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Hiding or thriving? Psychological safety, identity management, and well-being among employees with invisible disabilities
Get PDFAbstract Background Individuals with invisible disabilities face unique challenges because, unlike those with visible disabilities, they may not know how others will respond if their identity is revealed (Quinn & Chaudoir, 2009). As a result, employees must navigate identity management strategies such as concealing, downplaying, or disclosing their disability (Markou & Papakonstantinou, 2025). While these strategies can be protective, they may undermine authenticity and increase emotional exhaustion. Organization and supervisor support are theorized to foster psychological safety (Frazier et al., 2017)—the belief one can take interpersonal risks without fear of negative consequences (Edmondson, 1999)—which may shape healthier identity management choices. However, little is known about how these contextual and psychological mechanisms interact to influence outcomes for this population. This study tests a model in which psychological safety mediates the relationship between organizational/supervisor support and identity management strategies, which in turn predict authenticity and emotional exhaustion. Methods Participants (N ≈ 250) will be recruited through Prolific using prescreening to identify employed adults with invisible or variably visible disabilities. Hypothesized predictors include organizational and supervisor support (Eisenberger et al., 1986, 2002). Hypothesized mediators include psychological safety (Wang & Ning, 2024) and identity management strategies—concealment, covering, selective disclosure, and full disclosure (Beatty & Kirby, 2006; Chaudoir & Fisher, 2010). Hypothesized moderators include disability visibility (Beatty & Kirby, 2006), disability identity dimensions (Forber-Pratt et al., 2020), and anticipated stigma (Quinn & Chaudoir, 2015). Hypothesized outcomes include authenticity at work (Van den Bosch & Taris, 2014) and emotional exhaustion (Maslach & Jackson, 1981). Structural equation modeling will be used to test mediation and moderation hypotheses. Expected Results & Implications Organizational and supervisor support are expected to be positively associated with psychological safety, which in turn will encourage disclosure-based strategies and discourage concealment. Disclosure is anticipated to predict lower emotional exhaustion and greater authenticity, while concealment is expected to predict greater exhaustion and reduced authenticity. By integrating support, psychological safety, and identity management into a unified model, this study advances theory on disability inclusion and psychological safety. Practically, findings will provide organizations with evidence-based guidance for creating environments where employees with invisible disabilities feel safe to be authentic. Such climates not only reduce strain but also promote well-being and organizational effectiveness. As workplaces increasingly rely on AI for performance evaluation, reducing direct human feedback and engagement, the consequences of disability disclosure or concealment decisions become especially profound. References Beatty, J. E., & Kirby, S. L. (2006). Beyond the Legal Environment: How Stigma Influences Invisible Identity Groups in the Workplace. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 18(1), 29–44. https://doi-org.proxy006.nclive.org/10.1007/s10672-005-9003-6 Chaudoir, S. R., & Fisher, J. D. (2010). The disclosure processes model: Understanding disclosure decision making and postdisclosure outcomes among people living with a concealable stigmatized identity. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 236–256. https://doi-org.proxy006.nclive.org/10.1037/a0018193 Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383. https://doi-org.proxy006.nclive.org/10.2307/2666999 Eisenberger, R., Huntington, R., Hutchison, S., & Sowa, D. (1986). Perceived organizational support. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71(3), 500–507. Eisenberger, R., Stinglhamber, F., Vandenberghe, C., Sucharski, I. L., & Rhoades, L. (2002). Perceived supervisor support: Contributions to perceived organizational support and employee retention. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(3), 565–573. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.3.565 Forber-Pratt, A. J., Merrin, G. J., Mueller, C. O., Price, L. R., & Kettrey, H. H. (2020). Initial factor exploration of disability identity. Rehabilitation Psychology, 65(1), 1–10. Frazier, M. L., Fainshmidt, S., Klinger, R. L., Pezeshkan, A., & Vracheva, V. (2017). Psychological safety: A meta‐analytic review and extension. Personnel Psychology, 70(1), 113–165. https://doi-org.proxy006.nclive.org/10.1111/peps.12183 Maslach, Christina & Jackson, Susan. (1981). The Measurement of Experienced Burnout. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 2. 99 - 113. 10.1002/job.4030020205. Markou, N., & Papakonstantinou, D. (2025). Navigating Invisible Disability Disclosure and Workplace Inclusion: Employers’ Attitudes and Workplace Policies. Disabilities, 5(2), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities5020037 Quinn, D. M., & Chaudoir, S. R. (2015). Living with a concealable stigmatized identity: The impact of anticipated stigma, centrality, salience, and cultural stigma on psychological distress and health. Stigma and Health, 1(S), 35–59. https://doi-org.proxy006.nclive.org/10.1037/2376-6972.1.S.35 van den Bosch, R., & Taris, T. W. (2014). Authenticity at work: Development and validation of an individual authenticity measure at work. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 15(1), 1–18. Wang, C., & Ning, Y. (2024). Perception of Psychological Safety Scale [Database record]. APA PsycTests
