Perennial Forage Trial

In 2015, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program initiated a trial investigating forage yield, quality, and nitrogen use efficiency of cool season perennial grasses alone and in combination with red clover. The grass species selected were orchardgrass, timothy, brome, and meadow fescue. These grasses were chosen as they have been shown in previous research to have adequate survivability and forage production in this region compared to other species such as perennial ryegrass or festulolium. The goal of this trial is to evaluate these species not only for forage yield and quality, but also nitrogen use efficiency as this could help determine species and varieties that may be better suited to organic production systems. In addition, we hope to identify any differences in performance when legumes are incorporated. In 2017, with the stands fully established, evaluation of these perennial forage treatments continued

Implementing the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program to Promote Respectful Workplaces in the Construction Trades in Oregon: Preliminary Report on Wave One

Oregon, like all states across the U.S., has faced challenges in recruiting and retaining a diverse construction workforce. In 2011, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and the Oregon Department of Transportation partnered to fund the BOLI/ODOT Highway Construction Workforce Development Program, which is intended to improve the stability and diversity of the highway construction workforce by promoting recruitment and retention of apprentices (see Wilkinson and Kelly 2015). The program has provided funding for 1) Pre-apprenticeship programs (to improve recruitment and retention of apprentices); Supportive services (to improve retention of apprentices); and 3) Respectful workplaces (to improve retention of apprentices). The first phase of the Respectful Workplaces project began in 2015, led by Oregon Tradeswomen Inc, in partnership with Constructing Hope, Green Dot Etc, Portland State University, and funded by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Oregon Department of Transportation, as part of the BOLI/ODOT Highway Construction Workforce Development Program. The first phase of the project involved conducting ten focus groups with industry stakeholders to evaluate the potential for adapting the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program for the construction trades in Oregon (see Kelly and Bassett 2015) After the first phase of the project was completed, additional funding was secured from the BOLI/ODOT Highway Construction Workforce Development Program to pilot the Green Dot project on a job site in Oregon. Between 2015 and 2017, project collaborators worked to prepare for the pilot. Green Dot Etc adapted their bystander intervention program for the construction trades. Oregon Tradeswomen staff identified a contractor willing to participate and an appropriate pilot job site in the Portland, OR metro area. Contractor staff were trained to implement the program on the job site. Implementation began in October 2017. The second phase of the project is evaluation of the program. To evaluate the implementation, Portland State University researchers will conduct three waves of surveys (prior to implementation, six months after implementation, and one year after implementation) to assess changes in attitudes and behaviors related to workplace aggression. The wave one survey was administered on the pilot job site in the Portland, OR metro area in September 2017. The findings from this survey are reported here

Norm Mispercetion Among College Students at the University of Rhode Island

College is generally considered to be the most exciting and enjoyable time of a young adult’s life. It is a period where students typically expect to focus on academic learning and personal growth to prepare to be independent adults and valuable contributors to society. Unfortunately, the college population is vulnerable to developing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders (Zivin, Eisenberg, Gollust, & Golberstein, 2009). The pressures of achieving high academic success while balancing a healthy social life are burdensome, and those students who also suffer from mental health issues face a greater challenge. Surprisingly, despite this issue, many colleges and universities do not offer adequate mental health resources to meet the demand (NEDA, 2013). While increasing the availability and options for mental health resources on college campuses is needed, it is also important to focus on prevention of mental health issues. The purpose of this study is to address the issue of the development of eating disordered behavior on college campuses. Specifically, this study examines changes in norm misperception in terms of disordered eating behaviors across class years (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior) and help to identify possible developmental milestones associated with greater or lesser misperception. We used various measures to assess student’s perception of importance of thinness (females), importance of muscularity (males), acceptability of unhealthy weight loss behaviors, and prevalence of disordered eating behaviors among peers. Although research related to the development of eating disorders on campus has been conducted numerous times, no study has yet to investigate class year as a factor of the development of such behaviors. The results of this study will be used to give us insight as to what measures to take the prevent the development of eating disorders on college campuses and how to promote a healthy body image among this population

