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Minority stress and mental health among bisexual+ populations: the mediating role of self-compassion
No full textAccording to research, bisexual+ populations (bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, queer) have an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes compared to mono-sexual populations (straight, gay, or lesbian). Reasons for this disparity is better understood through the use of Meyer’s (2003) minority stress theory. Specifically, sexual minorities may experience unique stressors related to their sexual minority status, such as discrimination, microaggressions, internalized stigma, identity concealment, and rejection anticipation. A growing body of literature has examined self-compassion to help attenuate psychological distress for LGBTQ+ populations. Even though there is support that bi-specific aspects of sexual minority stress create unique experiences for bisexuals, limited research examines the effects of bi-specific minority stressors on bisexual+ populations’ mental health and associated mediating factors. This study recruited bisexual+ individuals (N = 100) to examine this question further. It was hypothesized that self-compassion would partially mediate the positive association between each proximal stressor (internalized stigma, identity concealment, and rejection anticipation) and psychological distress. Likewise, self-compassion would partially mediate the positive association between each distal stressor (microaggressions, general discrimination, and victimization) and psychological distress. Individual mediation models were conducted through SPSS using PROCESS. Mediation models found that self-compassion does partially mediate the positive relationship between proximal stresses and psychological distress, but that was not found for distal stressors. Results from this study can help inform support plans and the creation of resources specifically needed for bisexual+ populations experiencing proximal stressors. Future research and limitations are discussed.
Keywords: bisexual+, self-compassion, psychological distressM. A
Anion-π Interaction with aromatic and non-aromatic compounds
No full textDuring last twenty years, the studies of anion-π interaction, a counter-intuitive attraction of negatively
charged species to the π-systems, were focused predominantly on the complexes of electron deficient
aromatic molecules. There is very little data about the interaction of different anions with other π-systems.
To compare anion-π interaction with aromatic and non-aromatic π-molecules, we characterized
complexes of various anions with p-benzoquinone (BQ) derivatives and olefinic π-acceptor,
tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). Co-crystallization of p-benzoquinones with a series of salt of oxo- and
fluoro-anions, A-, such as PF6
-, ClO4
-, with bulky alkylammonium or cryptand-encapsulated cations
produced structures consisting of the alternating BQ/A- stacks separated by the counter-ions. The close
interatomic contacts between oxygen or fluorine substituents and BQ rings indicated that this selfassembly
is a result of the anion-π bonding. Computational analyses confirmed that anion-π bonding of
π-acceptors with the oxo-and fluoro-anions are characterized by the interaction energies analogous to that
in the corresponding complexes of halides or pseudohalides. Yet, in contrast to the latter, they did not
show substantial donor/acceptor charge transfer and intense charge-transfer absorption bands. These
differences suggest that although charge-transfer interaction plays a critical role in the formation of the
complexes of the π-acceptors with (pseudo-)halides, it is negligible in the complexes with the weakly
coordinating fluoro- and oxoanions. The strong interaction in the latter is related to the multicenter
interactions between oxygen or fluorine substituents in the anions with the π-acceptor moieties. Cocrystallization
of TCNE with tetraalkylammonium salts of (pseudo-)halides or fluoro- or oxoanions also
ii
produced solid-state associations of anions arranged over the π-bond with one or several interatomic
distances shorter than van der Waals separations. The addition of (pseudo)halide anions to the solution of
TCNE in dichloromethane or acetonitrile resulted in the appearance of new absorption bands indicating
either the formation of 1:1 complex or, with the strongest electron donor, iodide, TCNE anion radical.
Energies of the absorption bands were following the same mulliken correlations, and their formation
constants were comparable to that reported earlier for the complexes of these anions with aromatic or pbenzoquinone
π-acceptors. All these suggested the common charge-transfer nature of these associations.
On the other hand, the complex formation with fluoro and oxoanions in solution of TCNE modulated its
absorption, but no new bands appeared in visible or near-UV range. This points out a critical role of the
nature of anions in these bindings and the general equivalence of the interactions in the anion-π complexes
with different π-acceptors.M. S
Glycogen synthase: centyrin siRNA conjugate reduces glycogen synthesis and storage in pompe mouse model
No full textAccess to thesis permanently restricted.Access to abstract permanently restricted.M. S
Bioactivity-guided isolation of compounds from the stem bark of alafia multiflora and paper-bsed microfluidic debices for colorimetric detection of disease biomarkers
No full textDespite enormous developments in science and technology that made it possible to produce various natural and synthetic medications since Fleming's in 1829, infectious diseases (IDs) continue to be one of the main causes of death worldwide. These IDs primarily affect people in underdeveloped nations with scarce resources and limited access to healthcare. Most of these infections are linked to bacteria pathogens that can withstand the effects of currently available conventional antimicrobials. Alafia multiflora is a tropical African medicinal plant with a long history of traditional use to treat ulcerous wounds and gastrointestinal pain, which inspired the screening for bioactive compounds in this research study. The aim of this research is to extract, isolate, and characterize the active ingredients from Alafia multiflora stem bark and evaluate their activity against various multidrug-resistant bacteria and antiproliferation activity against breast cancer cells. The phytochemical screening of the extracts generally showed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, triterpenoids, and glycosides. The water-methanol fraction crude extract demonstrated the highest effectiveness in inhibiting the growth of the various
bacteria pathogens tested. For example, a minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of <0.3 μg/mL was obtained against Staphylococcus aureus. Ethyl acetate extract showed modest activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae with an 8.5μg/mL MIC. Whereas dichloromethane (DCM) extract showed some activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae with an MIC of 60μg/mL.
