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Recent Submissions
Understanding the Role of Presidential Approval on Voter Turnout and the Understanding the Patterned Coalition that Exist in Uneducated White Individuals
(2024-05-23) Eveleth, William P; Surles, Jackson Fisher; Williamson, Phillip R; Franica, Dr. Peter; Political Science; Busi and Info Tech Educ; University Studies
Understanding why individuals vote at the rates they do, along with understanding which parties these voters will ultimately decide to cast their vote for has been a long discussion in political research. This study looks to understand and test whether presidential approval ratings have a direct correlation with increasing voter turnout throughout Presidential Elections. The study has results that provide a direct answer to that proposed correlation. Another question this study seeks to understand is what political ideology white individuals who have not obtained a high school diploma vote for and what leads to that decision. This study uses data from the American National Election Studies that dates to the 1964 Presidential Election that conducts a regression model that allows readers to understand the correlation between white uneducated individuals and which party they ultimately vote for in Presidential Elections.
Effects of Commercial Grade E-Cigarette Liquid Ratios and Nicotine content on the Gravimetric Filter Correction Factors and Real-Time Measurements
(2024-05-02) Tart, Amelia G; Walker, Daniel; Sousan, Sinan; Biology
Electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) generate high concentrations of particulate matter (PM). ECIG’s are a threat to public health as the PM affects the air quality that is inhaled through second hand exposure by humans. ECIG liquids are available to be purchased commercially with varying concentrations of chemical ingredients, including nicotine, propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG). The PM concentrations in ECIG aerosol generated from these liquids containing the different PG/VG ratios have been quantified in previous studies. However, it is important to determine the effects of these ratios and nicotine concentration on the filter correction factors by the aerosol instruments needed to accurately measure PM concentrations. The effects of these ratios combined with nicotine on the filter correction factors has not been assessed. ECIG aerosol filter correction factors for the aerosol instruments (SMPS + APS, pDR), were determined for five different PG/VG ratios 1) 0PG/100VG, 2) 30 PG/70 VG, 3) 50 PG/50 VG, 4) 70 PG/30 VG, 5) 80 PG/20 VG with four different nicotine strengths (0mg, 9 mg, 24 mg, 48 mg) and one PM size, PM2.5 (2.5 um and smaller). The ECIG aerosols were generated using a diaphragm pump and a refillable ECIG device for all ratios inside of a controlled exposure chamber. The aerosol size distribution and mass median diameter were measured for all five ECIG ratios and nicotine strengths. The data collected after 20 trials did not exhibit previously determined patterns of PG and VG distribution. Therefore, the filter correction factors determined cannot be deemed reliable. It was determined that the commercial grade products employed in the experiment were not the true ratios as they were labelled. The products will be tested for chemical composure for further evaluation. This study suggests that there is a larger public health concern in that manufactures are likely mislabeling their products.
Comparison of Heat Stress Risk Within Crops Rows to Perimeter in Sweet Corn and Tobacco Fields
(2024-04-17) Edwards, Ryan Michael; Mizelle, Elizabeth; Nursing
Introduction- Agricultural work is one of the highest risk US occupations for heat-related illness (HRIs). Farm and crop workers, who commonly perform strenuous labor under direct sunlight, were 35 times more likely to die from HRIs than workers in other industries. Some tall-growing crops can block the cooling effects of wind or contribute to environmental humidity, yet few studies have included measurements of farmworker microclimates (environments directly surrounding workers). The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in heat stress within crops rows compared to the field perimeter.
Methods- In the summer of 2023, two QUESTemp°34 heat stress monitors were set up daily from 8AM to 5PM in crops fields in Bertie and Columbus counties, in the warmest region of North Carolina. Two crops were selected, sweet corn and tobacco, and measurements were collected over 27 days in June and 27 days in July and August, respectively. The monitors measured wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT); which includes temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover, and is the preferred occupational heat stress measure. The hourly WBGT averages were compared to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists’ Threshold Limit Values (TLVs®). The TLVs provide a recommendation on permissible WBGTs to work in based on breaks and workload. Data analysis (SPSS, v28.0) included independent sample t-tests.
Results- There were significantly higher WBGT measurements inside of the row compared to the field perimeter for peak (11AM-2PM) and afternoon (2PM-5PM) times in tobacco. The morning (8AM-11AM) and peak humidity in both tobacco and corn was also significantly higher within the crop rows. With corn, the field perimeter was above recommended TLVs 38 hours (16.9% of total hours) and the center of the field was over the TLVs 53 hours (23.6% of total hours). With tobacco, the field perimeter was above recommended TLVs 141 hours (73.4% of total hours), and the center of the field was over the TLVs 167 hours (87.0% of total hours).
Conclusion- In the summer of 2023, farmworkers in the study area were potentially at an increased risk for HRIs due to warm and humid microclimates within corn and tobacco crop rows. As environmental heat stress is increasing due to climate change, the greater risk of working inside tall crop rows should be considered in worker education and heat stress plans, such as more frequent breaks at midday and in the afternoon.
A Review of Parental Bereavement Interventions: Implications for Clinical Practice, Research, and Policy
(2024-05-23) Floyd, Abigail Joan; Ramkumar, Rhea; Dias, Nancy; Nursing
The untimely death of a child is an incredibly traumatic experience for parents and their loved ones. It uproots every aspect of their life, leading the bereaved parents to be far more likely to have poorer physical and mental health outcomes. This traumatic form of bereavement should have comprehensive grief-focused, high-quality interventions available for parents and extended family members. The purpose of this rapid review was to explore and describe the bereavement interventions available for parents and family that have been published within the past 5 years. Records identified 123 full-text articles that were reviewed, and 14 of those were included for data extraction and synthesis, using Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group with the addition of keyword searches. The 14 articles were analyzed by evaluating description of bereaved parents, accessibility of interventions, who delivered interventions, and the type and delivery time of interventions. Four types of interventions were identified, including Web-based, community-based, hospital-based, and psychotherapy interventions. This rapid review has implications for clinical practice, research, and health care policy that can increase the availability of support and quality of interventions for bereaved parents and family members.
Trade-offs in fishing strategy decisions and conservation implications for small-scale fisheries
(Environmental Conservation, 2024-05-28) Wade, Eric; Biedenweg, Kelly
People are psychologically predisposed to minimize their losses, even in the face of substantial gains. This predisposition, referred to as ‘loss aversion’, is especially present when people face uncertain outcomes. In small-scale fisheries, where fishers’ decisions are influenced by monetary and non-monetary assets, exploring how loss aversion intersects with conservation efforts may offer insights into how fishers balance short-term and long-term priorities. This study assessed the variables that contribute to loss aversion of small-scale fishers when making trade-offs between two valued assets: information-sharing and catch success. We used a structured questionnaire and a hypothetical simple lottery choice task of 78 fishers across 20 fishing beaches in Jamaica. We found that fishers were marginally more loss averse when both information-sharing opportunities and catch success were threatened than when only catch success was threatened. Communication frequency and size of fishing crew contributed significantly to fishers’ loss aversion in most choice sets, regardless of whether materially or non-materially valued assets were threatened. By exploring the drivers underpinning fishers’ choices, we provide insights into how the consideration of these variables can support the development of fisheries conservation measures that better align with the decision priorities of fishers.