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Gender differences in substance abuse among young adults: An exploration of the conduct problems gender paradox
No full textIntroduction: The gender paradox of conduct problems (CP) suggests that females exhibit more severe CP than males, who are more frequently diagnosed with these disorders. However, research remains inconclusive, regarding outcomes like substance use and delinquency. This study examines the gender paradox in young adults, a developmental stage where CP behaviors may be more established. Given limited prior research, it is hypothesized that females with higher CP levels will report greater externalizing problems than males, supporting the gender paradox. Methods: Participants included 125 undergraduate students (M age = 19, SD = 1.3, 62.4% female). All measures were self-reported. CP severity was assessed by summing severity ratings of oppositional defiant and conduct disorder measures. Gender was examined as a moderator, with ADHD as a covariate. Outcomes included general substance abuse, specific substance use (e.g., marijuana, alcohol), and delinquent peer affiliation. A one-way ANOVA compared mean outcome scores across CP levels by gender. Multiple linear regressions examined interactive effects of CP and gender on outcomes. Results: ANOVA showed no significant group differences. However, multiple regressions revealed a significant interaction between gender and CP predicting substance abuse (p \u3c .05). Simple slopes analyses indicated higher CP levels were linked to increased substance abuse for females (b = 0.45, p \u3c .01) but not males (b = 0.05, p = 0.73). Other outcomes showed no significant effects. Conclusion: Findings support the gender paradox, highlighting increased substance use in females with higher CP. This underscores the need for targeted assessments and interventions for young adults, particularly in university settings
The relationship of menstruation and the risks of ACL tears on female adolescent athletes
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this systematic narrative review is to investigate the relationship menstruation has on ACL tears and how hormonal changes can increase risk of injury in female adolescent athletes. Background: ACL injuries are among the most common knee injuries in athletes. Women are more at risk of ACL injuries then men feasibly due to hormones. Cycle phases can have an effect on ligament laxity which in turn may increase the risk of an ACL tear. ACL tears happen more often during the follicular and ovulatory phases, where the change of estrogen is at its highest. This brings up the conversation if oral contraceptives will lower the risk of ACL injuries. Understanding the relationship between menstrual cycles and ACL injuries may help prevent the occurrence in female athletes. Methods: A computerized search was completed using Pubmed and Google Scholar. Search criteria included articles within 10 years, full text, and PDF access. Keywords included female athletes, ACL injuries, menstruation cycle, and hormones. Results: Results showed women who showed hyperextension of the knee had significantly higher knee laxity levels in the ovulation phase compared to the early follicular phase. The use of oral contraceptives decreases ACL laxity. Conclusions: Women may have increase laxity during the ovulation phase, due to increase in estrogen levels. The ovulation phase may be related to the greater incidence of ACL injuries in women. Oral contraceptives may serve a therapeutic role in decreasing ACL injury rates in women. Further investigation is still warranted
The effectiveness of behavioral treatment and physical management on children with callous-unemotional (CU) traits
No full textChildren presenting with conduct problems (CP) and callous-unemotional (CU) traits have shown a mixed response to behavioral treatment, with research noting both positive and limited effectiveness. The current study explores how children with varying levels of CU traits (low, medium, and high) respond to a Summer Treatment Program (STP) over time, as measured by duration of Time-Out (TO) and physical management. Participants were 44 youth (ages 7-12, 30% Hispanic) enrolled in a five- week summer treatment program. Treatment staff reported the duration of TO, physical management, and behavioral observations. Count data were modeled using a negative binomial mixed model with a log link; interactions were probed via slope analysis. For TO duration, children with high CU traits showed the greatest decline (b = -.81, p \u3c .0001), followed by medium CU traits (b = -.66, p \u3c .0001), and low CU Traits (b = -.51, p \u3c .0001) as the STP progressed. For Physical Management, the effect of STP week on duration was significant at low levels of CU traits (b = -.97, p \u3c .001) and medium CU levels (b = -.59, p \u3c .01). As STP progressed, the duration of TO and physical management decreased. While children across all levels of CU traits showed a decline in TO durations, only those with medium and low CU traits showed a decline in the duration of physical management. These results demonstrate the importance of considering the CU level when treating children with CP. Future research should explore which treatments are most effective for children with high levels of CU traits
Interrater reliability of the smooth pursuit and saccadic tasks of the VOMS among certified athletic trainers
