Understanding the demographic profile and previous knowledge base of students enrolled in the introduction to animal science course is critical for developing curriculum to enhance student learning. During the fall 2019 semester, students (n=414 of 519) enrolled in the introduction to animal science course at three universities in the Midwest region were evaluated with the objectives of identifying demographic variables and their relation to pre-course and post-course animal agriculture and livestock perceptions. The findings showed that 68% of respondents were female, 58% were animal science majors, and 55% were from hometowns with less than 20,000 people in the population. Forty-eight percent and 36% indicated to have previous agriculture exposure and involvement through FFA and 4-H, while 43% and 55% had no previous involvement in FFA and 4-H, respectively. Companion animals (e.g. dogs and cats) and beef cattle were nearly 50% of students’ species of interest. Additionally, 34% of students felt they had extensive knowledge of companion animals, while 19% indicated they had extensive knowledge in beef cattle and 17% in equine. Students indicated to have the least amount of knowledge in sheep and exotic animals. In addition to species, students indicated their degree of previous knowledge in animal science disciplines. Students (20%) perceived to have extensive knowledge in welfare and well-being but lacked in breeding and genetics. Majority of students recognized animal agriculture as an important industry in their state and were supportive of the growth and expansion of the livestock industry. When asked to respond to statements pertaining to livestock operations, students (49%) strongly agree the use of captive bolt to stun beef and dairy cattle prior to slaughter is acceptable and it is save for livestock producers to perform castration using banding or surgical procedures. Overall, there were pre-course findings that were statistically significant among the demographic profiles of students and their perceptions of livestock operations in the United States, but few post-course findings demonstrated statistical significance. This research suggests the importance of developing curriculum that meets the desires and needs of current students enrolled in an introduction to animal science course.

Habitual (i.e., average or typical) sleep duration and sleep efficiency vary widely by demographic characteristics, including age, gender, and racial/ethnic identity. Despite a wealth of studies on demographic patterns in habitual sleep, these results are often based on cross-sectional surveys, which ask participants to retrospectively recall their "typical" or "recent" sleep. Yet, sleep is a highly dynamic behavior and may fluctuate substantially from night-to-night. This intraindividual variability (IIV) in sleep/wake patterns can be captured a multitude of ways, most commonly by using formula-based calculations. Although there is growing attention on the importance of IIV in sleep, findings on demographic differences are still inconclusive, and there are no guidelines for typical values of IIV in sleep. The present study quantitatively synthesized 8 international data sets (N = 2847 participants, 29,832 total days of sleep data), focusing on examining age, gender, and racial/ethnic identity differences in IIV in sleep measured via sleep diaries, actigraphy, and electroencephalography. Sleep duration and sleep efficiency varied widely from night-to-night within people (duration: 64-119 minutes; efficiency: 5-8%). Different metrics of IIV were strongly correlated within and across sleep measurement types. Younger adults had more IIV in diary and actigraphy sleep duration. Gender differences in IIV in sleep were inconsistent, and non-Hispanic/Latinx and White adults had less IIV in sleep compared to other racial/ethnic minority groups. Results emphasize the importance of assessing IIV in sleep, and show that even among healthy sleepers, sleep varies from night-to-night. Like mean sleep, there may also be disparities in IIV in sleep by demographic characteristics, highlighting a need for targeted interventions to stabilize sleep and improve health.

A critical review of Marx on population is made to determine if the modern Marxist population thepry can validly claim to follow from Marx. An historical review of population thought from the Greeks to Malthus is made and a dominant trendline is identified. Marx's population thought is presented and it is compared to Malthus. Anomalies in Marx are discovered. A new perspective on Marx using the history of demography is advanced in which Malthus is found deviating from the dominant trend line and Marx's criticism of Malthus as focusing on these specific points of deviation. Marx is found defending the dominant trendline against Malthus and not as advancing an original theory of population. Remaining problems with Marx are noted. The conclusion rejects the modern Marxist claim.

Within the framework of ecological psychology, environments are places, defined as landscapes of affordances, or the array of potential actions that can be executed. The feedback between direct perception-action and use of affordances results in the sense of presence in place. According to previous research, increased presence has been correlated with greater attachment and connectedness with the place as well as beneficial psychological states in a campus setting. However, it is unclear what factors, such as demographics, may influence differences in engagement with campus affordances, and hence, presence among individuals. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between campus presence, demographic factors, and social self-concept. Participants completed a survey that assessed their demographics, aspects of self-concept, degree of campus engagement and their sense of presence on campus.

The problem of this study was the examination of selected case-finding approaches for locating handicapped individuals. It was designed to (1) determine the rank order of effectiveness of selected case-finding approaches, within specific census tracts, in locating handicapped individuals aged three to to twenty-one years inclusive, (2) to project the most effective case-finding approach within census tract areas with specified factors of mean income, median education level, and primary home language, and (3) to determine the probability of locating handicapped individuals by a case-finding approach other than the one determined to be the most effective.

