Destination Areas (DAs)
Permanent URI for this community
Destination Areas provide faculty and students with new tools to identify and solve complex, 21st-century problems in which Virginia Tech already has significant strengths and can take a global leadership role. The initiative represents the next step in the evolution of the land-grant university to meet economic and societal needs of the world.
Browse
Browsing Destination Areas (DAs) by Content Type "Article"
Now showing 1 - 20 of 77
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Adoption of High-Performance Housing Technologies Among U.S. Homebuilding Firms, 2000 Through 2010McCoy, Andrew P.; Koebel, C. Theodore; Sanderford, Andrew R.; Franck, Christopher T.; Keefe, Matthew J. (HUD, 2015)This article describes foundational processes of a larger project examining U.S. home builders’ choices to adopt innovative housing technologies that improve the environmental performance of new single-family homes. Home builders sit at a critical juncture in the housing creation decision chain and can influence how new housing units change related to energy consumption, and the units they produce can also reflect shifting technology, demography, and policy landscapes. With some exceptions, U.S. home builders have been characterized as being slow to adopt or resistant to the adoption of product and process innovations, largely because of path-dependent and risk-averse behavior. This article focuses on home builder choices by analyzing a summary of innovation adoption literature and that literature’s relationship to homebuilding. Researchers then describe analytical approaches for studying home builders’ choices and markets at a Core Based Statistical Area level, the data and statistical methodologies used in the study, and the policy implications for promoting energy efficiency in housing. Future work will draw on the foundation presented in this article to specify versions of this generic model and report results using improved quantitative analyses.
- Antibiotics in Agroecosystems: Introduction to the Special SectionFranklin, Alison M.; Aga, Diana S.; Cytryn, Eddie; Durso, Lisa M.; McLain, Jean E.; Pruden, Amy; Roberts, Marilyn C.; Rothrock, Michael J. Jr.; Snow, Daniel D.; Watson, John E.; Dungan, Robert S. (2016-03)The presence of antibiotic drug residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes in agroecosystems has become a significant area of research in recent years and is a growing public health concern. While antibiotics are used in both human medicine and agricultural practices, the majority of their use occurs in animal production where historically they have been used for growth promotion, in addition to the prevention and treatment of disease. The widespread use of antibiotics and the application of animal wastes to agricultural lands play major roles in the introduction of antibiotic-related contamination into the environment. Overt toxicity in organisms directly exposed to antibiotics in agroecosystems is typically not a major concern because environmental concentrations are generally lower than therapeutic doses. However, the impacts of introducing antibiotic contaminants into the environment are unknown, and concerns have been raised about the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems. Despite increased research focused on the occurrence and fate of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance over the past decade, standard methods and practices for analyzing environmental samples are limited and future research needs are becoming evident. To highlight and address these issues in detail, this special collection of papers was developed with a framework of five core review papers that address the (i) overall state of science of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems using a causal model, (ii) chemical analysis of antibiotics found in the environment, (iii) need for background and baseline data for studies of antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems with a decision-making tool to assist in designing research studies, as well as (iv) culture- and (v) molecular-based methods for analyzing antibiotic resistance in the environment. With a focus on the core review papers, this introduction summarizes the current state of science for analyzing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems, discusses current knowledge gaps, and develops future research priorities. This introduction also contains a glossary of terms used in the core reivew papers of this special section. The purpose of the glossary is to provide a common terminology that clearly characterizes the concepts shared throughout the narratives of each review paper.
- Application of Cybernetics and Control Theory for a New Paradigm in CybersecurityAdams, Michael D.; Hitefield, Seth D.; Hoy, Bruce; Fowler, Michael C.; Clancy, Thomas Charles III (Virginia Tech, 2013-11-01)A significant limitation of current cyber security research and techniques is its reactive and applied nature. This leads to a continuous ‘cyber cycle’ of attackers scanning networks, developing exploits and attacking systems, with defenders detecting attacks, analyzing exploits and patching systems. This reactive nature leaves sensitive systems highly vulnerable to attack due to un-patched systems and undetected exploits. Some current research attempts to address this major limitation by introducing systems that implement moving target defense. However, these ideas are typically based on the intuition that a moving target defense will make it much harder for attackers to find and scan vulnerable systems, and not on theoretical mathematical foundations. The continuing lack of fundamental science and principles for developing more secure systems has drawn increased interest into establishing a ‘science of cyber security’. This paper introduces the concept of using cybernetics, an interdisciplinary approach of control theory, systems theory, information theory and game theory applied to regulatory systems, as a foundational approach for developing cyber security principles. It explores potential applications of cybernetics to cyber security from a defensive perspective, while suggesting the potential use for offensive applications. Additionally, this paper introduces the fundamental principles for building non-stationary systems, which is a more general solution than moving target defenses. Lastly, the paper discusses related works concerning the limitations of moving target defense and one implementation based on non-stationary principles.