No full textBackground: Sports-related concussions (SRC) are a prevalent form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained during athletic activities. Accurate assessment tools are essential for identifying SRCs, and the Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) is valuable in evaluating vestibular and ocular motor impairments associated with SRCs. However, VOMS remains underutilized and inconsistently administered among certified athletic trainers. Purpose: This study aims to assess the interrater reliability of the smooth pursuit and saccadic tasks of the VOMS among certified athletic trainers in District 2 and investigate the extent of formal VOMS training within athletic training programs. Methods: Twenty-five certified athletic trainers will be recruited through email outreach facilitated by Montclair State University, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), and the Athletic Trainer’s Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ). Participants will complete an electronic consent form and demographics survey before watching a standardized instructional video on VOMS administration. Testing will occur in a controlled environment at Montclair State University. Tobii Pro Glasses 3 will capture eye-tracking data during VOMS administration. Data analysis will be conducted via Kinovea, and participant confidentiality will be maintained through deidentification and secure storage. Results: We hypothesize a lack of consistency in VOMS delivery among certified athletic trainers and that athletic trainers receive limited formal training on VOMS protocols prior to certification. Conclusion: By identifying gaps in VOMS administration and training, this study seeks to promote standardized concussion evaluation practices, enhance clinical confidence among athletic trainers, and ultimately improve athlete safety and care
Unwrapping sexism: The convergence of law, gender, and social change in American society
No full textSexism” is discrimination based on sex or gender. Sexism has existed in America since itsfounding. By the 20thcentury, the roles and rights of women were expanded and protected. In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment became effective, forbidding the federal or state governments from denying the right to vote based on sex. Court decisions and legislation in the late 20th century further expanded women’s rights. Despite such progress, however, explicit and implicit sexism in American culture and society persists. What can and should be done to eliminate sexism in the United States? This is a complex issue that requires interdisciplinary research to arrive at a more comprehensive understanding. From September 2024 through April 2025, I used qualitative research methodology (textual analysis). I analyzed sources from the disciplines of law and political science, including the Constitution, court cases, legislation, and scholarly and non-scholarly articles. I identified conflicting insights from the scholarly sources, found common ground between such insights, and integrated them to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. That fuller understanding leads to suggested resolutions of the problem. I conclude that legal reforms are required to address sexism in American society. The Constitution needs to be amended to add the Equal Rights Amendment. Government needs to enact legislation protecting women’s reproductive rights, establishing wage parity, and otherwise aiming to reduce sexism. More than that, however, there need to be efforts to educate the public about the importance of equality between men and women in all aspects of American life
Effect of daytime napping on sports performance in adult athletes
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this critically appraised topic is to analyze the effects that day-time napping has on athletic performance, seen within adult athletes. Background: Sleep plays an essential role in the body’s recovery process restoring routine metabolic and regulatory functions. Research suggests that day-time napping, depending on the duration and gender, potentially could pose as a positive method to incorporate into an adult athlete’s routine to aid in better sport performance outcomes. Methods: The search criteria for the five articles used included phrases such as athletic performance, daytime napping, and positive athletic outcomes. Limiting factors included adolescent subjects, non-athletes, and all duplicates were removed from this CAT. This search was conducted on PubMed. Results: Day-time napping is shown to have a positive effect on sports performance in both physical and cognitive areas. The duration of the nap played a role in the effectiveness shown, stating that a 25-45 min nap shows better outcomes in comparison to 60-90 min day-time naps. Gender played a role in how daytime napping effected athletic performance. Conclusion: Overall, the research used in this paper suggests that day-time napping presents as a promising addition to adult athletes’ routines to aid in improving sports performance. There is more research that is required on the topic to prove the true effects that day-time napping has on sports performance in adult athletes
An exploration into racial and ethnic identification at Montclair State University
