15133 research outputs found
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Restrict the constitutional right to travel after Dobbs v. Jackson women\u27s health organization
No full textWhen Roe v. Wade was overruled by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the constitutional right to abortion ended. but other constitutional issues were created. Although the Constitution does not explicitly mention it, the Supreme Court has recognized a fundamental right to interstate travel. The Court, however, has not addressed whether there is a fundamental right to travel to obtain an abortion. After Dobbs, some states enacted laws to ban or criminalize interstate travel-or assisting interstate travel-to obtain an abortion. Do such laws violate the fundamental right to interstate travel? How can the rights of states to regulate abortion within their jurisdiction be balanced with the fundamental right to interstate travel? This is a complex question requiring interdisciplinary research to more fully understand it. From January 2025 through March 2025, using qualitative research methodology, I analyzed relevant sources from the disciplines of law and political science to identify conflicting disciplinary insights. Such sources included the Constitution, court opinions, federal and state legislation, and articles from scholarly and non-scholarly sources. I determined common ground between the conflicting insights, and through integration, I achieved a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. That understanding leads to suggested resolutions. As a result of my research, I conclude that the Supreme Court should determine that the fundamental right to interstate travel extends to obtaining an abortion. Additionally, the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act should be enacted to protect the right to interstate travel or assist someone to travel to obtain an abortion
The influence of orthographic representations on verb learning
No full textPurpose: This study analyzed stakeholder perspectives of what is important for stuttering intervention through the lens of a participation-focused framework. Method: The authors conducted a narrative review of scientific articles focused on important elements of stuttering therapy from the perspectives of people who stutter and speech-language pathologists. Content in those papers was organized according to a new participation-focused framework of therapy by Baylor & Darling-White (2020). This framework prioritizes communicative participation as the primary outcome variable in all speech-language pathology services, and includes three domains in service of that goal. These domains include communication skills, environmental factors, and personal perspectives. Content from articles was categorized into one of those three domains and meaning units were identified and coded to support generation of themes and subthemes within each domain. Results: Themes and subthemes were identified for the communication skill domain, the environmental factors domain, and the personal perspectives domain. Specific themes and subthemes will be presented and discussed, but include characteristics of therapy and therapist, increased community belongingness; noticing and modifying speech production; and changes to emotions and attitudes about the self, stuttering, and management of stuttering. Conclusions: Clinicians have a variety of options for enhancing communicative outcomes for clients who stutter that go beyond traditional speech modification. This participation-focused framework applied to people who stutter will help clinicians understand the potential needs of their clients and help them to plan therapy accordingly with more options available
Do students and institutions share the same values? Exploring student perspectives at Montclair State University
No full textCharacter alignment between students and their institution can enhance engagement, belonging, and ethical decision-making (Domingo et al., 2025). This study examines how Montclair students perceive the importance of character values prioritized by their university. The study draws on data collected in Fall 2024 from Montclair State University (Montclair) undergraduate students. From a list of 14 values drawn from Montclair’s mission statement, core values, and SEEDs curriculum, students were asked how much they aligned with Montclair’s character values. From survey data, students rated the personal importance of Montclair’s character values, with the highest-rated values being Respect (67% extremely important), Self-Discovery and Self-Care (62% extremely important), and Compassion (61% extremely important). Other highly rated values included Social Justice and Equity (58%) and Ethical Action (51%). Qualitative data reveals that these values were shaped through developmental pathways, including family, life at Montclair, peers, and key past experiences (i.e., transferring colleges). Student-driven initiatives, such as clubs, are additionally formative opportunities for which students practice these values. These findings indicate strong student alignment with Montclair’s institutional character values, particularly in areas of personal development and ethical conduct. These findings suggest that students at Montclair strongly align with the institution’s values. The emphasis on personal growth and ethical action highlights the importance of fostering an environment that supports students’ moral and character development. Understanding these alignments can help institutions like Montclair refine their character education initiatives and ensure that they continue to support student development in ways that resonate with student values and experiences
Cytochrome P450 BM3 E267V activity and inhibition