No description available.

No description available.

Periodontal infection can manifest itself in many different clinical presentations. The aggressive form of this disease is frequently seen in the younger patient population referred for treatment to the Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (TUKSD). This study was done to assess the demographics of aggressive periodontitis cases and the types of periodontal treatment methods provided to these patients, antibiotic prescription patterns and compliance with treatment. A chart review was conducted to identify cases of aggressive periodontitis in patients <30 years of age referred for treatment at the Graduate Periodontology and Oral Implantology Clinic, TUKSD. The diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis was validated by presence of characteristic radiographic bone loss at permanent incisors and molars. Exclusion criteria were deficient radiographs, and a medical history of systemic diseases that compromise the immune response. Twenty-two aggressive periodontitis cases were identified among 300 charts surveyed. All patients were 12-26 years old. The patient sample was comprised mainly of African American race-ethnicity, with no predominance of a sex group. Initial treatment with scaling and root planing, was done in 64% of cases with 36% dropout before treatment. Microbial plaque testing was done in 46% of cases, and 59% received systemic antibiotics. A combination antibiotic therapy regimen was often used in combination with nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Most patients did not present for treatment beyond the non-surgical phase, and some even before the treatment started. Because periodontal non-surgical treatment of aggressive periodontitis cases in the pre-doctoral clinic takes relatively long time, it is recommended that the treatment of these cases be expedited by referring the patients to the graduate clinic for all periodontal treatment including the initial phase. / Biology

The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is an iconic species that is globally threatened. Of the total continental population, 37% is found in Botswana, the highest number and density of elephants in Africa. Elephant management in this country remains challenging and complex as the population estimates and trends calculated by government and independent researchers (from aerial survey data) differ and continue to be highly debated, both locally and internationally. To add more clarity and potentially resolve this ongoing debate, this study evaluates aerial survey data collected by the Botswana government from 1990 to 2012 and compares it with population demographic field data collected in 2019-2020 to assess Botswana's elephant population trend in a multimodal fashion. I used two different methods to evaluate aerial survey count data, the log-linear regression model and the Exponential Growth Space State (EGSS) model. In addition, I used the population demographic field data to estimate the growth rate. From the results, the average annual growth rate from the linear regression and the EGSS were both 6.17%. The growth rate estimated from the population demographics field data was estimated to be 5.17%. The age structure was comprised of the six age classes with a general increase from one age structure to the next as expected with a non significant decline in age class 3 (5-10 years) likely associated with the difficulty in differentiating this age class from the bounding age classes. There were no significant differences in the sex ratio (0.49Males:0.51Females). The age structure remained the same from 2019 to 2020, suggesting no evidence that overharvesting impacted the elephant population age structure in northern Botswana. Range expansion has also been identified with the movement of the elephant population into the southern part of the country by 2012. Analysis of count and demographic data as well as the identification of range expansion suggest that the elephant population is growing at rate close to the maximum growth rate previously identified for this species. Data do not support assertions that the population is negatively impacted through illegal offtake. Independent studies that identify Botswana's elephant population as declining have relied on comparisons that are made between data sets obtained from divergent aerial survey methodology and survey area, elements that confound such conclusions. Estimating population trends and the growth rate of an open population is complex, never-the-less, with population growth potientially derived from both birth and/or external immigation. However, demographic data collected in during this study indicate that the fucundity rate is substantial and likely a dominating driver of the positive population growth trend. Multiple measures of population growth (aerial survey and demographic assessments) also provide the opportunity for cross-validation of derived population trends. Therefore, this study recommends that the Botswana government incorporate population demographic data (i.e., age classes) into their existing monitoring protocols. Longitudinal data collection provides a critical mechanism for understanding population trends over changing environmental dynamics and should be continued. Efforts to modify or change these approaches must employ mechanisms that will account for and standardize for differences in methodology. / Master of Science / Botswana, a semi-arid country with limited surface water sources, has the highest number of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) on the African continent. This iconic species is globally threatened, and its conservation status is highly debated, making its management complex for Botswana. The population trends for the Botswana population, from the aerial surveys, are highly debated locally and internationally. Therefore, this study re-evaluated the aerial survey data from the Botswana government (1990-2012) and estimated the population growth rate, then compared the growth rate from the aerial survey trends analysis to the growth rate from the elephant population demographics data (collected in 2019 and 2020). The results from the aerial survey data from 2012 estimated a total population of 207,545 (CI = 185,774 - 229,316) with an annual average population growth rate of 6.17%, similar to the growth rate 5% estimated from population demographic field data. Range expansion of the elephant population has also been detected since 2009, with elephants now found in previously unoccupied regions of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and associated regions in Southern Botswana. These results suggest the elephant population in Botswana is growing at a rate close to the maximum growth rate identified for this species. There is no evidence for a declining or stable population trend or indicators suggesting harvesting pressures (poaching) are suppressing elephant numbers. The study shows the utility of incorporating various population sampling methodologies into species management in Botswana.

No description available.