236 research outputs found
Satellite Outreach Services Program to Under-represented Students: Being in Their Space, not on MySpace
strategic goal of the University of New Mexico is student retention, especially for underrepresented students. To assist in reaching that goal, the University Libraries offered the Satellite Outreach Services Program, which included reference and instruction, and was provided in the university\u27s multicultural student services centers. This article describes the program\u27s planning, implementation, and statistics and includes a detailed description of outreach activities for one of the student centers, American Indian Student Services
Click It, No More Tick It: Online Reference Statistics
This article describes the creation of an online reference intake form that collects statistics and provides detailed reports. Included is a practical application, based on analysis of Native American questions, for collection development
Exploring the Open-Close Mechanism of Dimorphotheca aurantiaca: Day versus Night and Cold versus Hot Temperatures
In the spring of every year on Pepperdine Universityâs campus, patches of hills are covered with the South African native flower Dimorphotheca aurantiaca or more commonly known as the African Daisy. An observation of the opening and closing mechanism of the flower triggered an important question: does the flower change its shape based on temperature or the presence of light? At night, the African Daisy closes and then opens up again in the daytime. Because temperature has such strong effects on different species of ectodermic animals and temperature-sensitive plants, we hypothesized that the change in temperature initiates the flowerâs morphological change. Six flower pots were placed in warmer temperature and then in colder temperature, both under light and then under darkness for six-hour periods. The infrared thermometer was used to accurately measure what temperature the flowers were detecting. Ultimately, we did not reject the null: The African Daisy responded more significantly to change in light exposure than to change in temperature. This discovery reveals that the flower detects light to maintain its survival
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Proposing a Sustainable Destination Image Marketing Framework: An Analysis of Destination Marketing Organizations in the United States
This paper examines sustainable tourism marketing efforts within the context of destination promotion. Mission statements, marketing plans and online advertising employed by signature website of fifty-one state tourism offices are content analyzed using a âSustainable Marketingâ framework. The three marketing sources representing destination image marketing strategies are joined in a forward linkage fashion. Based on literature review, a list of tentative sustainable indicators is prepared. These include cultural/social, economic and ecological measures. Additionally, general/institutional indicators, not belonging to any of the aforementioned categories, are used. Selected indicators are matched with the core themes in the documents and the signature websites. Findings indicate that the state tourism offices are far from implementing sustainable messages in their promotional materials at the grass roots level. Mission Statements are mostly vague and predominant focus on sustainable development is remiss. Marketing plans receive the lowest score in terms of emphasis on sustainable development and responsible behavior. Surprisingly, most of the websites surpass the mission statements and marketing plans in their visible commitment towards promoting sustainability. However, it is observed that in several websites, sustainability indicators are not prominently placed to advocate their importance. By taking a supply-side perspective and moving beyond touristsâ needs to incorporate the concept of sustainable marketing, this paper makes an important academic and practitioner contribution towards responsible development of tourism with minimum externalities
Environment shapes sleep patterns in a wild nocturnal primate
Among primates, the suborder Haplorhini is considered to have evolved a consolidated monophasic sleep pattern, with diurnal species requiring a shorter sleep duration than nocturnal species. Only a few primate species have been systematically studied in their natural habitat where environmental variables, including temperature and light, have a major influence on sleep and activity patterns. Here we report the first sleep study on a nocturnal primate performed in the wild. We fitted seven wild Javan slow lorises (Nycticebus javanicus) in West Java, Indonesia with accelerometers that collected activity data, and installed climate loggers in each individual's home range to collect ambient temperature readings (over 321 days in total). All individuals showed a strictly nocturnal pattern of activity and displayed a striking synchronisation of onset and cessation of activity in relation to sunset and sunrise. The longest consolidated rest episodes were typically clustered near the beginning and towards the end of the light period, and this pattern was inversely related to daily fluctuations of the ambient temperature. The striking relationship between daily activity patterns, light levels and temperature suggests a major role of the environment in shaping the daily architecture of waking and sleep. We concluded that well-known phenotypic variability in daily sleep amount and architecture across species may represent an adaptation to changes in the environment. Our data suggest that the consolidated monophasic sleep patterns shaped by environmental pressures observed in slow lorises represent phylogenetic inertia in the evolution of sleep patterns in humans
Psychological distress and unsatisfied need for psychosocial support in adolescent and young adult cancer patients during the first year following diagnosis
