A Mixed-Methods Study of the Reasons Why Nontraditional Students Have Chosen to Attend College at a Later Point in Their Lives

The overall enrollment of nontraditional students at institutions of higher education has illustrated a significant increase over the past twenty years. This created a need to study such a phenomenon. Love of learning, financial considerations and internal provisions were a few of the factors provided by nontraditional learners as the reasons they enrolled in college at a later point in their lives. Conversely, factors such as financial concerns, self-esteem, and technological unfamiliarity were studied as factors that connected to reasons why they did not apply to college at an earlier point in their lives. This study utilized a mixed-methods case study design that analyzed the aforementioned factors as they related to ten nontraditional students in Southern New England. The researcher utilized interviews and surveys to gather relevant pieces of data. The research questions were the following: 1) What factors draw nontraditional students towards applying to college? 2) What factors draw nontraditional students away from applying to college? The data revealed that financial considerations were the primary reason nontraditional learners attend college. Nontraditional students wanted to learn new skills and cognitive methods in order to attain financial success. The factors in opposition exemplified managing work and familial responsibilities as some of the reasons why nontraditional students did not apply to college at an earlier point in their lives. Recommendations for educational leaders included revisiting or drafting plans that might help to make the overall college experience more effective for nontraditional learners. This would include social and financial considerations

A Mightier Pin: Creating a Credible Reference Library on Pinterest at Murray State University

This case study shows how the reference librarians at Murray State University use Pinterest as an added component in reference services. Statistics were collected in an attempt to monitor the number of items shared with the number of people who actively follow each board. This study will help interested reference librarians gain an understanding of how this social media site can be used to promote online resources, both those owned by the institution and those available freely on the internet. It will also serve as an example of how reference librarians can build a reference library within the confines of social media

WHEN TRAINING GETS TRUMPED: HOW DUAL-TASK INTERFERENCE INHIBITS SECURITY TRAINING

Security training programs are an important intervention to protect users and organizations against security threats. Unfortunately, users often ignore their training and engage in poor security behaviors. We explain how dual-task interference (DTI) is a primary cause of security training disregard. DTI is a cognitive limitation wherein humans cannot perform more than one task simultaneously without experiencing a deterioration of performance. In our context, we hypothesize how prompting users to perform security behaviors during high-DTI times may derail one’s previous security training, resulting in less secure behaviors. We test our hypotheses in an experiment that compares users’ adherence to security training during low-DTI and high-DTI times in a realistic context. We found that performing security behaviors during low-DTI times increased adherence to prior security training by 31% compared to performing behaviors during high-DTI times. The results have implications for using DTI as a theoretical framework for understanding security behaviors, prompting users to perform security behaviors during times that will maximize adherence to past security training, and considering humans’ neurological limitations when designing security training and intervention programs

STING-dependent recognition of cyclic di-AMP mediates type I interferon responses during Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

UnlabelledSTING (stimulator of interferon [IFN] genes) initiates type I IFN responses in mammalian cells through the detection of microbial nucleic acids. The membrane-bound obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis induces a STING-dependent type I IFN response in infected cells, yet the IFN-inducing ligand remains unknown. In this report, we provide evidence that Chlamydia synthesizes cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP), a nucleic acid metabolite not previously identified in Gram-negative bacteria, and that this metabolite is a prominent ligand for STING-mediated activation of IFN responses during infection. We used primary mouse lung fibroblasts and HEK293T cells to compare IFN-β responses to Chlamydia infection, c-di-AMP, and other type I IFN-inducing stimuli. Chlamydia infection and c-di-AMP treatment induced type I IFN responses in cells expressing STING but not in cells expressing STING variants that cannot sense cyclic dinucleotides but still respond to cytoplasmic DNA. The failure to induce a type I IFN response to Chlamydia and c-di-AMP correlated with the inability of STING to relocalize from the endoplasmic reticulum to cytoplasmic punctate signaling complexes required for IFN activation. We conclude that Chlamydia induces STING-mediated IFN responses through the detection of c-di-AMP in the host cell cytosol and propose that c-di-AMP is the ligand predominantly responsible for inducing such a response in Chlamydia-infected cells.ImportanceThis study shows that the Gram-negative obligate pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis, a major cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, synthesizes cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP), a nucleic acid metabolite that thus far has been described only in Gram-positive bacteria. We further provide evidence that the host cell employs an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized cytoplasmic sensor, STING (stimulator of interferon [IFN] genes), to detect c-di-AMP synthesized by Chlamydia and induce a protective IFN response. This detection occurs even though Chlamydia is confined to a membrane-bound vacuole. This raises the possibility that the ER, an organelle that innervates the entire cytoplasm, is equipped with pattern recognition receptors that can directly survey membrane-bound pathogen-containing vacuoles for leaking microbe-specific metabolites to mount type I IFN responses required to control microbial infections

Integrating Facial Cues of Threat into Security Warnings – An fMRI and Field Study

