаналізовано особливості оптичного поглинання тонких плівок поліаміноаренів на оптично-прозорій напівпровідниковій поверхні в діапазоні довжин хвиль 300–1100 нм. Встановлено, що спектри поглинання характеризуються наявністю широких смуг в області 300-450 нм та 700–900 нм, зумовлених електронними переходами у спряженій полімерній системі та поглинанням вільних носіїв заряду (поляронів). Використовуючи метод Таука, визначено оптичну ширину забороненої зони поліаміноаренів (Еg). Встановлено, що значення Еg для поліаніліну та поліортотолуїдину становлять 2,62±0,07 та 3,05±0,10 еВ відповідно. Наявність замісника у бензольному кільці ймовірно зменшує довжину спряження π-електронних зв’язків, що призводить до підвищення енергії переходу з валентної зони в зону провідності. Плівки поліаміноаренів протестовано на сенсорну чутливість до випарів органічних розчинників. Встановлено, що максимальна чутливість поліаніліну до нітробензолу спостерігається при λ > 800 нм, а поліортотолуїдину до диметилформаміду – при λ > 700 нм. При цьому значення оптичної ширини забороненої зони за наявності органічних молекул змінюються мало, що може свідчити про фізичний характер адсорбції органічних молекул на поверхні поліаміноаренів.
КРИСТАЛІЧНА СТРУКТУРА ХАЛЬКОГЕНІДІВ ND3AG4XGE1.25-XSE7 (X = 0.05; 0.10; 0.15)
Authors: БЛАШКО Назарій , МАРЧУК Олег
Published: November 2024

Три зразки стехіометричних складів Nd3Ag0.2Ge1.2Se7, Nd3Ag0.40Ge1.15Se7 і Nd3Ag0.60Ge1.10Se7, масою один грам кожен, отримані спіканням елементарних високочистих компонентів у вакуумованих кварцевих ампулах (1.33·10 -2 Па) за максимальної температури синтезу 1150 °С. Кристалічна структура селенідів Nd3Ag4xGe1.25-xSe7 (x = 0.05; 0.10; 0.15): Nd3Ag0.2Ge1.2Se7 (a = 10.5661(1) Å, c = 6.0381(7) Å, RI = 0.0811, Rp = 0.1978), Nd3Ag0.4Ge1.15Se7 (a = 10.5863(4) Å, c = 6.0359(4) Å, RI = 0.0883, Rp = 0.2017) та Nd3Ag0.6Ge1.1Se7 (a = 10.6045(6) Å, c = 6.0446(5) Å, RI = 0.0880, Rp = 0.1904) вивчена рентґенівським методом порошку. Досліджені структури належать до структурного типу La3CuSiS7 (ПГ P63; СП hP24). У їх структурі атоми неодиму розташовані в ПСТ 6с (x y z) і разом з атомами селену формують тригональні призми з двома додатковими атомами [Nd Se14Se23Se3] (КЧ = 8). Атоми статистичних сумішей R1 (0.20 Ge + 0.20 Ag), R2 (0.15 Ge + 0.40 Ag) та R3 (0.10 Ge + 0.60 Ag), що займають ПСТ 2а (0 0 z) розташовані практично на одній з граней октаедра [R(Ag+Ge) 6Se]. За рахунок цього ці атоми лежать в площині трикутників [М 3Se2]. Атоми Ge, що локалізовані в ПСТ 2b (1/3 2/3 z) мають тетраедричне оточення [Gе Se13Se3] з атомів селену. Селен в кристалічній гратці має три атомні позиції: Sе1(ПСТ 2b), Sе2 та Sе3 (ПСТ 6с). На елементарну комірку припадає дві формульні одиниці Nd3Ag4xGe1.25-xSe7. Тригональні призми [Nd 8Se] з’єднанні маж собою ребрами і формують “блоки” (по три призми в кожному). Октаедри [R(Ag+Ge) 6Se] мають спільні грані і утворюють “колони” в напрямку головної осі. Тригональні призми з октаедрами утворюють спільні грані. Тетраедри [Ge 4Se] є ізольовані один від одного. При збільшенні вмісту арґентуму спостерігається збільшення параметрів елементарної комірки за рахунок розмірного фактору. Германійвмісні селеніди Nd3Ag4xGe1.25-xSe7 (x = 0.05; 0.10; 0.15) на основі неодиму є перспективними халькогенідними фазами на основі яких можуть бути створені матеріали для нелінійної оптики. За рахунок наявності в структурі рідкісноземельних елементів матеріали на основі таких селенідів можуть прогнозовано володіти слабкими парамагнітними властивостями.