Purpose Identifying atârisk adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and referring them to ageâappropriate psychosocial support services may be instrumental in reducing psychological distress and promoting psychosocial adaptation. The purpose of this study is to identify trajectories of clinically significant levels of distress throughout the first year following diagnosis and to distinguish factors, including supportive care service use, that predict the extent to which AYAs report distress. Methods In this prospective multisite study, 215 AYAs aged 15â39 years were assessed for psychological distress and psychosocial support service use within the first 4 months of diagnosis and again 6 and 12 months later. On the basis of distress scores, respondents were assigned to one of four distress trajectory groups (Resilient, Recovery, Delayed, and Chronic). Multiple logistic regression analyses examined whether demographics, clinical variables, and reports of unsatisfied need for psychosocial support were associated with distress trajectories over 1 year. Results Twelve percent of AYAs reported clinically significant chronic distress throughout the first 12 months following diagnosis. An additional 15% reported delayed distress. Substantial proportions of AYAs reported that needs for information (57%), counseling (41%), and practical support (39%) remained unsatisfied at 12 months following diagnosis. Not getting counseling needs met, particularly with regard to professional mental health services, was observed to be significantly associated with distress over time. Conclusions Substantial proportions of AYAs are not utilizing psychosocial support services. Findings suggest the importance of identifying psychologically distressed AYAs and addressing their needs for mental health counseling throughout a continuum of care. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109318/1/pon3533.pd
The relationship between posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients
ObjectiveTheories of posttraumatic growth suggest that some degree of distress is necessary to stimulate growth; yet, investigations of the relationship between stress and growth following trauma are mixed. This study aims to understand the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients.Method165 AYA patients aged 14â39 years at diagnosis completed standardized measures of posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth at 12 months following diagnosis. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing and regression were used to examine linear and curvilinear relationships between posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth.ResultsNo significant relationships between overall posttraumatic stress severity and posttraumatic growth were observed at 12âmonth followâup. However, curvilinear relationships between reâexperiencing (a posttraumatic stress symptom) and two of five posttraumatic growth indicators (New Possibilities, Personal Strengths) were observed.ConclusionFindings suggest that reâexperiencing is associated with some aspects of posttraumatic growth but not others. Although reâexperiencing is considered a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder, it also may represent a cognitive process necessary to achieve personal growth for AYAs. Findings call into question the supposed psychopathological nature of reâexperiencing and suggest that reâexperiencing, as a cognitive process, may be psychologically adaptive. Opportunities to engage family, friends, cancer survivors, or health care professionals in frank discussions about fears, worries, or concerns may help AYAs reâexperience cancer in a way that enhances their understanding of what happened to them and contributes to positive adaptation to life after cancer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110582/1/pon3585.pd
Prevalence and predictors of postâtraumatic stress symptoms in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a 1âyear followâup study
Objectives Postâtraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been identified as a meaningful indicator of distress in cancer survivors. Distinct from young adult survivors of childhood cancer, young people diagnosed with cancer as adolescents and young adults (AYAs) face unique psychosocial issues; however, there is little published research of PTSS in the AYA population. This study examines prevalence and predictors of PTSS among AYAs with cancer. Methods As part of a longitudinal study of AYAs with cancer, 151 patients aged 15â39âyears completed mailed surveys at 6 and 12âmonths postâdiagnosis. Severity of PTSS was estimated at 6 and 12âmonths postâdiagnosis. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the predictive effects of socioâdemographic and clinical characteristics on changes in PTSS over time. Results At 6 and 12âmonths, respectively, 39% and 44% of participants reported moderate to severe levels of PTSS; 29% had PTSS levels suggestive of postâtraumatic stress disorder. No significant differences in severity of PTSS between 6 and 12âmonths were observed. Regression analyses suggested that a greater number of side effects were associated with higher levels of PTSS at 6âmonths. Currently receiving treatment, having surgical treatment, diagnosis of a cancer type with a 90â100% survival rate, remaining unemployed/not in school, and greater PTSS at 6âmonths were associated with higher levels of PTSS at 12âmonths. Conclusions Postâtraumatic stress symptoms were observed as early as 6âmonths following diagnosis and remained stable at 12âmonth followâup. The development of early interventions for reducing distress among AYA patients in treatment is recommended. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/99033/1/pon3217.pd
Deletion of either the regulatory gene ara1 or metabolic gene xki1 in Trichoderma reesei leads to increased CAZyme gene expression on crude plant biomass.