- Are Ayurvedic herbs for diabetes effective?Shekelle, Paul G.; Hardy, Mary; Morton, Sally C.; Coulter, Ian; Venuturupalli, Swamy; Favreau, Joya; Hilton, Lara K. (Frontline Medical Communications Inc., 2005-10)Objective: To evaluate and synthesize the evidence on the effect of Ayurvedic therapies for diabetes mellitus. Design: Systematic review of trials. Measurements and main results: We found no study that assessed Ayurvedic as a system of care. Botanical therapy was by far the most commonly studied Ayurvedic treatment. Herbs were studied either singly or as formulas. In all, 993 titles in Western computerized databases and 318 titles identified by hand-searching journals in India were examined, yield ing 54 articles reporting the results of 62 studies. The most-studied herbs were G sylvestre, C indica, fenugreek, and Eugenia jambo/ana. A number of herbal formulas were tested, but Ayush- 82 and 0 -400 were most often studied. Thirty-five of the studies included came from the Western literature, 27 from the Indian. Seven were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 controlled clinical trials (CCTs) or natural experiments. Twenty-two studies went on to further analysis based on a set of criteria. Of these, 10 were RCTs, eCTs, or natural experiments, 12 were case series or cohort studies. There is evidence to suggest that the herbs C indica, holy basil, fenugreek, and G sylvestre, and the herbal formulas Ayush-82 and 0 -400 have a glucose-lowering effect and deserve further study. Evidence of effectiveness of several other herbs is less extensive (C tamala, E jambo/ana, and Momordica charantia). Conclusions: There is heterogeneity in the available literature on Ayurvedic treatment for diabetes. Most studies test herbal therapy. Heterogeneity exists in the herbs and formulas tested (more than 44 different interventions identified) and in the method of their preparation. Despite these limitations, there are sufficient data for several herbs or herbal formulas to warrant further studies.
- Autism and RhetoricHeilker, Paul V.; Yergeau, M. (National Council of Teachers of English, 2011-05)By understanding the verbal and nonverbal manifestations of autism as a rhetorical imperative, a perspective that involves applying Krista Ratcliffe's concept of rhetorical listening, scholars can do much to dissolve the idea of otherness that appears in discussions of this topic.
- Biosignal-driven Art: Beyond biofeedbackOrtiz, Miguel A.; Coghlan, Niall; Jaimovich, Javier; Knapp, R. Benjamin (CMMAS, 2011)Biosignal monitoring in interactive arts, although present for over forty years, remains a relatively little known field of research within the artistic community as compared to other sensing technologies. Since the early 1960s, an ever-increasing number of artists have collaborated with neuroscientists, physicians and electrical engineers, in order to devise means that allow for the acquisition of the minuscule electrical potentials generated by the human body. This has enabled direct manifestations of human physiology to be incorporated into interactive artworks. This paper presents an introduction to this field of artistic practice and scientific research that uses human physiology as its main element. A brief introduction to the main concepts and history of biosignal-driven art is followed by a review of various artworks and scientific enquiry developed by the authors. This aims at giving a complete overview of the various strategies developed for biosignal-driven interactive art.
- A Black Woman’s Search for the Transdisciplinary Applied Social Justice Model: Encounters with Critical Race Feminism, Black Feminism, and Africana StudiesPratt-Clarke, Menah (Itibari M. Zulu, 2012-03)This work examines my journey, as a descendant of the Creoles of Freetown, Sierra Leone, on my father’s side, and former enslaved Africans of rural Texas on my mother’s side, to construct and develop the Transdisciplinary Applied Social Justice (TASJ©) model. The TASJ model is an Afrocentric, praxis-oriented, theoretical, and methodological approach for addressing the marginalization, exclusion, and disenfranchisement of people of color, and women of color, in particular. This article documents the development of the TASJ model using personal narrative and demonstrates its connections to Black Feminism and Critical Race Feminism. In addition, the model’s contribution to Africana Studies is examined. Key contributions include its transdisciplinary focus; its recognition of the importance of intertwined identities, including race and gender; and its commitment to social justice activism and social movements.