Identification and functional characterization of STRN-ALK fusions as a therapeutic target in aggressive forms of thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine malignancy and is currently the fastest growing in incidence in the United States. Thyroid cancers encompass both well-differentiated and dedifferentiated cancer types. Dedifferentiated tumors have high mortality rates and lack effective therapies. Using paired-end whole-transcriptome RNA-sequencing of papillary thyroid cancer, we identified rearrangements involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene in thyroid cancer. We found that the most common ALK fusion in thyroid cancer is between ALK and the striatin (STRN) gene, which results from the rearrangement of chromosome 2p. STRN-ALK fusions did not overlap with other known driver mutations in these tumors, indicating that this rearrangement is a driver event. We found that the dimerization of the STRN-ALK protein by the coiled-coil domain of STRN leads to constitutive activation of ALK kinase. Our results demonstrate that STRN-ALK activation causes ALK kinase-dependent, thyroid-stimulating hormone independent proliferation of thyroid cells. We also show that STRN-ALK expression transforms cells in vitro and induces tumor formation in nude mice. In addition to well-differentiated papillary cancer, we identified STRN-ALK with a higher frequency in poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid cancers. Dedifferentiation of tumors leads to loss of iodine avidity; therefore, radioiodine treatment of these tumors is no longer an option. ALK fusions are a potential molecular target for treatment of these aggressive tumors. We established that ALK inhibitors crizotinib and TAE684 block STRN-ALK kinase activity and ALK-kinase induced THS-independent thyroid cell growth in vitro. In our preclinical mouse models, growth of tumors from STRN-ALK cells is blocked by crizotinib and LDK378, FDA approved ALK inhibitors. Moreover, LDK378 halts tumor growth of crizotinib resistant STRN-ALK cells. Our data demonstrate that STRN-ALK fusions occur in a subset of patients with highly aggressive types of thyroid cancer and provide evidence that ALK represents a therapeutic target for these patients

A Review Of Howard Universitys Financial Literacy Curriculum

This article evaluates a financial literacy curriculum at the Howard University (HU) School of Business, by measuring the financial knowledge acquired after participating in a variety of programs. To evaluate the HU curriculum, the National Jump$tart Coalition (NJC) survey was administered to collect data on financial knowledge and demographic characteristics. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to study the data. The results show that HU-Business students performance was comparable to Jump$tarts national average for college students and Business/Economics students. HU Business students scored higher than the Jump$tarts African American student sample. The regression analysis helped identity key factors that influence financial awareness for HU students including having checking account, electronic tax preparation, taking a course in personal finance or money management, GPA, and frequently balancing check book

NAV And Risk: The Case Of REITs

A study is done on Net Asset Value (NAV) of equity REITs from 1993 to 2006.  The value (growth) determination of REITs is investigated based on NAV per share as opposed to book value per share since the underlying value of the REITs’ assets (NAV) drives the trading decision.  The NAV to Market ratio (NM) is evaluated as a risk measure when used in a Fama-French and Carhart model setting.  We find this measure contributes only 0.10% to the REIT risk premium

Determinants Of Mortgage Delinquency

This paper examines mortgage delinquency rates for loans in each state and Washington, DC from 2004 through 2009 in order to gain insight into the key factors that drive residential mortgage delinquency.  Models are estimated for 30-day, 60-day, 90-day, 90+ day, and all delinquency rates.  Prime and subprime loans are modeled separately in cross-sectional time series regressions.  The findings suggest that borrower income, type of loan, and the general health of the economy remain important in determining delinquency risk.  Also, factors that determine 30- and 60-day delinquency rates differ from those that determine 90-day and 90+ day delinquency rates.  In addition, factors that determine prime delinquency rates differ from those that determine subprime delinquency rates.  Finally, borrower race does not consistently explain delinquency rates.    &nbsp