University at Albany, State University of New York
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Morality, context, and crime decision-making
Get PDFRecent criminological advancements increasingly aim to better understand criminal behavior in context. This is particularly true regarding how perceptions of legal sanction risk are anchored in reality and influence offending decisions. Yet research on extralegal considerations such as morality has not kept pace. The current dissertation integrates criminological morality literature, with psychological research on Self Concept Maintenance Theory (SCMT) and moral identity, into a perspective on moral decision-making dynamics that integrates personal and situational factors. I utilize three data collections containing randomized experiments to investigate the situational malleability of moral evaluations and the interrelatedness with moral identity and criminal intentions. Study 1 examines the influence of cognitive rationalizations on moral evaluations of crime and criminal intentions along with the potential moderating effect of moral identity on these processes. Study 2 is broken into two phases that investigate the role of moral salience on moral evaluations of crime, rationalizations, and criminal intentions, as well as the interrelatedness with personal moral identity. The findings indicate that moral dynamics are complex and involve both person and situational level origins
“Talking Sweet And Moving Quiet”: Trauma And Resiliency In Gang-Involved Girls In Belize
Get PDFBackground: Currently, the research exploring gangs in Belize is growing, with one exception; current research excludes gang-involved girls and women. Besides a previous pilot study conducted by this author, there is no known research on gangs in Belize that includes girls and women. Given the extent to which gang violence and activity is increasing within Belize, it is crucial to understand the entire gang-involved population in order to combat this growing social issue
Using classroom assessments to validate a curriculum sequence for system dynamics education
Get PDFThe aims of university System Dynamics (SD) programs include the mastery of systems thinking skills, modeling skills, and/or application to solving real-world, dynamic, complex problems. Existing research has articulated learning sequences of what learners should know and be able to do, and when. It is called the competence development framework for learning SD (Schaffernicht & Groesser, 2016). A learning sequence is a hierarchy because it presumes that students must learn one learning goal in the sequence before they are able to learn the next. The hierarchical nature of this competence framework for SD has been validated via expert consensus of its conceptualization and ordering but has not been empirically tested and validated. This research sought to validate the beginner level sequence of the competence framework for SD by establishing relationships between the learning goals in terms of their hierarchical structure, necessity, and sufficiency. The research was grounded in Knowledge Space Theory (Albert & Lukas, 1999; Doignon & Falmagne, 1985, 2012, 2016; Ünlü & Sargin, 2010). It used a quantitative design and a unit of information called practical learning outcomes (LOs), which are the assessment outcomes associated with each learning goal (LG). The assessment information was collected from college classroom assessments administered at three points in time. Learning outcomes were organized and displayed in an assessment information system to show the response patterns of students over time, and inductive item tree analysis gave further information on the hierarchical relationships and linear versus non-linear nature of the LGs. Finally, Bayes’ formula for the posterior probability of the working hypothesis was used to evaluate causal relationships in terms of how necessary and sufficient attainment of one learning goal is on another learning goal. Results showed in general that aspects of this small section of the competence framework for SD are valid in terms of some of the sequence, hierarchical nature, and necessary causal relationships of some of the learning goals; but other aspects do not match. More specifically, the results can help to focus SD educators’ attention on critical learning goals in the sequence on which to spend valuable and limited instructional time. Some of these points include key learning goals for which their attainment implies attainment of several other learning goals, such as Explains polarity ; Identifies linear behavior (when shown a behavior over time (BOT) graph); explain S shaped growth; and Infers a stock’s accumulation behavior given the flows. Other key points include learning goals for which there is a causal relationship, such as Describes linear behavior (in words or as a graph, indicated or drawn) à Describes exponential behavior (in words or as a graph, indicated or drawn); and Describes the difference and the relationship between stock and flow à Describes a stock’s accumulation behavior given the in- and outflows. Unique contributions of this research included the demonstration of a type of educational information and assessment method for practical use in the classroom; application of a method of empirical validation for a segment of the competence framework for SD; and creation of additional assessment questions and associated rubrics for use by SD professors, all of which could help support improved effectiveness and efficiency in SD teaching
Acceptability and feasibility of ARFID-PTP : a brief, virtual, parent-training intervention for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in children