- Blasted Flies and Nanoparticles for TBIHockey, Kevin S.; Sholar, Christopher A.; Sajja, Venkata Siva Sai Sujith; Hubbard, W. Brad; Thorpe, Chevon; VandeVord, Pamela J.; Rzigalinski, Beverly A. (Brain Injuries and Biomechanics Symposium, 2013-09-19)This presentation briefly summaries two major areas of work in our lab, development of a Drosophila model of blast injury and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with cerium oxide nanoparticles. First, we discuss the design, methodology, and results for the Drosophila blast model, and its relevance to human head injury. Briefly, we found that the Drosophila model was able to reproduce the decreased lifespan and early death seen in military personnel exposed to repetitive mild blast and NFL players exposed to repeated mild head injury. Next we discuss our in vitro and in vivo work with cerium oxide nanoparticles as neuroprotective and regenerative agents for treatment of TBI. Using a tissue culture model for TBI, we found that cerium oxide nanoparticles, delivered up to 6 hrs. post-injury, improved neuronal survival and maintained near-normal glutamate signaling in neurons of mixed organotypic brain cell cultures. In vivo, we found that delivery of cerium oxide nanoparticles prior to lateral fluid percussion brain injury in the rat, improved motor performance, learning and memory.
- Can Administrative Housing Data Replace Survey Data?Molfino, Emily; Korkmaz, Gizem; Keller, Sallie A.; Schroeder, Aaron; Shipp, Stephanie; Weinberg, Daniel H. (HUD, 2017)This article examines the feasibility of using local administrative data sources for enhancing and supplementing federally collected survey data to describe housing in Arlington County, Virginia. Using real estate assessment data and the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2009 to 2013, we compare housing estimates for six characteristics: number of housing units, type of housing unit, year built, number of bedrooms, housing value, and real estate taxes paid. The findings show that housing administrative data can be repurposed to enhance and supplement the ACS, but limitations exist. We then discuss the challenges of repurposing housing administrative data for research.
- Civil Cyberconflict: Microsoft, Cybercrime, and BotnetsHiller, Janine S. (Santa Clara University School of Law, 2014-01)Cyber “warfare” and hackback by private companies is a hot discussion topic for its potential to fight cybercrime and promote cybersecurity. In the shadow of this provocative discussion, Microsoft has led a concerted, sustained fight against cybercriminals by using traditional legal theories and court actions to dismantle criminal networks known as botnets. This article brings focus to the role of the private sector in cybersecurity in light of the aggressive civil actions by Microsoft to address a thorny and seemingly intractable global problem. A botnet is a network of computers infected with unauthorized code that is controlled from a distance by malicious actors. The extent of botnet activity is staggering, and botnets have been called the plague of the Internet. The general public is more commonly aware of the damaging results of botnet activity rather than its operation, intrusion, or infection capabilities. Botnet activity may result in a website being unavailable due to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, identity theft can occur because the botnet collects passwords from individual users, and bank accounts may be emptied related to botnet activity. Spam, fraud, spyware, and data breaches are all the result of botnet activity. Technical remedies for stopping botnet attacks and damages are ongoing, but technical solutions alone are inadequate. Law enforcement is active in tracking down criminal activities of botnets, yet the number and sophistication of the attackers overwhelm it. In a new development, multiple civil lawsuits by Microsoft have created the legal precedent for suing botnet operators and using existing law to dismantle botnets and decrease their global reach. This article reviews the threats created by botnets and describes the evolution of legal and technical strategies to address botnet proliferation. The distinctive aspects of each of the cases brought by Microsoft are described and analyzed and the complex questions surrounding a botnet takedown are identified. Discussion of the details of the lawsuits are important, because over a relatively short period of time, government and private sector roles have evolved considerably in the search for a methodology to deal effectively with botnets. Theoretical and international questions surrounding the sustainability and policy ramifications of private sector leadership in cybersecurity are examined, and questions for future research are identified.
- A collaboration workflow from sound-based composition to performance of electroacoustic music using «Pure Data» as a framework.Tsoukalas, Kyriakos D. (Bauhaus Universitat Weimer, 2011-08)This paper describes a workflow for composers, engineers and performers to collaborate, using Pure Data (PD) as a framework, towards the design of electroacoustic musical instruments intended for live performances of sound-based music. Furthermore, it presents some considerations about live performance and ideas of creating collaboration tools, possibly as PD GUI plugins.
