Ber Anena’s Vagina Diaries – A Review: An African Student’s Encounter with the American Health System

This work delves into the disappointment, indifference, and pretense experienced by the narrator when she sorts the American healthcare system. It also addresses the struggles immigrants face, particularly from Africa, as they navigate a healthcare system that often requires them to prove their pain and worthiness of attention. The narrative emphasizes the importance of not generalizing the entire healthcare system based on a single negative experience while acknowledging the profound impact on one\u27s perception of the system. Furthermore, it explores the paradox between the availability of better resources in America compared to the narrator\u27s home country and the mistreatment and challenges still faced by immigrants. The work emphasizes the need for empathy, understanding, and equitable care from medical practitioners, irrespective of patients\u27 backgrounds or identities. The narrative serves as a call to prioritize compassion and inclusivity in the healthcare system to ensure that every patient receives the care they deserve

Verbal Leases: What Happens If Someone Dies?

At a recent farmland leasing workshop, the question was raised, “I am a landlord with a handshake lease agreement. What happens if I die?” At the time, I gave the simple answer of “the new owners of the land will be subject to the lease.” Although this is technically correct, the situation is more nuanced than it appears. Depending on how the land is owned and passed on, there may be a period of uncertainty regarding who is responsible for the lease after the landowner’s death. Handshake, oral, or verbal lease agreements remain common for leasing agricultural land in Nebraska. When the terms of the lease are not negotiated or written, Nebraska State Statute provides provisions for various scenarios. In the case that the landlord dies during the term of a verbal lease agreement – and no additional verbal provisions related to this scenario were discussed and agreed to – the answer will depend on how the land is owned and passed on

Perception, Awareness, and Readiness by Academic Libraries towards the 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract Purpose: This study sought to evaluate academic libraries\u27 perception, awareness, and readiness towards the 2030 global agenda for SDGs Methodology: A qualitative methodology was employed, and structured interviews were utilised to collect data. The interviews served as the primary method of data collection and were designed to accomplish five objectives. The study focused on academic librarians as the target population, with a sample size of thirty librarians representing nine academic libraries. Findings: This study emphasises the mandatory prioritisation of all 17 SDGs by academic libraries, highlighting challenges such as insufficient financing, lack of awareness, and political instability among librarians. Practical Implications: In South-West Nigeria, promoting the 2030 global agenda for SDGs may enhanced librarian visibility, agency alliances, resource sharing, and awareness services. Originality/value of contribution: The study emphasises the significant role libraries play in promoting global cooperation, reducing poverty, and fostering peaceful coexistenc

Three New Species of \u3cem\u3eLepidocyrtus\u3c/em\u3e Bourlet (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from Florida, USA, and Descriptive Notes on \u3cem\u3eLepidocyrtus floridensis\u3c/em\u3e Snider

Abstract In North America, the genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet (Collembola: Entomobryidae) is represented by 18 species, but only three (L. floridensis Snider, L. millsi Snider, and L. pallidus Reuter) have been reported from Florida. We investigated species diversity in leaf litter samples from counties in the north-central and southern part of the state, as the reportedly low species diversity in Florida may be due to under-sampling. As a result, in this contribution we describe three species of Lepidocyrtus new to science: L. bobwoodruffi Soto-Adames, Jenks and Daly, new species, L. brambilae Soto-Adames, Jenks and Daly, new species and L. mikethomasi Soto-Adames, Jenks and Daly, new species. In addition, we provide notes to complement the description of L. floridensis. Resumen En America del Norte, el genero Lepidocyrtus Bourlet esta representado por 18 especies. Aunque el estado de Florida alberga una vasta diversidad de habitats, solo tres especies de Lepidocyrtus (L. floridensis Snider, L. millsi Snider y L. pallidus Reuter) han sido reportadas para la region. Asumiendo que la deficiencia en la diversidad de especies reportadas de Florida es debido a la falta de muestreo adecuado, examinamos colecciones aleatorias de condados en la region norcentral y sur del Estado. Como resultado, en la presente contribucion describimos tres especies nuevas para la ciencia: L. bobwoodruffi Soto-Adames, Jenks y Daly, nueva especie, L. brambilae Soto-Adames, Jenks y Daly, nueva especie, y L. mikethomasi Soto-Adames, Jenks y Daly, nueva especie. En adicion, proveemos notas que complementan la descripcion original de L. floridensis

On the Paratypes and Distribution of \u3cem\u3eHemipeplus quadricollis\u3c/em\u3e Pollock, 1999 (Coleoptera: Mycteridae: Hemipeplinae): Does It Occur in Peru?

