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A convergent mixed methods study exploring the psychosociocultural factors of persistence for Latina/o first-generation college students.
No full textThis convergent mixed methods case study aimed to understand the psychosociocultural factors that impact the success of Latina/o first-generation college student as they strive toward completion of their bachelor's degree. As the demographics of college enrollment continue to mirror the United States population, institutions of higher education are uniquely poised to support students from diverse backgrounds, particularly students who identify as Latina/o and are first in their families to attend or graduate from college. However, Latina/o first-generation college students do not complete their bachelor's degree at the same rate as their peers. This study used a psychosociocultural framework to further understand factors that promote student success. Using a mixed methods research design, this study utilized a survey to collect data using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM-R). Participants (n = 57) for the survey portion of this study were recruited from a private, 4-year college in central Texas. For the qualitative phase of the study, participants were recruited from the survey phase (n = 4). While the results from the quantitative phase did not yield statistically significant results, the qualitative phase of this study produced qualitative insights that led to emerging themes on the impact of the psychosociocultural factors of Latina/o first-generation college students' success. Integration of findings from both data sets continued to emphasize the importance of psychosociocultural factors. There is a need for institutional change to ensure that all students are provided with equitable learning outcomes. Recommendations include a reevaluation of current persistence and retention efforts, with a focus on expanding cultural competence amongst faculty and staff. Further research is recommended to explore additional factors of success found through the emerging themes from this study, such as community and academic support, identity and institutional congruity, and personal empowerment
Me management : a qualitative single-case study exploring the transtheoretical model stages and processes of change in a spiritual mentoring program for women of color.
No full textWomen of color (WOC) embrace spiritual practices as a method of coping with ostracism, poverty, and racial and sexual subjugation. Incorporating spiritual principles and mentoring can transform and empower WOC from marginalized communities. Although mentoring involves guidance and support from a skilled individual, WOC do not have access to mentors at the same rate as White men and women. Me Management is a spiritual mentoring program for WOC created to fill this void. The purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore the stages and processes of change for WOC through the Me Management spiritual mentoring program. The transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change is the theoretical framework that informed the study and consists of two main components: the Stages of Change (SOC), representing the timeframes for specific actions, and Processes of Change (POC), describing the necessary motivation for the different stages. I conducted semi-structured interviews and a focus group with five mentee participants who graduated from Me Management to explore their experiences. To guide WOC toward transformation Me Management utilizes Scripture as the foundation for the curriculum. One prominent theme from the study was participants seeking coping strategies from this mentoring program when they needed support. Disorienting dilemmas enhanced their desire to embrace different problem-solving strategies. A second theme was the efficacy of Scripture in addressing real-life situations. Two pronounced SOCs were action and maintenance. The action stage reveals new behavior changes should be consistent for at least six months for a person to avoid relapse, and this one-year program offered mentees the necessary time to develop healthy life skills. The maintenance stage occurs when the former behavior is no longer viable, and the new behavior becomes a consistent pattern. The participant demonstrated the ability to maintain godly lives with evidence of confidence, sisterhood, and a healthy dependence on Christ. A pronounced POC was helping relationships as the group mentoring structure provided camaraderie and accountability. Implications and recommendations are offered to decision-makers such as mentors, mentees, and program hosts to implement this program where WOC would benefit from culturally relevant mentorship
The ethics of politicization.
No full textAllegations of politicization have surged in public discourse. What does it mean to politicize? Is politicizing wrong? If so, why? To what other phenomena is politicization related? In this dissertation, I give an account of politicization, describe some ethical implications, and discuss related phenomena. I begin with a philosophical definition of politicization, arguing that to politicize is to use a nonpartisan good as a means to a partisan end. Then I argue that politicization is analogous to marketization in morally salient ways: both phenomena can corrupt goods and lead to unfairness. Then I argue that politicizing actions exacerbate social polarization, which gives us a strong reason against politicizing. Next, I highlight a tension present in the prescription for polarization that we participate in nonpolitical cooperative activities. I resolve this tension with insights from recent work in the philosophy of games. Finally, I give an account of what it means to moralize and explain how this phenomenon differs from politicizing, grandstanding, moralism, and moral hyperactivity
The impact of odor detection on mate recognition in Aedes aegypti.