- Compassionately Hidden: The Church Telling Local Homeless to “Come to Our House"Oliver, Robert D.; Robinson, Matthew; Koebel, C. Theodore (Gamma Theta Upsilon, 2015)In early 2011, the To Our House (TOH) thermal shelter program opened its doors to homeless men in the New River Valley Area (NRV) of Virginia. The program was a grass roots response to the death of a well-known local homeless man and the goal of the program is to provide winter shelter for single adult men by using rotating host sites at local churches. We highlight that in the NRV local churches have sought to remedy a socially unjust situation by providing shelter for men that was previously unavailable. We illustrate that faith-based outreach in the New River Valley can be viewed as positive compassionate outreach by a caring community. While acknowledging the benefits of this compassionate outreach to more than 25 men in the NRV, we also offer a cautionary note regarding the dilemmas of this outreach suggesting that it has the potential to mask the problems of the local housing market.
- Confronting Challenges at the Intersection of Rurality, Place, and Teacher Preparation: Improving Efforts in Teacher Education to Staff Rural SchoolsAzano, Amy Price; Stewart, Trevor Thomas (Mercy College, 2016)Recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers in rural schools is a persistent struggle in many countries, including the U.S. While rural education researchers have long lamented the struggle to recruit and retain teachers, there is relatively little known about intentional efforts to prepare teachers, specifically, for rural classrooms. Salient challenges related to poverty, geographic isolation, low teacher salaries, and a lack of community amenities seem to trump perks of living in rural communities. Recognizing this issue as a complex and hard to solve fixture in the composition of rural communities, we sought to understand how teacher preparation programs might better prepare preservice teachers for successful student teaching placements and, ideally, eventual careers in rural schools. In this study, we explore teacher candidates’ perceptions of rurality while examining how specific theory, pedagogy, and practice influence their feelings of preparedness for working in a rural school. Using pre- and post- questionnaire data, classroom observations, and reflections, we assess the effectiveness of deliberate efforts in our teacher preparation program to increase readiness for rural teaching. In our analysis and discussion, we draw on critical and sociocultural theories to understand the experiences of a cohort of teacher candidates as they explore personal histories, the importance of place, expectations, and teaching strategies for rural contexts. We conclude our article with recommendations for enhancing teacher preparation programs in ways that might result in significant progress toward the goal of staffing rural schools with the highly skilled teachers all students deserve.
- Connexin 43 peptidic medicine for glioblastoma stem cellsSheng, Zhi (Elsevier, 2021-02-01)
- Costs of Using Unmanned Aircraft on Crop FarmsIreland-Otto, Nancy; Ciampitti, Ignacio A.; Blanks, Mark T.; Burton, Robert O. Jr.; Balthazor, Travis (American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, 2016)Excitement is high about the potential uses of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in agriculture. We budgeted the costs of high-yield, non-irrigated corn production on two fields on a “representative” farm located in Northeastern Kansas. One complete pass over each field was completed. The representative farm will use a manned aerial system (MAS) or UAS and visual inspection and soil/tissue tests to determine whether and where a nitrogen deficiency is occurring. Our analysis suggests that UAS is less costly than MAS. The authors expect the costs of UAS and MAS to decrease in the future.
- CULTIVATING COMPLEXITY: How I Stopped Driving The Innovation Train And Started Planting Seeds In The Community GardenMathews, Brian (2017-09-14)The last two decades have ushered transformative change across libraries. We have reimagined collections, revolutionized spaces, introduced numerous technologies, and greatly expanded our service offerings. Yet despite all of these advances, our organizational structures have remained largely the same. This paper serves as an invitation to explore evolutionary paths for academic and research libraries. I offer my leadership journey as a conversational example, moving from a focus on productivity and serving as a driver of innovation toward a role as facilitator and gardener, helping to nurture the work environment to grow more organically. By rethinking how we interact with our colleagues, we can cultivate a more creative culture that enables us to be more resilient and better situated to tackle the complex and unpredictable nature of the work that lies ahead.
- CURATING THE CAMPUS, CURATING CHANGE: A collection of eight vignettesMathews, Brian; Badua, Jenizza (2016-10)As librarians, we select, collect, integrate, and manage diverse forms of information. Imagine if we apply this foundation in a new context: partnerships across the campus environment. In buildings all around us, students and faculty are using, sharing, and creating knowledge. This presents a tremendous opportunity for us to venture forth and empower our communities. Vignettes include: classroom building, research building, labs, studios, exhibits & displays, atriums & lobbies, living learning community, and incubators.