The water-methanol, ethyl acetate, methanol, and DCM extracts demonstrated significant antiproliferative effects against MD-MBA-231 breast cancer cells. These extracts notably reduced the viability of MD-MBA-231 breast cancer cells, with activity obtained in the range of 8-40μg/ml. This range means the extracts are active at 40 μg/mL and inactive at 8 μg/mL. The DCM isolate showed the highest activity compared to the extracts tested. The proportion of living cells at a concentration of 10 μg/mL and 5μg/mL of the DCM isolate were 6.7±1.8% and 50.7±14.8%, respectively. Results from thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed a single spot for DCM isolate based on the solvents used for TLC (60/40 hexane/ethyl acetate). However, the HPLC analysis of the DCM isolate suggests the presence of multiple compounds, as indicated by the peaks obtained at various retention times of 1.25, 3.75, 7.10, 13.50, and 16.16 mins under the chromatographic conditions used (C18 column, 45/55 acetonitrile/water mobile phase, 1mL/min flow rate and UV-detection at 250 nm). This suggests further separation may be needed for the components of the DCM isolate. Based on the anticancer activity of this isolate, an attempt was made to determine the possible functional groups and structural components of the compounds present using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The proton NMR data, for example, showed proton signals that are characteristic for aromatic compounds at a chemical shift of 7.7 ppm, aliphatic protons at 1.75pm, and allylic and vinylic-H were observed at 5.24 and 4.09, respectively. The chemical shifts obtained from carbon-13 NMR supported the structural features obtained from proton NMR spectra. The FTIR
spectroscopic analysis of the DCM isolate showed various functional groups, such as C-H stretch at 2930 cm-1, a broad peak for OH at 3409 cm-1, and carbonyl at 1700 cm-1.
The early diagnosis of infectious diseases, particularly in resource-limited regions, necessitates the availability of affordable, point-of-care devices. In this context, paper has emerged as a promising substrate for diagnostic devices. Its low cost, widespread availability, and white background provide optimal contrast for the colorimetric detection of disease biomarkers. This research study focused on the innovative use of hydrophobic ionic liquids as non-volatile media to create paper-based microfluidic channels and well-test zones, offering a low-cost solution for diagnosing disease biomarkers. These devices will be useful for increasing access to diagnostics in resource-constrained areas because they do not require sophisticated equipment, are simple to use, and read the results of the color change with an unaided eye. The test zones on paper were drawn with an infrared (IR) hydrophobic ionic liquid dye (IR 780) prefilled in a ballpoint pen. The multiplexed paper-based microfluidic devices were developed to simultaneously detect glucose, BSA, and uric acid in artificial urine on a single device. This approach makes it possible to detect several targets with a single sample, which lowers the cost of diagnosis and improves patient compliance. In addition, increased access to timely diagnosis and treatment of diseases in resource-limited regions will save lives and improve the quality of life.M. S
Effects of developmental exposure to microplastics and endocrine disrupting chemicals on early life stage behaviors in the fathead minnow, pimephales promelas
No full textMicroplastics are common in freshwater systems, and understanding their effects on aquatic biota is of
increasing environmental importance. Emerging research has shown that the unique properties of MPs
allow them to act as vectors for common environmental contaminants, such as endocrine-disrupting
chemicals (EDCs), thereby serving as an additional route of exposure for these compounds. However, few
studies have considered the synergistic effects of microplastics and other co-occurring contaminants on
the early life-stage behaviors in freshwater aquatic vertebrates. In this study, we exposed larval fathead
minnows, Pimephales promelas, to microplastics alone (MPVirgin) and in association with a low (MPEE2 10)
or high (MPEE2 50) concentration of 17-α ethinyl estradiol (EE2) for 14 or 21 days, and then assessed larval
swimming performance and space use (a proxy for individual boldness) in open-field trials. Compared to
control larvae, exposed fish from all groups showed consistent but statistically non-significant trends
towards hyperactivity in swimming performance, and changes in arena space use consistent with bolder
behavior. These results suggest that early developmental exposure to MPs may induce subtle, sublethal
effects on larval behavioral performance that have the potential to affect individual fitness.M. S
Intern perceptions of the Sportscape: a case study of independent minor league baseball
No full textThis study investigated sport management interns’ perceptions of a sport facility. The transition from being a fan to an intern provides a unique viewpoint on the perception of sport facilities and contributes to the development of sport management students. Nineteen virtual interviews were conducted with interns from an independent minor league baseball team. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic coding. The study used theme and content analysis to analyze the data. Data analysis of the interview transcripts resulted in three frames and six additional themes focusing on facility design, operations, and fan experience. The study's findings reveal that the design of sport facilities plays a pivotal role in enhancing perceived productivity, efficiency, and overall satisfaction among interns.M. S