Get PDFIntroduction. Avoidant/restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a relatively novel feeding and eating disorder diagnosis with limited evidence-based treatment approaches. Current treatment approaches have been adapted from treatments for other restrictive eating disorders, however eating disorder treatment is notoriously inaccessible due to geographic, financial, and/or time constraints. The present study aims to establish the acceptability and feasibility of a two-session, parent-training approach, “ARFID-PTP,” for the treatment of ARFID disseminated via telehealth. ARFID-PTP was adapted into a brief, virtual format from other evidence-based treatment approaches. Methods. Participants (n=27) included children ages five to 12, inclusive who meet criteria for ARFID and their caregivers. Feasibility was determined by examining retention and recruitment rates, clinician treatment adherence, and need for booster sessions. Acceptability was determined by scores on the Credibility subscale of the Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ-C) and satisfaction questions. Results. Recruitment and retention rates of participants suggested ARFID-PTP is feasible. Treatment adherence at home, as measured by frequency of completing food exposures, was lower than a priori feasibility thresholds. Families rated the treatment as acceptable and endorsed high satisfaction (MCEQ-C=7.75). Discussion. Overall, the present study suggests acceptability and feasibility of a brief, virtual treatment for ARFID. Notably, the content of optional booster sessions requested by one-third of participants indicates a need for increased emphasis on certain treatment components during initial treatment. A significant limitation of the study is the lack of diversity in the sample, both in racial and economic background and severity of ARFID presentations. Future studies should examine efficacy of the proposed treatment, with a focus on implementation in populations where access to care is limited
Examining Gandhian ideals and the feminized national allegory in R.K Narayan\u27s Waiting for the Mahatma
Get PDFThe purpose of this thesis is to examine the character of Bharati in R.K Narayan’s novel, Waiting for the Mahatma, as a prominent female figure of political agency and representation of the role Indian women took during the revolutionary movement. Yet, also argues that problems arise when the author uses a feminine character as a national allegory and represents her as “Mother India,” because it makes the category of woman homogenous, neglecting to recognize the intersectional identities that make the lives of women diverse and incomparable. Additionally, another aspect of this argument is that Narayan’s depiction of Bharati fits into the Gandhian ideals of women as moral agents, rather than economic ones, which leads to a limited portrayal of women’s capabilities. Through his fealty to Gandhi, he fails to escape the concerns that postcolonial feminists have brought up about reductive and generalized depictions of women as representations of nations
The moderating role of food cravings in the relationship between weight suppression and binge eating and purging in emerging adults
Get PDFWeight suppression (WS), the difference between an individual’s current and highest adult weight, is predictive of bulimic symptoms and poor eating disorder treatment outcomes, but findings from non-clinical samples have been mixed. Cravings are strong urges for specific foods that are subjectively difficult to resist. Food cravings are now widely conceptualized as cognitive-affective states characterized by intrusive thoughts that are perceived as distressing and can interfere with adaptive functioning. Food cravings are known antecedents of binge eating, but little is known about how they interact with WS. This study examines the obsessive-compulsive aspects of food cravings as potential moderators of the association between WS and bingeing and vomiting in emerging adults. Emerging adults (n=144, 60.4% female) self-reported their height and current and past highest adult weight and completed the Binge Eating Scale, Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, and Obsessive Compulsive Eating Scale. Main and interactive effects of WS and food cravings on bulimic symptoms were examined in regression models. There were significant main effects of food cravings on bingeing and purging with those endorsing more cravings engaging in these behaviors more frequently. WS alone did not consistently predict bingeing or vomiting frequency. There were only small interactive effects of craving and WS and overall, those high in craving engaged in more frequent bingeing regardless of WS status. Food cravings are a significant driver of binge eating and should be accounted for in future research, including studies on WS in clinical and non-clinical samples
Applications Of Diels-Alder Cycloadditions And Transition Metals As Catalysts To Recent Total Syntheses
Get PDFThis thesis examines the recent advances in the applications of Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling to total syntheses of antibiotic and anti-cancer drugs. Attention is also given to intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloadditions and the use of Kinetic vs. Thermodynamic conditions. The results of the Diels-Alder cycloadditions that are discussed oftentimes result in high stereospecificity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity. The applications of Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and transition metal catalysts to total syntheses problems are also discussed along a similar narrative. Attention is given specifically to the use of several different gold catalysts as well as Grubb’s Catalyst. The use of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition and transition metal catalysts oftentimes help improve efficiency in total synthesis problems. This helps save both time and money in the research and development process. The newly synthesized compounds also have broad applications in medicine that range from anti-cancer to anti-plasmodial properties