No full textMating behaviors and mate recognition are crucial to the life histories of insects, including mosquitoes that act as vectors of human disease. Understanding the mechanisms behind mate recognition could allow for the development of novel population control methods and the reduction of vector-borne diseases. For many mosquito species, mating takes place in swarms formed by males. Female mosquitoes enter these swarms where mate recognition and copulation take place. Within the swarm, audial and visual cues are thought to be the primary drivers of conspecific mate recognition. We have investigated whether chemical cues are also utilized in mate recognition in Aedes aegypti, a known vector of Dengue, Yellow fever, and Zika. Odorant Receptors (ORs), including the co-receptor orco, are required for volatile chemical detection in adult mosquito antennae. Genetic knockout of orco (orco-) disrupts OR function, resulting in general anosmia. In this study, we compared the mating success of wild-type and orco- mutant Aedes aegypti adults in cage assays under controlled laboratory conditions. We observed a small but repeatable decrease in the mating success of orco- mosquitoes. This outcome suggests that volatile or semi-volatile odorants produced by adult mosquitoes may contribute to the efficiency of mate recognition in Aedes aegypti
Unlocking potential : how a little-known mentorship program opens doors to scholarly success.
No full textA presentation given to the library faculty of Baylor University, promoting the benefits and describing the outcomes of participation in a lesser-known national mentorship program, the American Library Association's Library Research Round Table (ALA LRRT) Mentorship Program
Beyond words : a qualitative case study exploring the role of institutional level commitment in advancing faculty diversity, inclusive practice, and multicultural organizational development at higher education institutions.
No full textHigher education institutions (HEIs) continue to be the grounds for social transformation. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are critical to the long-term productivity, sustainability, and resiliency development of HEIs. Given the discriminatory foundations of the higher education system in the United States and the embedded root causes of a monocultural campus environment, HEI leaders have a hefty task of increasing representation, managing diversity, and cultivating an inclusive work culture. Considering the traditions of HEIs as serving dominant social groups and the predominantly White leadership across campuses in the United States, the tension between traditions and the outcry for social diversity at HEIs pushed institutional-level prioritization of DEI with superficial missions and numerical commitments to increase diversity without moving beyond the rhetoric to foster multiculturalism. This qualitative single case study described how Arizona State University's (ASU) institution-level commitment to inclusion supported and drove continuous program-level changes toward organizational-wide multiculturalism. Grounded in the multicultural organizational development (MCOD) theoretical framework (B. Jackson & Hardiman, 1994), this study employed a dual-lens approach to explaining the multileveled process of advancing diversity and inclusion in organizational development. It explored practical qualitative evaluation methodology to interpret the human experiences in DEI efforts. Using a constructivist worldview, the study designed and analyzed semistructured interviews to bring the participants' stories to focus. The implications of this study revealed practical approaches to enhance DEI efforts and three concrete strategies to foster diversity and inclusion for institutional leaders and other collaborators to consider. The study implied that leadership commitment to DEI was critical to promoting changes on campus. Given the multifaceted nature of social issues, evaluating DEI efforts should be quantitative and qualitative. Institutions must commit to DEI long term. The three strategies employed the MCOD cultural development stages as identifiers to support the advancement of DEI for institutions experiencing monoculturalism, nondiscriminating culture, and moving toward multiculturalism
The Moral Impermissibility of Abortion in the Hard Cases : Examining Abortion in the Cases of Rape, Incest, Genetic Deficiency, and Death of the Mother
No full textThe political, philosophical, and social discussion on abortion never leads anywhere. The warring sides often focus on winning the argument rather than seeking truth. The pro-life movement looks at abortion and sees a modern-day genocide toward the unborn, whereas the pro-choice movement sees an attack on the bodily autonomy of women. The public debate never stays in one place as the justification for abortion access often turns toward victims of rape, rare fetal conditions, ectopic pregnancies, and other conditions. The conversation often ends in these areas: the hard cases. This thesis starts the discussion in the hard cases by examining the impermissibility of abortions in cases of rape and genetic defect, while also examining the narrow conditions of the death-of-the-mother cases where the mother's life is at risk. The result is that the majority of abortions can no longer rely on the narrow reasoning of the hard cases to be justified
Are Standard Treatment Options For Service Members With Traumatic Brain Injuries Effective?
No full textTraumatic brain injuries are prevailing throughout all military branches. This thesis analyzes the effectiveness of standard treatment options for service members with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). To understand the effectiveness, current standard treatment options for during and after deployment will be presented in terms of Role Facilities, invasive and noninvasive treatment options, and therapies. Case studies from researchers, a court case against the Veterans Affairs, and veterans' accounts will be studied to draw conclusions about the long-term effectiveness of standard treatment options. There is also new research being conducted for alternative treatment options. However, because most of this research is new, the effectiveness of these treatments cannot be concluded. The analysis of current standard treatments shows that while standard treatments are effective, there is room for improvement, especially in diagnoses and availability of treatment, which Congress and lawmakers are trying to combat
Asymmetric Giese additions employing chiral unsaturated acylammonium salts & Synthetic studies toward curromycin A.