Solar thermochemical conversion of CO2 into fuels using Ni-Ferrite driven redox reactions: Thermodynamic efficiency analysis
Get PDFThe growing levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in our atmosphere are a significant driver of climate change, highlighting the need for innovative strategies to utilize this greenhouse gas. One promising solution is solar-driven thermochemical CO₂ splitting (CDS), which can convert CO₂ into carbon monoxide (CO)—a vital component for producing syngas and fuels. This study examines the thermodynamic performance of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) as a redox material in solar thermochemical CO₂ splitting processes. To evaluate how different factors influence the efficiency of this process, a detailed thermodynamic model was created. This model looks at how variations in inert gas flow rates and gas-to-gas heat recuperation affect key parameters and the overall solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency. The findings reveal that while increasing the inert gas flowrate lowers the required thermal reduction temperature, it also raises the total energy demand. On the other hand, enhancing gas-to-gas heat recuperation significantly decreases the energy demand associated with the process, thereby boosting overall efficiency. Overall, this research underscores the potential of NiFe2O4 as a highly effective catalyst for solar thermochemical fuel production. It also offers valuable insights into optimizing process parameters to improve energy efficiency. This work advances the development of sustainable CO₂ utilization technologies and paves the way for scalable systems focused on solar-driven fuel production
Divergent paths of homosexuality: Clive and Alec in E.M. Forster\u27s Maurice
Get PDFE. M. Forster’s Maurice is a paramount text in queer literary circles, though it is highly under analyzed and discussed. This thesis analyzes E. M. Forster\u27s Maurice and takes the focus away from the main protagonist, Maurice, and instead focuses on an in-depth analysis of the two main love interests of the novel, Clive and Alec, and how they represent two paths of homosexuality, Clive representing social visibility and homosexual repression and Alec representing social invisibility and homosexual freedom, through a close reading of the text, with the help of theory from Foucault. It begins with an introduction to the text, followed by a more detailed textual history and a look at critical works previously done on the text, before diving into a section on Clive, then a section on Alec, and finally concluding with a discussion of the paths and their effect on modern homosexual media
Bacterial contamination of wheelchairs in a long-term rehabilitation facility
Get PDFThe presence of bacterial contamination on wheelchair surfaces in long-term care facilities poses a significant risk to infection control and patient safety. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus (SA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE), Pseudomonas spp., and enteric bacteria on five key components of wheelchairs at a local long-term care facility. A total of 320 swabs were collected from wheelchair components, including handles for pushing, armrests, seats, wheel handles, and tires. Samples were analyzed using selective culture media, and bacterial species were identified based on colony morphology. The results revealed a high prevalence of SA and MRSA, with Staphylococcus aureus detected most frequently on wheel handles (90.6%) and tires (62.5%), followed by armrests (46.9%) and seats (57.8%). Pseudomonas spp. and enteric bacteria were found on seats and tires, suggesting potential fecal contamination. The findings indicate that wheelchairs, particularly the wheels and handles, serve as major vectors for microbial transmission in healthcare settings. The high contamination rates underscore the need for enhanced disinfection protocols to reduce the risk of infection in long-term care facilities. This study highlights the importance of regular wheelchair cleaning and contaminant monitoring in reducing the prevalence of potential pathogenic bacterial species on these critical rehabilitation devices
Microplastics in Urban Environments: Distribution, Fate, and Transport
No full textMicroplastics (MPs) have become a growing environmental concern, particularly in urban areas where anthropogenic activities intensify their presence in ecosystems. This research investigates MPs’ distribution, fate, and transport in urban environments, focusing on stormwater retention (SWR) ponds, bioretention systems (BRS), and saturated porous media. Field studies analyzed MPs in freshwater sediments of SWR ponds across residential, educational, and mixed urban land-use types, identifying distinct contamination patterns. Vertical distribution analyses in bioretention media highlighted the potential of BRS as a green infrastructure for retaining MPs. Laboratory experiments further explored MPs’ transport and retention in saturated porous media, examining the effects of key physicochemical properties such as ionic strength (IS) and pH. Findings revealed how environmental conditions influence MPs’ mobility and retention. This research contributes valuable insights into MPs’ behavior, distribution, transport, and potential mitigation strategies, advancing understanding of their role in urban pollution and their interaction with green infrastructure systems
