43618 research outputs found
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Leaning on Experience: First-Generation Faculty as Institutional Agents
No full textFirst-generation faculty (FGF), who were the first in their families to graduate from college, are often hailed as resources for first-generation students. Despite a wealth of narratives written by FGF, limited systematic empirical inquiry investigates if FGF pursue student success and how. Drawing on open-ended interviews with a racially diverse, purposeful sample of FGF employed in the United States (n = 19), this narrative analysis leverages Stanton-Salazar’s institutional agent framework to explore how, if at all, FGF employ their experiences and resources on behalf of students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. I found that these FGF enact agentic strategies that rely on one-on-one interactions with students (i.e., direct support, interpersonal engagement, and instructional support), which manifested in three primary ways: (a) philosophical belief in the inherent link between teaching and mentorship; (b) strategic and authentic disclosure of their identities, backgrounds, and challenges; and (c) facilitating success by “demystifying” the academy. The influence of first-generation status was evident throughout. This study demonstrates the significance of shared background between institutional agents and students, extends previous scholarship on faculty’s unique role in student success, and underscores the value of storying as an agentic tool—all related to a population that receives limited scholarly attention. Although FGF can meaningfully leverage shared experience to influence student success, colleges and universities must assume responsibility for interrupting and eradicating the obstacles the academy presents to first-generation students and FGF. Given the diversity among FGF, future research should investigate variation by social identity in student success dispositions and approaches
Physiology of Ageing Skeletal Muscle and the Protective Effects of Exercise
No full textIn 2020, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared 2021–2030 the ‘Decade of Healthy Ageing’, a global collaborative call to action for governments, clinicians, scientists and society to work together to improve the lives of the ageing population. One important area of scientific inquiry for this initiative is understanding why advancing age leads to a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) and function (strength and power). This is a critically important problem because skeletal muscle health is not only essential for maintaining the mobility and physical function required for independent living but is also important for systemic health. For example, skeletal muscle helps with the regulation of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance and maintains the plasma amino acid concentrations necessary for hepatic gluconeogenesis and tissue regeneration and repair in response to injury and disease. While the importance to society is eminently clear, the physio-logical mechanisms underlying the ageing skeletal muscle phenotype remain poorly understood
Frequency-Dependent Assembly Processes Determine the Coexistence and Relative Abundance of Tropical Plant Species
Full text linkTesting the extent to which ecological communities are structured by deterministic (niche-based) assembly processes, resulting in predictable species abundance and composition, is a fundamental goal of ecology. Here we use a 10-year dataset of 55,156 lianas comprising 86 species in an old-growth tropical forest in Panama to test whether community assembly is consistent with niche-based assembly processes. We find that species diversity and community composition was maintained because species conformed to four general requirements of coexistence theory: (1) species have negative conspecific frequency-dependent feedback that control their local population size; (2) species have a stronger negative effect on their own population than that of heterospecifics; (3) the equilibrium frequencies of species correspond to their relative abundance; and (4) species have positive invasibility. These results indicate that coexistence through deterministic niche-based processes controls local population sizes and prevents any one species from displacing others. Rare species persisted because particularly strong negative feedbacks maintained them at their relatively low equilibrium abundances, thus preventing them from going extinct. Furthermore, we show that it is necessary to use population demography to test coexistence theory because stem mortality alone does not reflect species demography. These findings have broad implications for species coexistence and diversity maintenance in tropical forests and possibly other ecosystems
Natural Health Community Program and Well-Being: An Uncontrolled Study of Women Survivors of Domestic Violence
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to evaluate a local natural healing service program and to explore how engagement in natural healing services related to the well-being of survivors of domestic violence. Using longitudinal secondary data, we conducted t-tests, regression, and correlation analysis on three measures (hope, distress, and empowerment) that were completed by the participants (N = 31). We provided evidence of the positive impact of a community-based natural healing services program on the well-being of survivors of domestic violence, specifically their sense of hope. This research represents the potential for natural healing services provided at the community level
The Place Where Souls Rest: Tolkien, Immortality, and Neurodivergence in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
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Biohub reel with Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan
No full texthttps://epublications.marquette.edu/zuckerberg_files_videos/1476/thumbnail.jp