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Interpreting Emojis: Millennials versus Non-Millennials
Get PDFThe presence of emoticons--and now emojis--within written messages has increased since the advent of electronic communication. We conducted a quasi-experiment to learn whether a “smirk” emoji would be interpreted as indicating seductiveness by digital natives (Millennials) and non-digital natives (non-Millennials). We surveyed participants (N = 283) and asked them how they interpreted a message that contained the “smirk” emoji. Millennials were more likely than non-Millennials to infer seductiveness from this emoji. Our data suggest age-related differences in how various nonverbal cues are interpreted within electronic communication mediums
Predicting Dengue Fever Incidence
Get PDFThe Aedes genus of mosquito is the vector for at least three viral diseases - Dengue Fever (DF), Zika and Chikungunya. In many regions of the world, an upward trend in DF and Zika infections is observed. Using disease data from the Singaporean Ministry of Health and population data from the Singapore Department of Statistics, various statistical models are fit to DF, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF; an often-fatal complication of Dengue Fever) and Chikungunya. These models differ in their consideration of the overall data structure, and have different underlying assumptions. Of particular interest is a prediction model based on neural networks, which we present. The merits and performance of these models are discussed and the accuracy of predictions made by each model are compared. The statistical method for determining prediction bounds for the neural network model is also discussed. These prediction models provide an objective method for public health management and policy making
Milestone 2017
Get PDFMilestone, the Hope College yearbook, is an annual publication of Hope College. The first yearbook was published in 1905 as a single edition and was titled The Hope College Annual. The yearbooks became an annual publication in 1916, which was also when it was titled Milestone.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/milestone/1105/thumbnail.jp
Developing Creative Problem Solvers
Get PDFMathematics embraces creativity and beauty, attributes that are often hidden when algorithms and computational speed are favored. We’ll explore mathematical creativity and its implications for the teaching and learning of mathematics
Activation of System xc- Trafficking via an Akt-dependent Signal Transduction Pathway
No full textSystem xc- is a heterodimeric plasma membrane transporter involved in the exchange of intracellular glutamate for extracellular cystine. As such, this transporter plays a critical role in the production of the antioxidant glutathione. Previous studies in our lab have demonstrated that xCT cell surface expression increases within ten minutes of exposure to H2O2 in confluent U138MG human glioma cells. This study sought to begin to characterize the mechanism by which H2O2 regulates xCT trafficking. We hypothesized that Akt signaling is necessary for H2O2-mediated trafficking of of xCT. A significant increase in Akt phosphorylation was observed in U138MG cells following ten-minute exposure to 3 mM H2O2 compared to vehicle-treated cells using western blot analysis. Treatment with the Akt inhibitor 10-DEBC (2.5µM) for 30 minutes prior to and during H2O2 exposure resulted in a decrease in H2O2-induced phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473. Similar inhibition of Akt phosphorylation at Thr308 was observed following treatment of cells with 1.0µM API-2. Next, we used simultaneous treatment of cultured glioma cells with both inhibitors in the presence of H2O2 to determine if such treatment led to a reduction in the trafficking of endogenously expressed xCT to the plasma membrane. Preliminary data suggests that Akt activation is necessary for H2O2-induced trafficking xCT to the membrane in cultured glioma cells. To determine if the regulation of xCT cell surface expression is ubiquitous, not limited to human glioma cells where xCT is often overexpressed, we studied the role Akt plays in the trafficking of recombinantly expressed xCT in COS-7 cells. COS-7 cells transfected with myc-tagged xCT, 4F2HC and a constitutively active form of Akt showed higher levels of xCT localized to the membrane compared with cells transfected with a dominant negative Akt. These data suggest that Akt is an important regulator of xCT cell surface expression
No Pass Zone: Call Light Response and Interdisciplinary Teamwork
No full textThe No Pass Zone is a nursing intervention that focuses on patient call light use and nurse responsiveness to call lights, which affects patients’ safety and satisfaction. When a call light is activated, all staff should appropriately respond. The aims of the study examined what professions passed call lights and if more call lights were passed in the morning versus night shift. Ida Jean Orlando’s process discipline theory explains that the role of the nurse is to find out and meet the patient’s immediate needs for help. The No Pass Zone tool was used to record observations. A convenience sample of 59 call lights was observed at a community hospital in West Michigan. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 22. Results showed that of the 20 call lights that were passed, 8 call lights were passed by more than one type of personnel. Nursing techs had the highest number of passed call lights. The chi square analysis showed that significantly more call lights were passed during the night shift versus the morning shift (p=0.02). Limitations include the potential for data collectors to influence staff behavior, small sample of call lights observed, and convenience sample of call lights. These results demonstrate that multiple personnel are passing activated call lights suggesting that the No Pass Zone might may serve as an interprofessional intervention to decrease response times and increase patient safety. Also, The No Pass Zone intervention could be emphasized on the night shift because of the increase in passed call lights, which can indicate a higher risk for falls. Implications include educating non-medical personnel how to respond to call lights, promoting good communication among the interdisciplinary team, and increasing patient satisfaction and safety