No full textLactams have high bioactivity because of their structural similarity to nitrogenous bases1,2 and peptide bonds.3 The asymmetric synthesis of lactams continues to be an important endeavor, since active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) require absolute stereocontrol to bind to their cellular targets. Isothiourea catalysts, such as benzotetramisole (BTM), react with α-β unsaturated acid chlorides and other activated esters to form unsaturated acylammonium salts, enabling a variety of subsequent anionic reactions. Anionic nucleophiles such as activated imines,4 enamides,5 aminothiols,6 azodicarboxylates,7 and aminomalonates5 can utilize chiral acylammonium intermediates towards optically active lactam synthesis.8 In these cases, the electron-withdrawing groups that facilitate anion formation determine the substitution at the C-C bond formation site. In contrast, this study employs a diastereoselective Giese addition of amine-tethered carbon radicals to generalize the scope of accessible products. It builds on recent work by Smith9 and Melchiorre,10 using facially selective α-radical trapping to generate a second stereocenter. Efforts toward optimization and applications of this methodology are described. Curromycin A shows antibacterial,11 antitumor (IC50 = 84 μM against P388,12 IC50 = 6.0 nM GRP78 inhibition via luciferase assay13, IC50 = 22 pM against MKN45 via MTT assay), and antiviral (IC50 = 9.1 nM14 against human immunodeficiency virus) activity. Its spiro-β-lactone-γ-lactam core is homologous to that of known covalent modifiers whose mechanism of action involves acylation of nucleophilic amino acids.15,16 This core is joined to an oxazole triene via a β-hydroxy pivalamide. Interestingly, each of these three moieties shows evidence for independent bioactivity,17 reinforcing the importance of structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. 'Pharmacophore-directed retrosynthesis' (PDR), while maintaining the chemical elegance and efficiency typical of traditional retrosynthesis, plans targets that not only function as synthetic intermediates, but also serve as candidates for biological testing to expand the SAR profile of the target natural product. For example, a modular route allows transposable coupling with both the E,E,E- and Z,Z,E-trienes to interrogate the effects of the triene geometry on bioactivity. Previous work toward the Z,Z,E-triene was hindered by the generation of an undesired allene product upon deprotection of an alkyne intermediate, forming a fully conjugated system with the oxazole. The current strategy towards this triene, heavily inspired by previous synthetic efforts toward analogous natural product inthomycin A,18 deprotects and reduces the alkyne before the oxazole coupling. A regioselective Grignard addition to propyn-3-ol is subsequently captured by an electrophilic iodine source, a cis-diimide reduction generates the second Z-alkene, and a Stille cross-coupling reaction forges the triene. The culmination of the proposed synthesis is a clickable β-lactone derivative of inthomycin A, as well as its application to the overall synthetic studies of curromycin A
The role of dissolved gas fluxes on the biogeochemical evolution of nutrient cycles in lakes.
No full textBiogeochemical pathways, including those of nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), and phosphorus (P) are mediated by microbes. As the two most abundant elements in the Earth's atmosphere, N (as N2) and O (as O2), are gaseous species that are important for their cycling processes. O2 is a very important component in ecosystem metabolism, which includes photosynthesis and respiration, and N2 is important for N2 fixation and denitrification. P does not have a major gas component in lake ecosystems, but its cycling is very dependent on O2 concentrations. Anthropogenic activities have increased the reactive N and P pools in freshwater, and the increase in reactive N and P is known as eutrophication. Denitrification, the reduction of nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) to N2, biologically removes N from lakes and helps alleviate the effects of eutrophication. Once O2 in the water column is depleted, denitrifiers can use NO3- as their terminal electron acceptor. P, on the other hand, will either bind to metals or be released depending on the surrounding O2 concentrations. The binding of reactive P in oxic conditions can remove it from the water and potentially bury it for long periods of time until it is released when conditions become anoxic. The overall objective of this project was to quantify N, O, and P dynamics at various spatial, temporal, and experimental scales. This included both water column and sediment cycling, as well as seasonal and year-long studies. More specifically, this project aimed to 1) estimate ecosystem O2 metabolism using membrane inlet mass spectrometry, 2) study N2 accumulation and drawdown in a stratified and well-mixed reservoir, and 3) measure sediment N and P dynamics in differing redox conditions. Taken together, these projects have continued adding to the growing literature about the coupling of biogeochemical cycles, as the interactions of dissolved gases between the water column, sediment, and atmosphere are important for determining the dynamics of an ecosystem