Security risks often occur because insiders fail to react appropriately to security warnings, due to inattention to the warnings. This study extends security warning design research that has investigated the impact of different designs, including different symbols of threat such as yellow triangles and exclamation marks. This work uses media naturalness theory in an attempt to boost user engagement with security warnings. We integrated validated images of facial expressions depicting fear and disgust, which signaled an environmental threat, into a browser security warning. An fMRI study (N=23) revealed activity located in the right amygdala to be differentially associated among warnings with integrated expressions of fear, disgust, and neutral emotions compared to faceless stimuli. Behavioral measures of response time and self-reported attention were also supportive of the hypotheses. We also propose a follow-up field study using Mechanical Turk to corroborate the fMRI findings. Our work has implications for research and practice

The Path Forward: Using Canvas Commons for Online Information Literacy Instruction in the Health Sciences

Question: How can we improve the delivery of information literacy instruction in the health sciences in a virtual environment? This paper examines the integration of Canvas Commons Modules to provide downloadable, open-access information literacy tutorials for students across various disciplines, including the health sciences. Setting/Participants/Resources: The Murray State University Libraries and multiple disciplines, including Nursing and Communication Disorders. Brief Description: As higher education offers more online courses, addressing virtual learners’ information literacy needs has become critical. The modules were originally created in Fall, 2019 as an additional mode of instruction and an online substitute for in-person information literacy instruction sessions when necessary. The demand unexpectedly escalated in the Spring of 2020 due to COVID-19, when all classes moved to an online format. This paper describes the pilot year’s planning process, implementation, lessons learned, and future plans for providing online library instruction. Evaluation Method: Post assessment data comparing face-to-face instruction with online tutorials. A student feedback survey, a faculty feedback survey, and tracking the type and number of courses reached were used to determine the impact of the instruction. Results/Outcomes: Future longitudinal analysis of the library instruction program will examine the long-term significance of implementing the modules. Conclusions: As we move forward, current assessment data indicates that in-person and online tutorials can both play a valuable role in our information literacy instruction program

Open Access and closed minds? Collaborating across campus to help faculty understand changing scholarly communication models

This chapter highlights the efforts of a team of librarians at Murray State University to help the university faculty members understand the Open Access publishing environment

The Deacetylase HDAC6 Regulates Aggresome Formation and Cell Viability in Response to Misfolded Protein Stress

AbstractThe efficient clearance of cytotoxic misfolded protein aggregates is critical for cell survival. Misfolded protein aggregates are transported and removed from the cytoplasm by dynein motors via the microtubule network to a novel organelle termed the aggresome where they are processed. However, the means by which dynein motors recognize misfolded protein cargo, and the cellular factors that regulate aggresome formation, remain unknown. We have discovered that HDAC6, a microtubule-associated deacetylase, is a component of the aggresome. We demonstrate that HDAC6 has the capacity to bind both polyubiquitinated misfolded proteins and dynein motors, thereby acting to recruit misfolded protein cargo to dynein motors for transport to aggresomes. Indeed, cells deficient in HDAC6 fail to clear misfolded protein aggregates from the cytoplasm, cannot form aggresomes properly, and are hypersensitive to the accumulation of misfolded proteins. These findings identify HDAC6 as a crucial player in the cellular management of misfolded protein-induced stress

Survey of Obstetrician-Gynecologists in the United States About Toxoplasmosis

Background: Although the incidence of toxoplasmosis is low in the United States, up to 6000 congenital cases occur annually. In September 1998, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a conference about toxoplasmosis; participants recommended a survey of the toxoplasmosis-related knowledge and practices of obstetrician-gynecologists and the development of professional educational materials for them. Methods: In the fall of 1999, surveys were mailed to a 2% random sample of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) members and to a demographically representative group of ACOGmembers known as the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network (CARN). Responses were not significantly different for the random and CARN groups for most questions (p value shown when different). Results: Among 768 US practicing ACOG members surveyed, 364 (47%) responded. Seven per cent (CARN 10%, random 5%) had diagnosed one or more case(s) of acute toxoplasmosis in the past year. Respondents were well-informed about how to prevent toxoplasmosis. However, only 12% (CARN 11%, random 12%) indicated that a positive Toxoplasma IgM test might be a false–positive result, and only 11% (CARN 14%, random 9%) were aware that the Food and Drug Administration sent an advisory to all ACOG members in 1997 stating that some Toxoplasma IgM test kits have high false–positive rates. Most of those surveyed (CARN 70%, random 59%; X(2) p < 0.05) were opposed to universal screening of pregnant women. Conclusions: Many US obstetrician-gynecologists will encounter acute toxoplasmosis during their careers, but they are frequently uncertain about interpretation of the laboratory tests for the disease. Most would not recommend universal screening of pregnant women

Overview and Guidance on Agile Development in Large Organizations

A continual debate surrounds the effectiveness of agile software development practices. Some organizations adopt agile practices to become more competitive, improve processes, and reduce costs. Other organizations are skeptical about whether agile development is beneficial. Large organizations face an additional challenge in integrating agile practices with existing standards and business processes. To examine the effects of agile development practices in large organizations, we review and integrate scientific literature and theory on agile software development. We further organize our theory and observations into a framework with guidelines for large organizations considering agile methodologies. Based on this framework, we present recommendations that suggest ways large organizations with established processes can successfully implement agile practices. Our analysis of the literature and theory provides new insight for researchers of agile software development and assists practitioners in determining how to adopt agile development in their organizations