You Have the Body: An Anti-Testimony
No full textThis thesis contains two parts: a craft essay titled “Shapes of Refusal: The Anti-Testimony and Realizing Hope through Form” and a multi-modal manuscript consisting of hybrid poetic forms titled You Have the Body: An Anti-Testimony. The creative writing manuscript is a re-imagining of admissible evidence based on the needs of victims of sexual assault who are often re-traumatized by the U.S. justice system. The craft essay applies a critical lens based on Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative by Jane Alison and Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others by Sara Ahmed to analyze narrative fractalization, intentional opacity, and queer rhetorical re-orientation in two formally and thematically related works: Precious Rubbish by Kayla E. and Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine. The craft essay relates this analysis to the creative manuscript to posit that it is an original minor form invented by the author called an anti-testimony
A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for dynamic coordinated signal optimization along a traffic corridor
No full textIn this thesis, we address urban traffic congestion, which imposes substantial economic and environmental costs while traditional infrastructure solutions remain increasingly infeasible due to financial constraints and induced demand. We develop a dynamic Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) framework for coordinated arterial signal optimization. Our contributions include a unified optimization model that jointly determines cycle length, phase sequencing, green-time allocation, and offset synchronization. We also introduce demand-responsive bounds adapting to real-time traffic conditions and a rolling-horizon execution strategy enabling continuous adaptation. The methodological pipeline integrates three modules: detector-based demand aggregation from VISSIM microsimulation, MILP optimization using Gurobi with operational constraints, and closed-loop signal control through COM interface. We validated the framework on a hypothetical three-intersection corridor and the Martin Luther King Boulevard in Chattanooga, Tennessee, demonstrating measurable improvements in speed, Vehicle Hours Traveled, and vehicle stops. Future work includes scaling to larger networks, incorporating pedestrian phases, and integrating connected vehicle data
Optimizing xylitol production: a molecular and experimental study of xylose reductase in Candida tropicalis
No full textXylitol, a naturally occurring sugar alcohol, is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as both an artificial sweetener and an anticariogenic agent. Traditional xylitol production relies on harsh chemicals and energy-intensive processes, making microbial fermentation a more sustainable alternative. This study explores the ability of Candida tropicalis to convert D-xylose into xylitol through the enzyme xylose reductase, with a focus on optimizing pH conditions to enhance conversion efficiency. To achieve this, both experimental fermentation and computational molecular dynamics simulations using GROMACS and the pHbuilder tool are employed. By analyzing the enzyme’s stability and structural dynamics across different pH levels, this research aims to improve xylitol yield while minimizing environmental impact. The findings contribute to advancing green chemistry principles and industrial bioprocess engineering, offering a cleaner, more efficient approach to xylitol production
Mechanisms driving social structure in Octodon degus
Get PDFWe report results of a study on the mechanisms shaping social network structure in Octodon degus, a diurnal, semi-fossorial rodent endemic to Chile. Using data collected over three seasons (2022–2023), we tested the roles of nighttime spatial proximity, female social cohesion, and female homophily based on masculinization (anogenital distance) in shaping social associations. Nighttime spatial proximity was negatively associated with association strength, indicating that individuals that were closer at night exhibited stronger associations. Female social cohesion emerged as a driver of social structure, with stronger within-group associations observed in most seasons. However, female homophily based on anogenital distance did not influence social network structure, suggesting that its role may differ across populations depending on ecological and social conditions. Our findings highlight the importance of spatial and social factors in shaping degu social networks and emphasize the need for population-specific approaches when evaluating the influence of mechanisms on social structure
The effects of stress levels on nursing students compared to pre-nursing students
No full textThis study explores pre-nursing and nursing students\u27 stress levels and attitudes at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Many studies have evaluated the stress of nursing students, but few have examined the stress levels of pre-nursing students. The research suggests that students experiencing unmanaged stress in nursing school can have negative implications as they move into new graduate nursing. Using a quantitative approach, researchers at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga analyzed factors that increase stress, coping mechanisms, and support from faculty and staff. More research is needed to provide succinct information on pre-nursing stress, and students need additional mental health resources to best accommodate stressful periods of time