The Effect of the Simply Fit Board Training Program on Balance, Body Composition and Core Strength in College Students
No full textThe “Simply Fit Board” (SFB) is a product that has claimed to improve balance and strength with regular use. SFB training only requires a level surface, like carpet or a linoleum floor, and dumbbell weights with progression in training. Since the product is new, there is no existing research to support its claims; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether or not 4 weeks of training with the SFB would improve balance, core strength and muscle tone, as the company claims it would. 15 students were assessed for static balance using the Star Excursion Balance Test and various two-legged stances on a forceplate. Ground reaction forces on the forceplate were recorded for 20 seconds with eyes open and 10 seconds with eyes closed. Body composition was measured using the Bod Pod, waist circumference, and 3 skinfold sites; the mid abdominal, mid thigh, and supraillium. Lastly, core strength was determined using the curl-up test to a 50 bpm metronome. Participants were matched to the exercise and control group based on gender and initial balance ability. The 10 participants in the exercise group met 3 times per week for a four-week period to undergo SFB training. Training occurred for 10 minutes the first week and reached 30 minutes at the end of the 4-week period for a total of 12 sessions. The control group (n=5) maintained habitual activity. We hypothesized that SFB training would increase core strength in the curl-up test and balance in both the star excursion balance test and force plate analysis. Significant results would provide evidence to support the claims made by the Simply Fit Board company that the board can serve as an effective mode for improving balance, and increasing core strength for this specific population. This study is ongoing, and results will be available during the poster celebration
Self-Regulation as an Underpinning Mechanism of Virtue
No full textWith the advent of positive psychology, virtues have received significant attention by psychological researchers. Previous studies have focused on individual virtue constructs (e.g., forgiveness, gratitude, patience; Dwiwardani et. al, 2014; Schnitker, & Emmons, 2007), to the exclusion of considering virtue holistically. Several of these studies have found connections between the individual virtue constructs and self-regulation (Doerr & Baumeister, 2010) or self-control (e.g.,Baumeister & Exline, 1999). However, self-regulation and self-control are often used interchangeably in the literature when a strong argument can be made to be more precise with their definitions. Self-control represents an effortful decision over one’s behaviors whereas self-regulation can include both effortful control and automatic processes (McCullough & Willoughby, 2009). This distinction is particularly important in light of classical virtue theory (e.g., Aristotle, 1999). Aristotle posited several character types, including the continent person (who chooses the virtuous action, despite conflicting desires) and the virtuous person (who chooses the virtuous action in concert with harmonious desires). Undergraduate students (anticipated N = 150) will complete several questionnaires in order to test our hypothesis that virtue and self-regulation, more than self-control, are correlated. Individual virtue constructs, both cardinal virtues (i.e., temperance, courage, justice, practical wisdom) and more modern virtues (e.g., forgivingness, gratitude, hope) will be measured, along with scales reflecting effortful self-control, automatic self-regulation, flourishing, and social desirability. We anticipate that participants high in self-reported virtues will also be high in self-control or self-regulation. In addition, we expect only virtuous participants will be high in both self-reported virtue and self-regulation, and these participants will endorse greater flourishing. In contrast, we hypothesize that continent participants (those high in self-control but not self-regulation) will endorse greater social desirability. We hope that these findings will spur on further experimental work examining the potential relationship between self-regulation and virtue
The Effects of Priming Heroes on Helping Intentions and Meaning in Life
No full textTwo experiments studied the effects of priming fictional superheroes (Experiment 1) and personal heroes (Experiment 2). We hypothesized that when primed with heroes, people would be more likely to help, and would report more meaning in life. In Experiment 1 participants from MTurk (N=241) were randomly assigned to a hero condition, in which they were implicitly primed with images of popular fictional superheroes, such as Superman or Spider Man, or a neutral condition, which did not include these heroic logos. After this priming, participants were given hypothetical situations in which they were to rate how likely they would be to help someone, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Experiment 2 consisted of explicitly priming of a personal hero. Participants (N=257) were randomly assigned to instructed to write a paragraph describing their personal hero or to a neutral condition. They were then given the same measures as in Experiment 1, in which they reported their likelihood to exhibit helping intentions and their sense of meaning in life. For Experiment 1, results showed that when implicitly primed with a fictional superhero, participants reported higher helping intentions, which was associated with greater meaning in life. However, in Experiment 2, when asked to write about a personal hero, participants reported lower meaning in life in comparison to control conditions, which was mediated by lower helping intentions. Although the results from Experiment 1 support our hypothesis, whereas Experiment 2 did not, the difference in responses is intriguing. There is an oppositional effect that occurred when implicitly primed with fictional heroes relative to explicitly reflecting on personal heroes. It is likely that the content (abstract versus personal hero) and method (implicit versus explicit) of the hero priming induction matters greatly. The complex relationship between these variables and method in the current experiments are discussed