Quantification of Fibrosis and Infiltrates in the Salivary Gland
Get PDFFibrosis is characterized by the excessive buildup of extracellular matrix components (ECM) in tissues and organs in response to injury, chronic inflammation, auto immune disorders, and genetic alterations. Non-obese diabetic mice (NOD) are a model for Sjögren’s Syndrome. We hypothesize that NOD mice, which start to develop Sjögren’s-like disease at approximately 12 weeks of age are suffering from hyposalivation at least in part due to fibrosis of the submandibular salivary glands (SMGs). Fibrosis refers to the over-production of extracellular matrix proteins in the connective tissue compartment. To test this hypothesis 16-week-old mice were treated with either the fibrosis inhibitor Nintedanib (treatment) or vehicle (non-treatment) as a negative control for 4 or 8 weeks and compared to an untreated C57BL/6 background strain mouse. The SMGs were then removed and cryopreserved. Histological, serial sections were created to allow for characterization of the entire gland. Masson’s Trichrome staining was performed on cryopreserved sections of the left salivary gland of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and control mice to characterize where collagen is deposited as trichrome staining detects fibrillar collagens and elastin. These were compared with salivary glands of NOD mice treated with or without Nintedanib to determine whether there was a reduction in fibrosis. In this study, H&E staining was used to determine where infiltrates were found in the WT, NOD, and Nintedanib-treated mouse tissue sections from the salivary glands. These stained sections were imaged using a brightfield microscope and the number of infiltrates were quantified to determine if Nintedanib decreased infiltrates in the ECM in the salivary glands of NOD compared to the controls. These studies will provide insights into the contribution of ECM deposition on salivary gland hypofunction and inform development of therapeutics for salivary hypofunction
An Investigation into Peak Limb Compliance in College Sprinters
Get PDFDuring running, the limb acts as a mechanical spring where it compresses and recoils to release elastic potential energy with each ground contact. Maintaining maximal running speed is particularly important during sprinting. Individuals with stiffer limb springs are more efficient because of this. Limb stiffness can be calculated using Hooke’s law (k=F/ ΔL), where k is the spring constant, F is the peak ground reaction force, and ΔL is the change in hip height between the initiation of limb contact and the middle stance phase. Many factors contribute to limb stiffness and this study examines how stiffness variers with contact as well as how it\u27s affected by body size. The extent to which knee and ankle flexion contribute to the changes in limb length will also be looked at. The study included nine elite college sprinters from the University of Illinois who hopped in place at different frequencies. Kinematic data and peak ground reaction forces were collected and analyzed. The results collected suggested that stiffness of ankle and knee angles varied with increasing frequency. The ankle exhibits greater compliance due to its adaptive nature and is the site of the highest elastic potential energy source and exhibited lower stiffness
Investigating the Effects of Vitamin K1 and K2 on the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line SUM159PT
Get PDFVitamin K serves as a cofactor in the post-translational carboxylation of glutamate to γ-carboxyglutamate (GLA) by the enzyme gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX). Vitamin K epoxide reductases (VKOR) then oxidize the vitamin K to regenerate the compound’s reduced form. While most of the known γcarboxylated proteins function in coagulation and bone homeostasis, the presence of GGCX and VKOR in a wide variety of tissues suggests that the vitamin and its pathway has more extensive physiological roles. Our previous research has assessed the expression of the vitamin K pathway in triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs) and compared the effects of vitamin K1 to those of vitamin K2. These data indicated that K1 promoted, while K2 suppressed, TNBC cell growth and aggressive phenotypes. Here, using cell culture techniques, western blotting, cell-based assays, and qPCR, we expanded on this research by assaying for the effects of K1 and K2 on GLA expression, cell density, viability, cycle kinetics and the expression of the oncogenes cyclin D1 and c-Myc in the TNBC cell line SUM159PT. Our data demonstrated that short term (24h) treatment with K1 did not alter GLA modified protein expression in SUM159PT cells. Despite lack of evidence for γ-carboxylation, K1 exerted biphasic effects on the density of SUM159PT cultures, with minimal impact at low at concentrations and a reduction in density at higher concentration. Neither K1 nor K2 affected cell viability, but the compounds had opposite effects on cell cycle progression. Vitamin K1 tended to reduce the percentage of cells in S and G2/M phases with increasing treatment concentrations, whereas K2 induced dose-dependent entry and accumulation of cells in G2/M coupled with exit from G0/G1. The expected changes in expression of cyclin D1 and c-Myc by 5 μg/mL K1 or K2 treatment were not correlated with the effects of K1 and K2 on cell cycle. In summary, these data highlight novel actions of vitamins K1 and K2 in TNBC cells that may be independent of γ-carboxylation