BackgroundTrichoderma reesei is one of the major producers of enzymes for the conversion of plant biomass to sustainable fuels and chemicals. Crude plant biomass can induce the production of CAZymes in T. reesei, but there is limited understanding of how the transcriptional response to crude plant biomass is regulated. In addition, it is unknown whether induction on untreated recalcitrant crude plant biomass (with a large diversity of inducers) can be sustained for longer. We investigated the transcriptomic response of T. reesei to the two industrial feedstocks, corn stover (CS) and soybean hulls (SBH), over time (4 h, 24 h and 48 h), and its regulatory basis using transcription factor deletion mutants (Îxyr1 and Îara1). We also investigated whether deletion of a xylulokinase gene (Îxki1) from the pentose catabolic pathway that converts potential inducers could lead to increased CAZyme gene expression.ResultsBy analyzing the transcriptomic responses using clustering as well as differential and cumulative expression of plant biomass degrading CAZymes, we found that corn stover induced a broader range and higher expression of CAZymes in T. reesei, while SBH induced more pectinolytic and mannanolytic transcripts. XYR1 was the major TF regulating CS utilization, likely due to the significant amount of d-xylose in this substrate. In contrast, ARA1 had a stronger effect on SBH utilization, which correlates with a higher abundance of l-arabinose in SBH that activates ARA1. Blocking pentose catabolism by deletion of xki1 led to higher expression of CAZyme encoding genes on both substrates at later time points. Surprisingly, this was also observed for Îara1 at later time points. Many of these genes were XYR1 regulated, suggesting that inducers for this regulator accumulated over time on both substrates.ConclusionOur data demonstrates the complexity of the regulatory system related to plant biomass degradation in T. reesei and the effect the feedstock composition has on this. Furthermore, this dataset provides leads to improve the efficiency of a T. reesei enzyme cocktail, such as by the choice of substrate or by deleting xki1 to obtain higher production of plant biomass degrading CAZymes
Environment shapes sleep patterns in a wild nocturnal primate
Among primates, the suborder Haplorhini is considered to have evolved a consolidated monophasic sleep pattern, with diurnal species requiring a shorter sleep duration than nocturnal species. Only a few primate species have been systematically studied in their natural habitat where environmental variables, including temperature and light, have a major influence on sleep and activity patterns. Here we report the first sleep study on a nocturnal primate performed in the wild. We fitted seven wild Javan slow lorises (Nycticebus javanicus) in West Java, Indonesia with accelerometers that collected activity data, and installed climate loggers in each individualâs home range to collect ambient temperature readings (over 321 days in total). All individuals showed a strictly nocturnal pattern of activity and displayed a striking synchronisation of onset and cessation of activity in relation to sunset and sunrise. The longest consolidated rest episodes were typically clustered near the beginning and towards the end of the light period, and this pattern was inversely related to daily fluctuations of the ambient temperature. The striking relationship between daily activity patterns, light levels and temperature suggests a major role of the environment in shaping the daily architecture of waking and sleep. We concluded that well-known phenotypic variability in daily sleep amount and architecture across species may represent an adaptation to changes in the environment. Our data suggest that the consolidated monophasic sleep patterns shaped by environmental pressures observed in slow lorises represent phylogenetic inertia in the evolution of sleep patterns in humans
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