- Editorial: Similarities and Discrepancies Across Family Members at Multiple Levels: Insights From Behavior, Psychophysiology, and NeuroimagingRogers, Christy Rae; Qu, Yang; Lee, Tae-Ho; Liu, Siwei; Kim, Sun Hyung (Frontiers, 2022-01-28)
- Effect of Silver Nanoparticles and Antibiotics on Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Anaerobic DigestionMiller, Jennifer H.; Novak, John T.; Knocke, William R.; Young, Katherine; Pruden, Amy; Hong, Yanjuan; Vikesland, Peter J.; Hull, Matthew S.; Pruden, Amy (Water Environment Federation, 2013-05)Water resource recovery facilities have been described as creating breeding ground conditions for the selection, transfer, and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) among various bacteria. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of direct addition of antibiotic and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs, or nanosilver) on the occurrence of ARGs in thermophilic anaerobic digesters. Test thermophilic digesters were amended with environmentally-relevant concentrations of Ag NP (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg-Ag/L; corresponding to ≈ 0.7, 7.0, and 70 mg-Ag/kg total solids) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) that span susceptible to resistant classifications (1, 5, and 50 mg/L) as potential selection pressures for ARGs. Tetracycline (tet(O), tet(W)) and sulfonamide (sulI, sulII) ARGs and the integrase enzyme gene (intI1) associated with Class 1 integrons were measured in raw sludge, test thermophilic digesters, a control thermophilic digester, and a control mesophilic digester. There was no apparent effect of Ag NPs on thermophilic anaerobic digester performance. The maximum SMX addition (50 mg/L) resulted in accumulation of volatile fatty acids and low pH, alkalinity, and volatile solids reduction. There was no significant difference between ARG gene copy numbers (absolute or normalized to 16S rRNA genes) in amended thermophilic digesters and the control thermophilic digester. Antibiotic resistance gene copy numbers in digested sludge ranged from 10³ to 10⁶ copies per µL (≈ 8 × 10¹ to 8 × 10⁴ copies per lg) of sludge as result of a 1-log reduction of ARGs (2- log reduction for intI1). Quantities of the five ARGs in raw sludge ranged from 10⁴ to 10⁸ copies per lL (≈ 4 × 10² to 4 × 10⁶ per lg) of sludge. Test and control thermophilic digesters (53 °C, 12-day solids retention time [SRT]) consistently reduced but did not eliminate levels of all analyzed genes. The mesophilic digester (37 °C, 20-day SRT) also reduced levels of sulI, sulII, and intI1 genes, but levels of tet(O) and tet(W) were the same or higher than in raw sludge. Antibiotic resistance gene reductions remained constant despite the application of selection pressures, which suggests that digester operating conditions are a strong governing factor of the bacterial community composition and thus the prevalence of ARGs.
- Effects of Chronic Social Stress and Maternal Intranasal Oxytocin and Vasopressin on Offspring Interferon-gamma and BehaviorMurgatroyd, Christopher A.; Hicks-Nelson, Alexandria; Fink, Alexandria; Beamer, Gillian; Gurel, Kursat; Elnady, Fawzy; Pittet, Florent; Nephew, Benjamin C. (Frontiers, 2016-12-14)Recent studies support the hypothesis that the adverse effects of early-life adversity and transgenerational stress on neural plasticity and behavior are mediated by inflammation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the immune and behavioral programing effects of intranasal (IN) vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) treatment of chronic social stress (CSS)-exposed F1 dams on F2 juvenile female offspring. It was hypothesized that maternal AVP and OXT treatment would have preventative effects on social stress-induced deficits in offspring anxiety and social behavior and that these effects would be associated with changes in interferon-γ (IFNγ). Control and CSS-exposed F1 dams were administered IN saline, AVP, or OXT during lactation and the F2 juvenile female offspring were assessed for basal plasma IFNγ and perseverative, anxiety, and social behavior. CSS F2 female juvenile offspring had elevated IFNγ levels and exhibited increased repetitive/perseverative and anxiety behaviors and deficits in social behavior. These effects were modulated by AVP and OXT in a context- and behavior-dependent manner, with OXT exhibiting preventative effects on repetitive and anxiety behaviors and AVP possessing preventative effects on social behavior deficits and anxiety. Basal IFNγ levels were elevated in the F2 offspring of OXT-treated F1 dams, but IFNγ was not correlated with the behavioral effects. These results support the hypothesis that maternal AVP and OXT treatment have context- and behavior-specific effects on peripheral IFNγ levels and perseverative, anxiety, and social behaviors in the female offspring of early-life social stress-exposed dams. Both maternal AVP and OXT are effective at preventing social stress-induced increases in self-directed measures of anxiety, and AVP is particularly effective at preventing impairments in overall social contact. OXT is specifically effective at preventing repetitive/perseverative behaviors, yet is ineffective at preventing deficits in overall social behavior.