Cultural expression in Li Yinghai's Chinese art songs
No full textThe purpose of this project is to present a comprehensive study of thirteen selected
Chinese art songs by Li Yinghai in an extended dissertation lecture recital format. This
dissertation lecture recital project aims to: 1) explore the cultural expression in Li Yinghai's
Chinese art songs; 2) analyze the musical characteristics of the selected songs, providing Chinese
IPA and text translation, as well as brief performance guidelines for each selected repertoire; and
3) expand the international reach of Li Yinghai's vocal works, particularly in Western countries,
to enhance audiences' and singers’ understanding of his music. I divided these thirteen selected
art songs by Li Yinghai into four distinct thematic groups. The first group is comprised of four
art songs, which are rearrangements of Han folk songs. The second group also consists of four
art songs, which are rearrangements of Xinjiang folk songs. The third group consists of two
little-known art songs by Li Yinghai. The fourth group is the well-known song cycle “Three
Poems of the Tang Dynasty,” which consists of three Chinese art songs.D. A
Examining predictive factors affecting happiness
No full textUsing the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) National Wellbeing Survey, United States, 2022 the proposed study will look at self-rated happiness and theory-based predictors of said happiness. The predictors analyzed in the study are religious service attendance in the past 12 months, hours worked, whether or not you have served in active combat, and political ideology. This will be done doing a decision tree, using the exhaustive CHAID method. The software used will be SPSS. Happiness, mental-wellbeing, etc. has been a popular topic for social scientists since the beginning of the social sciences. But factors, such as happiness, that affect quality of life are worth looking at again. Of the factors explored religious service attendance in the past 12 months hours worked, and political ideology were significant. Serving in active combat was not found to be a significant predictor of happiness.M. S
Addressing the phenomenon of ahistorical contextual understanding in a high school social studies classroom: an exploratory study of the proposed tpack 3.0 model and inquiry-based learning to facilitate classroom engagement in instruction and learning
No full textThis study explores the phenomenon of “Ahistorical Contextual Understanding” (Huijgen et al., 2018; Kelly, 2019; Voelker, 2008) and the kind of classroom engagement that obviates its appearance in high school classrooms. Research points to disappointing standardized test scores and disturbing gaps in student knowledge about subjects in social studies (NAEP U.S. History 2018 highlights, 2020; Voelker, 2008). Insufficient supporting context to clarify the meaning of historical facts is associated with this poor performance (Halvorsen, 2012). Research validates classroom engagement as a critical element of student performance (Blumenfeld et al., 1991; Cooper, 2014; Martin & Dowson, 2009). By creating a conceptual framework that modifies the TPACK Model (Mishra & Koehler, 2006) into TPACK 3.0, to define the primary classroom pedagogy as inquiry-based learning (Krajcik et al., 1998; Lee et al., 2010), and to incorporate the learner experience in a Learner Knowledge (LK) modification, TPACK 3.0 is implemented and used to support the primary pedagogical method as a means of improving instruction and learning in a grades 9-12 social studies classroom. This qualitative study utilizes an exploratory research approach to examine the application of TPACK 3.0 in a classroom setting. Forms of classroom engagement are observed and recorded in field notes (Avery et al., 2018; Fredricks & McColskey, 2012; Fredricks et al., 2004; Krajcik et al., 1998; Parsons et al., 2014, Perry, 1998; Stipek et al., 1995). Interpretivist analysis of the data suggests a renewed emphasis on learner interest as a key element (of learner knowledge) and classroom engagement.Ph. D
"Can't you see how much I care?" an analogue study on the effect of surgical face masks and clinician gender on a patient's perception of clinician empathy
No full textThis study examined the effects of face masks and clinician gender on a patient’s
perception of clinician empathy. It included the examination of a participant’s attitudes towards
masks as a moderator. In total, 270 (N = 270) responses were collected from college-aged
women. The findings suggested that masking did not negatively change perceived empathy, nor
did masking decrease whether someone would want to receive mental health services from a
masked clinician. Secondly, the findings suggest that male clinicians, regardless of masking,
were viewed as more empathic than males. Conversely, the finding that masked clinicians,
regardless of gender, were perceived as more empathic than unmasked clinicians deviated from
what was hypothesized. As far as the moderation of attitudes towards masks, individuals with
negative attitudes towards masking were more likely to view masked clinicians as being less
empathic than someone with positive attitudes towards masking. By understanding the impact of
face masks and gender on therapy, this research can help assist future clinicians and impact
policies should any potential outbreaks or surges of an epidemic occur in the future, as well as
for any clinician working with individuals who require a mask be used, like individuals with
Cystic Fibrosis. While this research hopes to add to the current limited research, further research
would be necessary to determine what other environmental, situational, and other variables
would impact the results.Ph. D