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MORAL PANIC? NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES MIANNE BAGGER AND LIA THOMAS
Get PDFThis article focuses on how sport and the framing of transgender athletes affect transgender moral panics in the United States. Coverage of transgender athletes Mianne Bagger and Lia Thomas appearing in the New York Post and The New York Times is examined using Braun and Clark’s method of thematic analysis. Themes identified illustrate how sport can be used to further transgender moral panics by featuring repetitive, hyper specialized content that focuses largely on a single anecdote or athlete. In some cases, transgender athletes are scapegoated and used as a heuristic to exaggerate fears about transgender athletes, a key component in the development of moral panics
AN ETHNOPHARMOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF PRESSURE, A CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC ETHNOMEDICAL ILLNESS
Get PDFEthnopharmacological relevancePressure, a culturally-specific illness, has become an increasing concern for villagers who live on Dominica’s eastern coast. No prior specific studies on this illness have been performed. Thus, this study provides insight into an illness of local concern that may have relevance throughout the Caribbean. Additionally, this thesis includes an analysis of the traditional preparation of the second most salient treatment for pressure, papaya. This is one of few studies that specifically examines the traditional preparation of a plant medicine.Aim of StudyThis thesis examines Dominican notions of pressure, a cultural syndrome with correlations to anxiety and hypertension. I outline perceptions of pressure’s etiology, symptoms,and treatments, focusing on the stressors that rural Dominicans consider most pressing.Materials and MethodsThe data from this study was obtained via participant-observation, key consultant interviews, and freelisting interviews, all of which took place in a remote, Dominican village.Demographic data and freelist results were further examined with salience calculations and general linear modeling. Additionally, I prepared a Dominican papaya decoction usingmethodology as described by Bwa Mawegans and analyzed the resultant samples with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS).ResultsPressure is a common, culturally-specific syndrome characterized by a headache, dizziness, giddiness, neck stiffness, and malaise. Its causes include anxiety, poor diet, fright, and high susceptibility and frequency of temper disruptions. Depending on its cause, the illness can build up over time or onset suddenly. Either way, locals believe that the illness relates to the thickening of blood. Treatments for pressure include local bush medicines, improving lifestyle, and improving dietary choices. The LC/MS results found methyl palmitate, stigmasterol, serine, valine, glycine, and tyrosine across papaya samples. The traditional papaya preparation contained the benefits of the seeds and endocarp, comprising a well-balanced medication.ConclusionsThrough examining pressure, an illness with corollaries to diet-related noncommunicable diseases and mental health, I was able to demonstrate the primary consequencesof urbanization and modernization for a rural Dominican community. Currently, Bwa Mawegans are increasingly concerned with political corruption, climate change, domestic abuse, and poor social support. Further, this thesis demonstrated the importance of studying ethnomedicines within their cultural context by conducting mass spectrometry studies on the traditional preparations of plants
Nonalcoholic Beverage Alternatives Advertising Appeals and Gen Z Intentions to Purchase & Consume
Get PDFNonalcoholic beverages have increased drastically in popularity over the last two years, surpassing $11 billion in revenue in 2022, and use a variety of appeals to promote products to consumers. This study consisted of a survey (N = 140) that measured ad appeal and attitudes toward advertisement design elements across four nonalcoholic beverage ads that included health benefit-related claims among members of Generation Z, their association with advertisement appeal, intentions to purchase, and intentions to consume the products shown. This provided insight into how ad appeal and attitudes towards ad elements as well as perception of health benefits may impact behavior intentions. This study builds on research related to the reduction of alcohol consumption among members of Gen Z, the increased popularity of NA beverages, and insights regarding behavior intentions (purchasing/consuming) as they relate to advertising and marketing appeals. Azjien & Fishbien’s Theory of Reasoned Action was used to inform the researcher’s approach to collecting data. Results from the study revealed factors that may predict ad appeal, which can be used to create future health campaigns to promote healthy consumption behaviors
