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Perceptions of Morality in Response to Death Threats in Athletics
No full textAs sports culture continues to integrate into daily online interactions of individuals across social media platforms, the morality surrounding digital fan behavior requires further investigation, especially when cyberthreats occur. Threats continue to emerge as an alarmingly normalized reaction to sports-related perceived losses, and digital abuse involving athletes continues to rise (Kearns et al., 2023). Anonymity and group identity online drive individuals to engage in harmful behavior; research indicates when people feel invisible and part of a larger fanbase, they become less accountable for their actions, thus more likely to conform (Chan et al., 2022). Previous data suggest that forty percent of victims of online abuse experienced damage to their self-esteem (Penza, 2018), and game officials and players are no exception to this pattern. Cultural and political contexts shape how online threats are interpreted (Fisher & Howard, 2024); in sports, factors like game stakes and sport type may shift how fans evaluate the morality of a death threat. Despite their potential impact, online threats are often dismissed as harmless or unserious (Penza, 2018), which can downplay their real psychological and social consequences.
The present research study aims to examine how individuals perceive the morality of death threats involving sport personnel, and how these perceptions are influenced by the status of the individual (professional vs. recreational), their role (player vs. referee), and sport type (aggressive vs. non-aggressive). After reading a randomly assigned vignette, participants will complete the Attribution of Blame scale (Gudjonsson, 1989) and a standard punishment scale developed by the researchers
Redesigning a Congressional Redistricting Algorithm for Population Equality
No full textGerrymandering is the political manipulation of congressional districts to favor a specific voting party. For districts to be drawn with electoral equity, there are several components to consider: compactness, competitiveness, equal population, and fairness, while keeping in mind the specific national and state laws. For example, all districts must be continuous, and Ohio limits the number of counties that can be split. This project explores the component of equal population by using census tracts and voting precincts through geospatial interpolation in R. While focusing on equal population and using census tracts as units, communities remain unsplit, which preserves local demographics and enhances fairness in districting
Creating Light from Darkness- Engineering the GFP Fluorophore into a Colourless Protein
No full textGreen fluorescent protein (GFP) exhibits fluorescence due to a fluorophore formed by the cyclization of three specific residues (Ser65, Tyr66, and Gly67) located within an alpha helix and enclosed by a protective beta-barrel structure. The aim of this study was to identify a non-fluorescent protein in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) that contained a similar three-residue motif, with the goal of engineering it to fluoresce in a manner similar to GFP. Building on previous work by Jessica Ziegler, the protein 1INL was identified as a promising candidate. 1INL is a spermidine synthase from Thermotoga maritima that forms a tetramer, with each monomer composed of multiple alpha helices. Structural analysis of 1INL suggests that its inability to form a fluorescent chromophore arises from the absence of stabilizing residues around the key three-residue motif, preventing cyclization. Chimera X was used to identify residues in 1INL that could be mutated into the specific supporting residues that facilitate the autocyclization of the fluorophore. We then used AlphaFold to predict how the mutated strain of 1INL would fold in 3D to ensure the structure of the protein was not disrupted. A gene for expression of the mutated protein in E. coli will be ordered from a company, and the ability for the protein to form the fluorophore will be evaluated
Investigating Satellite Cell Count in Skeletal Muscle of GNE Myopathy Murine Model
No full textSatellite cells are important parts of muscle tissue because they regenerate the damaged tissue after exercise. The number of satellite cells can be disrupted in pathology. For example, in muscular dystrophies, the quantity of satellite cells can be lower because they are working to salvage damaged tissue. GNE Myopathy (GNEM) is an adult-onset muscular disorder caused by mutations in the GNE gene; however, the effects of this disease on satellite cell numbers are currently unknown. This study aims at analyzing the effects of GNEM on satellite cell quantities in muscle tissue using a GNEM mouse model. The muscle tissue was stained using immunohistochemistry staining and viewed under a fluorescent microscope to capture images of the cells. After this, the number of satellite cells was quantified and compared between wild type and knock-in mice. The data from the satellite cell quantification and statistical analysis resulted in there being an average of 0.0067 more satellite cells per muscle fiber in the knock-in model of the mice compared to the wild type mice. However, this value is not significant as the p-value for this comparison was 0.135. An understanding of satellite cell numbers in GNEM can inform future avenues for treatment for this devastating disease
The Immigrant’s Reality: Sanctuary Cities and Access to Healthcare
No full textSanctuary cities in the United States are municipalities that adopt local immigration policies designed to limit cooperation with federal authorities in enforcing immigration laws. These policies aim to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation, providing them access to essential services like healthcare, education and legal assistance without the fear of legal consequences. This study explores how these policies impact access to healthcare and the quality of life for immigrant populations.
