Economic Analysis of Selected Horse Production Systems in Oklahoma

Agricultural Economic

Shared Governance at Virginia Commonwealth University: Increasing Awareness of Shared Governance Among Faculty

Abstract SHARED GOVERNANCE AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY: INCREASING AWARENESS OF SHARED GOVERNANCE AMONG FACULTY By Andrea H. Becker, Carlton H. Goode, Jennifer C. Rivers, Melissa W. Tyler A capstone project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2022. Capstone Chair: Jonathan D. Becker, Ph.D., Department of Educational Leadership The primary focus of this study is to understand and define the concept of shared governance as practiced at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The researchers approached the study through three guiding questions: What is shared governance as understood through relevant literature and practice; What are the current faculty perceptions of shared governance at VCU; How can awareness of shared governance be increased at the institution? A naturalistic study was conducted including a thorough literature review and narrative data collection from focus groups, individual interviews, and a modified charrette. Participants included faculty across the institution from a variety of ranks, units, and demographics. The study found faculty perceptions and literature speak to two overarching ways to experience shared governance at VCU: structure and culture. Structural components included the lack of standardized systems, workflow, and communication methods between university stakeholders. Cultural components encompassed decreased trust, engagement, and value of engaging in shared governance. Using the information collected, this paper offers recommendations for a collective definition of shared governance and strategies for increasing awareness. Keywords: shared governance, faculty governance, participatory governance, structure, communication, recognition, trust, transparenc

Book Reviews

Anchor of the Soul (a documentary video about black life in Maine) produced by Shoshana Hoose and Karen Odlin; Headstrong: The Biography of Amy Morris Bradley, 1823-1904, A Life of Nobel Usefulness by Diane Cobb Cashman; Fifty year of Fortitude: The Maritime Career of Captain Jotham Blaisdell of Kennebunk, Maine 1820-1860 by Kendrick Price Daggett; The Civil War Letters of Capt. John Franklin Godfrey edited by Candace Sawyer and Laura Orcut; Dearest Father: The Civil War Letters of Lt. Frank Dickerson, A Son of Belfast, Maine edited by Draper Hunt; Dear Friend Anna: The Civil War Letters of a Common Soldier from Maine edited by Beverly Hayes Kallgren and James L. Crouthamel; William E. Barry\u27s Sketch of an Old River: Shipbuilding on the Kennebunk edited by Joyce Butler; Maine Politics and Government by Kenneth T. Palmer, G. Thomas Taylor and Marcus A. Librizzi

Leveraging Global Gene Expression Patterns to Predict Expression of Unmeasured Genes

BackgroundLarge collections of paraffin-embedded tissue represent a rich resource to test hypotheses based on gene expression patterns; however, measurement of genome-wide expression is cost-prohibitive on a large scale. Using the known expression correlation structure within a given disease type (in this case, high grade serous ovarian cancer; HGSC), we sought to identify reduced sets of directly measured (DM) genes which could accurately predict the expression of a maximized number of unmeasured genes

RORα and 25-Hydroxycholesterol Crosstalk Regulates Lipid Droplet Homeostasis in Macrophages.

Nuclear hormone receptors have important roles in the regulation of metabolic and inflammatory pathways. The retinoid-related orphan receptor alpha (Rorα)-deficient staggerer (sg/sg) mice display several phenotypes indicative of aberrant lipid metabolism, including dyslipidemia, and increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis. In this study we demonstrate that macrophages from sg/sg mice have increased ability to accumulate lipids and accordingly exhibit larger lipid droplets (LD). We have previously shown that BMMs from sg/sg mice have significantly decreased expression of cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (Ch25h) mRNA, the enzyme that produces the oxysterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC), and now confirm this at the protein level. 25HC functions as an inverse agonist for RORα. siRNA knockdown of Ch25h in macrophages up-regulates Vldlr mRNA expression and causes increased accumulation of LDs. Treatment with physiological concentrations of 25HC in sg/sg macrophages restored lipid accumulation back to normal levels. Thus, 25HC and RORα signify a new pathway involved in the regulation of lipid homeostasis in macrophages, potentially via increased uptake of lipid which is suggested by mRNA expression changes in Vldlr and other related genes

Normalizing Deviants: Notes on the De-Stigma Trend

This article explores destigmatization discourses in the United States in the early 21st century, as social and political strategies and as narrative social movements unto themselves. We argue that the first decades of the new century see a trend of marginalized actors across many categories, including queer marriage, drugs, (discreditable) mental illness and (discredited) other areas of identity and disability, make narrative attempts to neutralize their “deviant” identities. We argue that de-stigmatization has occurred through the successful use of medicalization and assimilation framing of de-stigma discourses. Assimilationist frames increase “liberal” emphasis on actionable outcomes of de-stigma, like cultural access (i.e. inclusion, visibility, representation), and legal justice for marginalized people. Some assimilationist discourse endeavors to situate stigmatized identities inside of conformist frames, while (fewer and less visible) others resist dominant frames of acceptability. Contested assimilation and radical leftist de-stigmatization, as well as re-stigma discourses are also discussed

The role of community and culture in abortion perceptions, decisions, and experiences among Asian Americans

IntroductionCulture and community can play a role in views, stigma, and access related to abortion. No research to date has documented the influence of culture and community attitudes on Asian American (AA) experiences accessing abortion care in the United States (US). This paper aims to fill gaps in research and understand how cultural and community views influence medication abortion access and experiences among AAs.MethodsWe used a community-based participatory research approach, which included collaboration among experts in public health, advocates, practitioners, and community partners to understand abortion knowledge, attitudes, and experiences among AAs. Using a semi-structured interview guide, we interviewed twenty-nine eligible people of reproductive age over 18 that self-identified as Asian American or mixed race including Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander (AANHPI), and had a medication abortion in the US between January 2016 and March 2021. Interviews were analyzed and coded in NVivo 12 using a modified grounded theory approach.ResultsParticipants described various influences of religion negatively impacting acceptability of abortion among their family and community. Lack of openness around sexual and reproductive health (SRH) topics contributed to stigma and influenced most participants' decision not to disclose their abortion to family members, which resulted in participants feeling isolated throughout their abortion experience. When seeking abortion care, participants preferred to seek care with providers of color, especially if they were AANHPI due to past experiences involving stigma and judgment from White providers. Based on their experiences, respondents recommended ways to improve the abortion experience for AAs in the US including, (1) more culturally aware abortion providers from one's community who better understand their needs; (2) clinics providing abortion services located in or near AA communities with signage in local languages; and (3) tailored mental health resources with culturally aware therapists.ConclusionThis study demonstrates ways in which culture and community opinions toward SRH can influence both the acceptability of abortion and experiences seeking abortion care among AAs. It is important to consider family and community dynamics among AAs to better tailor services and meet the needs of AAs seeking abortion care in the US

Prevalence and Trends of Symptomatic Pelvic Floor Disorders in U.S. Women

To estimate the prevalence and trends of these pelvic floor disorders in U.S. women from 2005–2010