Planetary Caring Politics in the Chthulucene
Get PDFIn a context of rapidly increasing connections around the globe, Ursula Heise claims that “what is crucial for ecological awareness and environmental ethics is arguably not so a much a sense of place but a sense of planet,” or “a sense of how political, economic, technological, social, cultural, and ecological networks shape daily routines” (Sense 55). In this thesis, I develop the concept of a planetary caring politics, a material-discursive practice that considers how systems and structures such as heteropatriarchy, the nuclear family, racial capitalism, colonialism, and technology intersect and consequently shape the situated knowledges that inform how we conceptualize and practice care, and for whom we conceptualize and practice care. I offer interdisciplinary readings of selected literary texts to analyze their representations of planetary caring politics, as well as how these texts function on a narratological plane to shape how the reader understands the role of planetary caring politics in their own life
Leveraging Emotional Learning Process (ELP) Data-based Interventions in Undergraduate Computing Education
Get PDFThe increasing demand for a diverse pool of computing talent combined with a persistent shortage of skilled workers, particularly from underrepresented groups, has engendered a need to support students pursuing computer science (CS) careers. This dissertation presents the results of an empirical study on the effectiveness of using emotional learning process (ELP) data to support community building in CS courses, particularly introductory programming courses. Building community, such as communities of practice, plays a part in retention,as students often cite social isolation and lack of support as reasons for withdrawing from computing programs. This is especially true for those from underrepresented groups.We designed and implemented the HELPd Empathy Tool (HELPd), integrating a customized IDE to gather programming behavior data and a private website to collect ELP data. HELPd used both sets of data to generate ELP data-based interventions. Interventions occurred but, unfortunately, participants did not act on them and, thus, we were unable to evaluate the usage of HELPd for community building. However, the study did result in some useful data.Participants were recruited from a class of 73 students enrolled in a semester-long CS0 programming course and were offered extra credit and a $10 gift card for completing the study. At the conclusion of the study, we were able to evaluate data from 19 participants.Data were gathered over an 8-week period divided into two parts. The first four weeks were the control period when programming behavior data were collected to establish a baseline. The treatment period included ELP data collection and ELP data-based interventions inaddition to the programming behavior data collection. Survey data were collected at pre-, mid-, and post-time points, that is, before the start of the 8-week period, before the start of the treatment period, and at the end of the treatment period. One- and two-way repeatedmeasures ANOVAs were conducted to explore the relationship of dependent variables, such as classroom community, empathy, and intention to persist, and the demographics of students, such as age or major.The results of our one-way repeated measures ANOVAs indicated no significant change in pre-, mid-, and post-scores for each dependent variable. The two-way repeated measures ANOVAs, however, showed computing and non-computing majors differed significantly in their intention to persist scores throughout the study. Although we did not see significant differences with our ANOVA analysis in general, we used ELP, programming behavior, and demographic data to produce counts for changes in survey responses over time. Whilechanges were noted between pre/mid and mid/post scores, no patterns emerged most likely because of the limited number of study participants.Based on an analysis of our results, we recommend design approaches for future iterations of ELP data-based interventions as well as the direct integration of these interventions into classroom coursework. We hope these recommendations will enable other researchers toascertain the effectiveness of ELP data-based interventions in community building through help-seeking and help-giving actions. We also discuss further customizing interventions to engage populations from underrepresented groups and from groups with other demographics
REDUCING MELOIDOGYNE HAPLA (NORTHERN ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE) USING COVER CROPS, FALLOW PERIODS AND VITIS SPP. ROOTSTOCKS