Hemipeplus quadricollis Pollock, 1999 (Coleoptera: Mycteridae: Hemipeplinae), was originally described from Rondonia State, Brazil, as its type locality, with 10 paratypes: eight from Brazil (Rondonia State) and two from Peru (Madre de Dios and Loreto departments). However, one of the paratypes from Peru (Madre de Dios) was later identified as a cryptic species, Hemipeplus pseudoquadricollis KC and Pollock, 2025. This raises questions about the single remaining paratype from Peru—whether the species truly occurs in Peru—and how many of the paratypes of H. quadricollis are actually H. quadricollis. In this study, all seven remaining paratypes of H. quadricollis that were not studied by KC and Pollock (2025) were examined based on morphological characters to address these two questions. It was determined that the remaining paratype of H. quadricollis from Peru, collected in Loreto Department, is H. quadricollis, thus confirming its presence in Peru, while three out of the 10 paratypes of H. quadricollis are H. pseudoquadricollis

First Report of Corn Leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in the USA Midwest Suction Trap Network

Corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is native to Central and South America, but invasive in the United States. This species is a threat to corn, Zea mays L., one of the main crops of economic importance in the US, because it is also a vector of three pathogens responsible for corn stunt diseases complex: corn stunt spiroplasma (CSS), maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (MBSP), and maize rayado fino virus (MRFV). Therefore, monitoring the dispersal of this pest is necessary to document its geographic expansion and anticipate the incidence of corn stunt disease. Based on trap catches obtained from the Midwest Suction Trap Network in 2024, corn leafhopper populations increased late in the growing season in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. We will continue to monitor the dispersal of this invasive species through the Midwest Suction Trap Network to provide information to researchers, extension agents, and producers regarding this agronomically important pest

NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Ocean Carbon Observing Science Plan FY25 to FY35

United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration oceanic and atmospheric research ocean carbon observing science plan for fiscal years 2025 through 2035

Algorithms for Order Statistics in Farey Sequences: A Computational Study

Farey sequences are the sets of irreducible fractions in increasing order with denominator less or equal to some integer n. They are a well-known concept in number theory problems and are related to many other concepts in number theory including integer factoring, Fibonacci sequences, and Riemann’s Zeta function. In this paper, we investigate some known algorithms to solve certain problems in Farey sequences from a computational perspective. In particular, we implement established algorithms that have not been previously implemented with the goal of creating a package that can be used more broadly. We also develop a new algorithm for rational search which generalizes known algorithms for the problem. Advisor: Vinodchandran Variya

Trends in DNA Aanalysis to Determine Postmortem Interval: A Systematic Lilterature Review

Forensic taphonomy is a recently popular field within forensic anthropology with limited research in the Central Great Plains. Given decomposition varies by region, more studies must be done to understand aspects of decomposition in this region. However, it is one of the most important subfields of forensic anthropology since determining postmortem interval (PMI) is extremely important to successfully identifying a missing individual if other indications of who the individual is are nonexistent. In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted to answer what trends are seen in research being done for using DNA to determine PMI, and what methods should be used to use DNA to determine PMI. This study can be used as an indicator for what areas in this field could use more research, as well as pointing out ways to standardize data collection and reporting. The ‘preferred reporting items for systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses’ (PRISMA) (Xiao and Watson 2019; Finnaughty et al. 2023) were used to guide the methodology in conducting the systematic literature review. Articles were found for the systematic literature review (SLR) by searching seventeen different combinations of certain keywords on PubMed’s database. Out of 1,577 total articles found, 866 unique articles were included in the SLR for screening. After each screening the article number went from 866 to 82 to 24 articles that were included in data collection. Demographics of each study were collected from each article. For methods in determining PMI, specimen DNA was the most common (50%) method to use followed by microbiological methods (33.3%). The leading sampling methods for PMI were soil samples (37.5%) followed by swab samples (20.8%). Although collected, not much was done for the DNA yield of each article, since there was no consistency within the reporting of quantification between various articles. Future directions in this research include further examination and standardization of reporting quantified DNA and methods to determine PMI; further studies using other microbial methods such as bacteria and fungi that are common in decomposition; gathering this methodology and standardizing it for a field-accessible method that is simple to use for those that are not specialized in the field of taphonomy. Advisor: Elizabeth S. Clausin

Precision Feeding Methods to Increase Nitrogen and Energy Utilization in Lactating Dairy Cows

The environmental and economic costs of overfeeding N to dairy cattle are a challenge in today’s dairy industry. Two studies were conducted to address new opportunities for precision feeding N, which is a strategy where producers strive to feed cows the precise amount of N and amino acids that meet their individual requirements. The objective of the first study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing a rumen protected methionine (RPM) product via automatic milking system (AMS) concentrate on milk protein yield in lactating dairy cows. Fifty-one cows were randomly assigned to control (no RPM) or treatment groups. Milk yield and milk protein yield were similar between control and treatment groups in multiparous cows, but were reduced in primiparous cows fed the RPM. Milk fat percent wasn’t affected by the RPM. These results suggest that feeding RPM via an AMS is promising, but more research is needed. The objective of the second study was to 1) chemically characterize two novel, high protein corn milling coproducts resulting from different processes, and 2) determine the impact of adding one of these products, 50Y, to diets formulated to contain low concentrations of either RDP or RUP. In the first experiment, five samples of each feed were analyzed for chemical composition in a completely randomized design. In the second experiment, utilizing a twice replicated 5×5 Latin square design, 10 multiparous Jersey cows were grouped by milk yield and randomly assigned 1 of 5 treatment diets. Results indicated that the inclusion of 50Y in diets did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield, fat percent, milk fat yield, energy-corrected milk, or concentrations of energy. However, when a diet low in RDP to which 50Y was added was fed, cows increased milk protein percent and N excretion in feces compared to cows fed the low RDP diet. Thus, while there may be negative implications for N excretion, 50Y can be substituted for nonenzymatically browned soybean meal as a source of RUP. Advisor: Paul J. Kononof