No full textCytochromes P450 are membrane bound heme enzymes that play a big role in detoxifying xenobiotics, cellular metabolism, and homeostasis. The particular enzyme studied is Cytochrome P450 from Bacillus Megaterium (BM-3). Two different variants of residue position 267 were tested: glutamic acid (the wild type, negatively charged) and valine (non polar and neutral). The first goal was to compare two fatty acid substrates N-palmitoylglycine (NPG) and lauric acid with both variants. The second goal was to determine the IC50 value of the inhibitor Liarizole. Our studies found that NPG was a better substrate than lauric acid for both variants. In addition, we hypothesize that Liarizole will inhibit both variants. Future studies will include testing other substrates to help determine the role of glutamic acid
Couch potato\u27 vs. \u27sweet potato\u27: How the bilingual brain understands metaphors
No full textThe present study aims to investigate how bilinguals and monolinguals process metaphors. We examine whether bilinguals and monolinguals demonstrate different processing patterns for familiar vs novel metaphors. Previous research has shown that both bilinguals and monolinguals process metaphors in the left hemisphere (LH) as opposed to the right hemisphere (RH) (Segal & Gollan, 2018). Similar research indicates that novel metaphors tend to increase activity in the RH (Faust & Mashal, 2007; Mashal et al., 2007). However, there is a gap in the literature regarding how bilinguals process metaphors compared to monolinguals. A 2x2 experimental design was used to measure the effect of METAPHORICITY (literal vs metaphor) and FAMILIARITY (familiar vs novel). Data collection is ongoing; the current participant sample includes 11 Spanish-English bilinguals and 20 English monolinguals; all participants were right-handed. A divided visual field (DVF) task was used to measure the semantic processing of word pairs in the LH/RH. The second word pair was flashed in either the left or right visual field (VF) to activate cerebral lateralization. Reaction time (RT) and accuracy were measured as dependent variables. The Lextale test (Lemhöfer & Broersma, 2012) was used to assess vocabulary knowledge amongst participants. Our findings indicate that bilinguals process metaphors similarly to monolinguals, with more activity appearing in the LH than in the right (Segal & Gollan, 2018). Lextale scores show that individuals with larger vocabulary knowledge had faster reaction times; this suggests that there is a lexicalization effect between vocabulary and metaphor comprehension
Sex and age differences in self-reported anxiety and quality of life in autistic and non-autistic youth
No full textAutistic youth experience higher anxiety rates compared to non-autistic peers1 impacting their quality of life (QOL)2. Sex and age play a role, with non-autistic adolescent females reporting lower QOL and higher anxiety than males.3. Adolescence brings emotionality and peer influences, increasing anxiety’s vulnerability.4. Examining effects of sex and age concurrently on anxiety and QOL is important because these factors inform developmental and mental health outcomes and can shape interventions. Autistic (n=85) and non-autistic youth (n=65), Mage=11.001, SDage=3.052, 43 females,) completed two anxiety measures (MASC-2; March, 2012,) and ( ASC-ASD; Rodgers et al., 2016), and one QOL measure (PedsQL; Varni, 1998). Only sex was correlated with anxiety scores per ASC-ASD (r=-.239, p=.015), with higher scores in females. This was seen only in ASD samples (r=-.309, p =.016). Only age was related to anxiety levels per MASC-2 (r=.258, p=.020). This was seen only in ASD samples (r =.361, p =.005). Sex predicted QOL (B = -18.974, p = .016) for teenagers, with males reporting lower QOL. The ASD samples saw child age (B= -2.245, p =.028) and sex (B= -25.805, p =.003) significantly predicted QOL. These findings highlight the distinct roles of sex and age in shaping anxiety and QOL that may be unique in autistic youth, suggesting that autism-specific anxiety interventions may need to be sex-specific, while traditional anxiety presentation may warrant consideration of developmental stages. QOL support should consider both developmental stage and sex differences. Future research should examine additional biopsychosocial determinants that contribute to anxiety and QOL in yout
Assessment of gastrointestinal/feeding symptoms, impacts, and treatments in patients affected by peroxisomal disorders
No full textPeroxisomal disorders (PD) are rare, genetic conditions that impact multiple organs. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in PD often affect patients\u27 overall health status. Many GI symptoms result in acute impacts, such as hospitalization. This study aims to characterize GI symptoms of PD patients and evaluate the efficacy of current GI treatments. This information will be useful for developing future treatments addressing GI needs in PD, and improve quality of life for patients. Data was collected from patients and caregivers as part of an Externally-Led Patient-Focused Drug Development effort for PD, specifically, focus groups, online surveys, facilitated discussion and live polling from participants, which were subsequently analyzed for relevant themes and trends in responses. Among focus group discussions (n=42 participants), symptoms included those related to dentition, feeding, reflux, diarrhea, constipation, liver dysfunction, and bleeding. Online survey results (n=57) showed the most frequently reported GI symptoms impacting patients’ daily lives were feeding challenges, other hypotonia-related GI issues, and liver dysfunction. Over 60% of survey respondents reported patients being treated for GI symptoms and 35% being treated for bleeding issues. Both focus groups and facilitated discussion revealed limited effectiveness and multiple side effects in common GI treatments for PD. Many PD patients experience GI symptoms that impact daily living. Treatments for GI symptoms are common in PD patients, but have inadequate efficacy and various side effects. There is a need for more effective treatments for GI symptoms in PD to improve outcomes in patients\u27 daily lives
Religion and women’s reproductive health-seeking behavior in Nigeria: The moderating effects of women’s empowerment and context.