No full textIn addition to the “standard” college student praxis, students of color face barriers to their well-being due to experiences of racism and discrimination. However, there may be a potential safeguard for mental and academic well-being known as racial and ethnic identification (REI). REI is described as a multidimensional, psychological construct, encapsulating the beliefs people have about their ethnic-racial group and how these beliefs evolve with time (Umana-Taylor et al., 2014). Townsend et al. (2020) and others (Moore et al. 2022) found that REI may serve as a protective barrier for minoritized identities who experience psychological distress, yet little is known about the implications of REI within Montclair State University (MSU) students. Mental health issues in university students have been associated with lower academic performance, poorer retention (Eisenberg et al., 2009), suicidal ideation (Casey et al., 2022), and substance abuse (Cranford et al., 2009). Fostering belonging in universities has served students by increasing well-being, satisfaction, and retention (Boyd et al., 2022), but for students of color, finding accepting spaces may be a barrier (Hussain & Jones, 2019). To this end, this poster examined REI in 384 MSU students. Specifically, we will explore factors such as assimilation, self-hatred, ethnocentricity, and multiculturalist inclusive across various cultural groups. Of the surveyed students, we found marginal differences between groups in racial and ethnic salience. These findings suggest that these students feel well-equipped to make fruitful connections to their racial and ethnic identities, potentially protecting them from other obstacles they face while navigating higher education
From heavy to healed: Investigating the effects of artificial root exudates on heavy metal removal in barren soil
No full textHeavy metal accumulation disrupts microbial activity and soil microbial function. More than 80% of land plants rely on soil microbes to grow and survive. The presence of dormant microbes could lead to disrupting mycorrhizal association, and vegetative land could turn into barren, facilitating food insecurity. This study focused on stimulating microbial activity rather than directly fertilizing plants. This is the reason we opted for artificial root exudates instead of fertilizers. Plant roots release root exudates (sugars, organic acids, amino acids, etc.) that nourish soil microbes, mobilize nutrients and chelate heavy metals. We hypothesized that reactivating soil microbes with artificial root exudates would enhance plant establishment and support phytoremediation. We hypothesized that artificial root exudates would enhance sunflower-mediated heavy metal uptake. We added sunflowers to suck up heavy metals from the soil. We evaluated the effects of seven different combinations of exudates on sunflowers’ ability to remove heavy metals from soil. Heavy metal concentrations (arsenic, iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and lead) were measured using the EPA’s total digestion method on days 0 and 207. Our results indicated that artificial root exudate treatments promoted sunflower-mediated heavy metal removal. We observed that our LDA treatment causes significant decrease in chromium from day 0 (338 ± 45.8 ppm) to day 207 (193.2 ± 7.2 ppm). These findings suggest that artificial root exudates offer a cost-effective approach to support brownfield remediation
Survey of raptors across the main campus of Montclair State University
No full textThis study surveyed raptor species across three distinct habitat types on Montclair State University\u27s main campus in Montclair, New Jersey. The campus pond (wetland), Red Hawk Trail (forested), and NJ Transit Train Station (urbanized). Raptors serve as ecological indicators reflecting environmental health. Due to humans altering these habitats, monitoring these birds is crucial for conservation efforts. Surveys occurred five times per week over a semester, rotating between morning and midday observations lasting approximately one hour each. Surveys consisted of visual observations of raptor activity, such as, perching, foraging, or soaring. With spring migration happening at the same time as the study period, increased raptor sightings were anticipated. Each site gave insight into habitat preferences, species diversity, and behavioral patterns. Findings from this study aim to contribute to habitat quality assessments, inform campus wildlife management strategies, and promote citizen science engagement in urban ecological research
Investigating IGP synthase as a potential target for mycobacterium tuberculosis
No full textTuberculosis is the world\u27s leading cause of death by a single infectious agent, surpassing coronavirus. This epidemic is associated with the bacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and its antibiotic-resistant nature. As seen in other bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses the enzyme indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase (IGP Synthase) in the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway. IGP Synthase catalyzes the fourth step of this process converting 1-(o-carboxyphenylamino)-1-deoxyribulose 5’-phosphate (CdRP) into its product, indole-3-glycerol phosphate (IGP). A unique feature found in this enzyme is the β-barrel fold where the active site lies inside the channel. As this rare structure is found in only ten percent of known enzymes, it is still a growing area of research. Understanding the active site and controlling the mechanism of this enzyme with a specialized inhibitor could be a potential target to cease bacterial growth and prevent the spread of tuberculosis. We expressed and purified the protein using nickel resin affinity chromatography. Using single-point mutations found in the active site, we ran kinetic experiments to understand the residues involved in each step of catalysis. Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters such as kcat(1/s) and Km(M) were calculated and compared to the wild type. The proteins were electrophoresed using SDS-Page, demonstrating a pure wild-type IGP Synthase that will be used in future kinetic experiments. Future studies of mutant enzymes will give more insight into the catalytic mechanism leading to specialized inhibitor design