Get PDFNon-chemical strategies for plant parasitic nematode management allow for the development of alternative integrated pest management strategies. Cover crops, fallow periods and Vitis spp. rootstocks are such strategies, and were evaluated for their ability to reduce soil-borne Meloidogyne hapla (northern root-knot nematode). This nematode is the primary plant parasitic nematode of concern in Washington’s own-rooted Vitis vinifera vineyards. Cover crops were evaluated both in pre-plant and post-plant vineyard scenarios. In pre-plant scenarios, litchi tomato (Solanum sisymbriifolium) was evaluated as previous studies against other nematode species demonstrated its efficacy. In this study, litchi tomato was able to significantly reduce the population density of M. hapla in the soil relative to a weedy fallow pre-plant ground cover. ‘Dracula’ oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus), ‘Pacific Gold’ mustard (Brassica juncea) and ‘Dutch White’ clover (Trifolium repens) were evaluated as cover crops for post-plant management of M. hapla. While all three crops reduced M. hapla populations relative to weedy fallow ground cover in field studies, ‘Dracula’ oilseed radish reduced M. hapla populations most significantly. A survey of fallow sites across eastern Washington, which were previously planted to V. vinifera, showed that a period of fallow for at least one calendar year was needed to reduce populations densities of M. hapla in the soil. Other management strategies that were applied to these sites during their fallow period, such as the use of cover crops, irrigation, herbicide, or tillage during the fallow period did not significantly reduce M. hapla populations. Finally, Vitis spp. rootstocks were evaluated in greenhouse experiments. Nine different Vitis spp. rootstocks were assessed for their ability to host M. hapla, and own-rooted V. vinifera ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and ‘Chardonnay’ served as susceptible controls. While all non-vinifera rootstocks hosted statistically fewer M. hapla than the V. vinifera controls, the non-vinifera rootstocks were not entirely immune from nematode feeding and reproduction. Short-term greenhouse experiments can be useful in evaluating the ability of nematodes to feed and reproduce on a genotype but cannot determine if feeding will result in a change in phenotype (i.e., reduced growth or yield) over the lifespan of a vineyard.Individually, the adoption of a cover crop, the use of a fallow period between vineyard replanting, or the adoption of a rootstock might not provide complete mitigation of M. hapla damage to grapevines. However, when combined, they have the potential to provide effective, long-term, non-chemical management of this plant parasitic nematodes in vineyards
ASSESSING MECHANISMS OF GOLDENSEAL-DRUG INTERACTIONS USING A TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH APPROACH AN ITERATIVE PROCESS INTEGRATING IN VITRO KINETICS, PBPK MODELING, AND CLINICAL EVALUATIONS
Get PDFThe use of botanical and other natural products to self-treat chronic medical complications remains ever-increasing, largely due to the general misconception that these products are natural, therefore safe and effective. One such natural product is goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.), a botanical native to the northeastern United States and Canada. Goldenseal was traditionally used by American Indians as a dye for clothing, but nowadays is commonly consumed for its purported anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-microbial, and anti-hyperglycemic properties. Analogous to many other marketed natural products, definitive evidence to substantiate the safe and effective use of goldenseal remains lacking. Regarding safety, goldenseal has been shown to precipitate pharmacokinetic interactions with prescription drugs in human participants. Specifically, goldenseal inhibits the prominent drug metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A, which has been estimated to catalyze the metabolic elimination of >50% of marketed drugs. However, the granular mechanisms underlying this pharmacokinetic interaction, as well as whether goldenseal can precipitate interactions mediated by common drug transporters, remain to be evaluated.The primary objective of this dissertation was to elucidate mechanisms underlying clinically relevant, pharmacokinetic goldenseal-drug interactions. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of goldenseal and the scientific knowledge gaps regarding the potential for goldenseal to precipitate drug interactions. This introduction highlights a proposed integrative, iterative approach to rigorously assess natural product-drug interactions. In Chapter 2, coadministration of goldenseal was demonstrated to reduce the systemic plasma exposure of metformin by 25% in human participants. The mechanism behind this interaction was presumably inhibition of intestinal absorption processes, including inhibition of apically located uptake transporters, due to the lack of change in metformin terminal half-life and renal clearance. This mechanism was investigated using cell lines overexpressing select transporters, corroborating the clinical findings that goldenseal could inhibit transporters involved in the intestinal absorption of metformin. In Chapter 3, inhibition of CYP3A by goldenseal was re-visited to delve further into the mechanisms involved in the clinical pharmacokinetic interaction with midazolam. Mechanistic evaluations concluded that the second most abundant goldenseal alkaloid, (–)-β-hydrastine, was responsible for the time-dependent inhibition of intestinal CYP3A, suggesting a prolonged inhibitory effect in humans that is akin to the well-established effects of grapefruit juice on intestinal CYP3A. Chapter 4 evaluates the goldenseal-metformin interaction in patients with type 2 diabetes taking therapeutic doses of metformin, whose intestinal absorption partly relies on uptake transporters. Results demonstrated that the systemic exposure to metformin decreased with increasing metformin dose. These observations indicated that a saturable active transport process is responsible for both the nonlinear intestinal absorption of metformin and the nonlinear pharmacokinetic goldenseal-metformin interaction.The culmination of this research is an advanced understanding of the risk for goldenseal to precipitate pharmacokinetic drug interactions. The scientific knowledge gained from this comprehensive work will help guide patients and healthcare providers to better assess situations where supplementation with goldenseal may negatively impact pharmacotherapy. The framework established in this dissertation expands upon the standard, linear in vitro to in vivo extrapolation approach typically used to assess natural product-drug interactions. This work has broad implications regarding how natural products could be studied using an integrated, iterative approach to further understand and delineate granular mechanisms underlying a clinical pharmacokinetic natural product-drug interaction
EFFECTS TO NEONATAL OUTCOMES AFTER IN UTERO EXPOSURE TO WILDFIRE SMOKE
Get PDFIntroduction: Wildfires are increasing in intensity, duration, and frequency with climate change. They are an escalating threat to human health. Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 is particularly dangerous and the mother-fetal dyad is especially vulnerable. This study examined associations between wildfire smoke exposure and neonatal outcomes of gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, and NICU admission.Methods: In this secondary data analysis, public air quality data was matched with latitude and longitude coordinates of maternal addresses and then compared with state Department of Health birth records from 2010-2018. Linear and logistic regression were utilized to analyze the data, while controlling for potential confounding variables.Results: Aim 1: There was a slight increase in gestational weeks at birth with exposure to wildfire smoke days in trimester 1 (B=.003, p=<.001, [95% CI=.003,.004]), trimester 3 (B=.011, p=<.001, [95% CI=.011, .011]), and full pregnancy (B=.003, p=<.001, [95% CI=.003,.004). There was a slight decrease in gestational weeks in trimester 2 (B=-.002, p= <.001, [95% CI=-.002, .002]). For birthweight, trimester 2 and full pregnancy showed minor increases in grams with smoke day exposure (B=.303, p=<.001, [95% CI=.201, .405]; (B=.148, p=<.001, [95% CI=.086, .210] respectively). Aim 2: For 5- and 10-minute Apgar scores there was no statistical difference with exposure. Aim 3: There was a .003% increase in NICU admission in trimesters 1, and 2 (odds ratio=1.003, [95% CI=1.002-1.004 and 95% CI=1.001-1.004 respectively] and .002% increase for full pregnancy (odds ratio=1.002, [95% CI=1.001-1.003] with exposure to wildfire smoke days.Conclusion: Overall, in utero exposure to wildfire smoke showed slight changes to select neonatal outcomes. There was a small decrease in gestational age and a slight increase in birthweight with trimester 2 exposure, which is consistent with the literature. Although gestational age and birthweight had statistically significant findings, they are likely not clinically significant. There was no effect of smoke exposure on Apgar scores. This study identified a slight statistically significant increase in NICU admission with exposure in the first trimester, second trimester, and full pregnancy. Although small, any additional admission to intensive care has both financial and social implications and warrants further investigation
Supplemental Data: Lost in translation? Evidence for a muted proteomic response to thermal stress in a stenothermal Antarctic fish and possible evolutionary mechanisms
Get PDFDataset to accompany manuscript of the same name published in Physiological Genomics. Includes supplemental figures and tables in PDF format and expression values for all differentially expressed proteins in Excel format