No full textSeveral studies have highlighted the critical role that religion plays in shaping women’s public and private behaviors. Building on that, we ask the following research questions: To what extent does religion influence women’s reproductive health-seeking behavior, such as contraceptive use and maternal healthcare utilization? Does empowerment, socioeconomic status, and community development mediate observed differences across religious groups? Using nationally representative data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), we use regression models to explore the influence of individual-, household-, and regional-level factors on reproductive health-seeking behavior. Nigeria is an interesting case study because approximately 46% of the population is Christian and 54% Muslim, with significant geographical variations in religious diversity, poverty, and health disparities. Descriptive and inferential statistics are used, and analyses are conducted separately for both religious groups. Model 1 assesses the impact of women’s autonomy, Model 2 evaluates contextual factors such as neighborhood resources and ethnic composition, and Model 3 combines both to test the robustness of autonomy versus structural influences. Preliminary descriptive results indicate that Muslims are less likely to use modern contraceptives and have fewer maternal healthcare visits than Christians. While analyses are ongoing, we anticipate that once women’s empowerment and contextual factors are controlled for, the magnitude of religious differences will be reduced, even if it still exists. Findings have important implications for culturally sensitive health interventions and policy design aimed at improving women\u27s reproductive health outcomes, especially in religiously diverse and economically unequal settings
Statewide assessment, land use patterns, and source apportionment of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl compounds across New Jersey monitoring wells, watershed management areas, and regions
No full textPFAS exposure through drinking water is a national concern in the United States. In New Jersey (NJ), previous studies have focused more on other settings, neglecting watershed management areas (WMAs), the hydrological unit of water resources management. This study represents the inaugural statewide investigation on the occurrence, geospatial distribution, land use patterns, and sources of PFAS across all NJ\u27s monitoring wells, WMAs, and regions integrating geospatial tools, Spearman correlation, PCA-varimax model, and other statistical techniques. The results revealed that at least one PFAS compound exceeds acceptable limits in most WMAs with Arthur Kill and Assiscunk Crosswicks Doctors being the most and least threatened areas respectively. Northeast is the most polluted region while the Northwest is the least. The most dominant compound is PFOA, while PFDA is the least common. Short-chain compounds were notably high, geospatial mapping showed the most threatened wells in NJ, while proximity analysis identified combined sewers as the top studied contaminating factor, followed by landfills, airports, superfund sites, and hazardous waste facilities. Aquifer characteristics and land use patterns were found to significantly influence PFAS levels, with urban areas, unconfined, stratified, and Passaic formations being the most threatened. Spearman correlation and source apportionment pinpointed distinct relationships, contamination profiles, and hotspots for all studied compounds, WMAs, and regions. The findings highlight the widespread nature of PFAS contamination in NJ and the outsize role of combined sewers, urbanization, watersheds, and aquifer characteristics in influencing PFAS crises. Smart detectors connected to phones are needed to report any trace amounts in homes
Purification of sumo-tagged ranavirus major capsid protein
No full textRanavirus has been detected in various amphibian species and it leads to infections and ultimately mortality in frogs. It is crucial to be able to identify and track the virus in natural and commercial environments, but the current testing methods have major drawbacks because they are intricate, costly, and time-consuming. This study optimized protein purification protocols to enable the development of a rapid field test for Ranavirus detection. The protein was initially expressed using a three-day protocol and purified via GST-tag affinity chromatography. This protocol outlines the expression of MCP-PGEX protein in E. coli, induction with IPTG, and collection of protein-rich pellets via centrifugation for storage at -80°C. Collected fractions were analyzed using a Nanodrop spectrophotometer to assess purity and concentration, monitoring absorbance at 280 nm (A280) and the A260/A280 ratio. High A280 values and low A260/A280 ratios indicate high protein yield with minimal DNA contamination, respectively. Wash 1 (samples 1-12) had high A260/A280 ratios. For example, the ratios in samples 8 (6.000) and 9 (7.524) indicated significant DNA contamination. These samples were unsuitable for downstream applications. Initial efforts to eliminate contamination using nucleases were only partially effective and significantly reduced protein concentration. To resolve this issue, we revised our purification protocol by adopting a His-tag system instead of a GST-tag. The altered procedure resulted in efficient purification of DNA-free protein, which is needed for aptamer binding assays