The research highlights significant barriers to healthcare access for immigrants, including fear of deportation, financial constraints, and language difficulties and immigration status. In addition, challenges like legal violence and medical legal violence should also be taken into account when examining necessary public benefits. These concepts describe how restrictive immigration policies indirectly harm immigrants by denying them access to healthcare and other essential services.
Sanctuary cities play a critical role in protecting immigrant communities by offering refuge from discriminatory federal policies. Through the analysis of policies, this research aims to understand if these cities foster greater equity and access to care for immigrants. Although the measurement of success is complex, sanctuary cities represent a significant step towards social justice and healthcare equity, demonstrating the potential for local policies to challenge exclusionary practices and improve the well-being of marginalized populations
Immigrant Access to Health Care and the Affordable Care Act
No full textWe can all agree that disparities in access to healthcare are a significant issue, yet we know little about the impact of state-level ACA implementation on access to healthcare among immigrant populations. Many factors make this question important, primarily each state’s ability to make its own decisions regarding Medicaid expansion, ACA outreach, and immigration policy. We approach the problem from the perspective of state policy variation and its relationship to healthcare inclusion for immigrants. Our study design is state-level with all 50 states as the sample and relies on quantitative data from the American Community Survey, state policy data sources, and prior scholarly research, as well as important qualitative data for each state, such as immigrant sanctuary status and partisan alignment. We analyze these data using comparative statistical methods to search for patterns in policy decisions and immigrant healthcare access. We hypothesize that states that have implemented the Affordable Care Act more fully- particularly through Medicaid expansion and inclusive immigrant policies- will demonstrate significantly higher rates of healthcare access among immigrant populations compared to states that have not adopted these measures
Development of C. elegans Model Assay Protocol for Behavioral Neurobiology Undergraduate Laboratories
Get PDFDidactic laboratory experiences are essential for developing scientific inquiry and technical proficiency in undergraduate education. This study explores the value of integrating Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worm mutants into a three-assay experimental framework—motor, sensory, and learning assays—to enhance students\u27 understanding of genetic and neurobiological principles. The successful implementation of these assays provided students with hands-on experience in behavioral analysis, experimental design, and data interpretation. The motor assay assessed movement patterns and locomotion differences across mutant strains, the sensory assay evaluated chemotactic responses to environmental stimuli, and the learning assay examined associative learning through conditioned aversion. The results demonstrated the feasibility of these assays in an educational setting, highlighting their effectiveness in linking theoretical genetics concepts to observable phenotypic behaviors. By standardizing assay protocols and addressing variability challenges, this study reinforces the role of model organisms in bridging fundamental biological concepts with practical laboratory skills. The findings support the integration of C. elegans-based didactic labs as a cost-effective, engaging, and scientifically rigorous approach to STEM education
Shifting Trends: Voting Patterns in the U.S. Hispanic Population, 1970–2020
No full textThe U.S. Hispanic population has experienced significant growth over the past fifty years, yet their voting patterns have not followed a consistent trajectory. This study uses data from the American National Election Study (ANES) to analyze these trends, focusing on the period from 1970 to 2020. The findings reveal that changes in voting behavior diverge from earlier predictions, with implications that have had a noticeable impact on recent elections. By examining these shifts, the study aims to better understand the evolving political engagement of the Hispanic electorate
Exploring the Burden: Mental and Physical Health Challenges Faced By Long-Term Caregivers
No full textCaregiving is a valuable and meaningful career that benefits the lives of many older adults in long-term care facilities. Formal caregiving, although rewarding and crucial in assisting older adults with activities of daily living (ADLs), can lead to significant deterioration of the quality of life of those in the caregiving role. The strenuous career may cause a multitude of negative consequences to both the mental and physical well-being of formal cargivers. Utilizing a self-administered questionnaire, this study aims to explore the impact of caregiving on quality of life. Findings will serve importance for Pro Seniors’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Program to inform the development of targeted support programs and provide insight into the need for interventions specific to enhancing the quality of life for caregivers. The self-reported questionnaire is made available to any formal caregiver/aide at Artis Senior Living, Twin Lakes, Traditions of West Chester, and Wickshire Assisted Living in Cincinnati, Ohio. The research incorporates validated instruments, including the GAD-7, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, and PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionaire 9-item scale, alongside physical health-related questions. By analyzing the responses, the study seeks to identify caregiver burden to provide greater insight into the mental and physical well-being of formal caregivers in RCFs, Residential Care Facilities, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Results will display the prominence of mental and physical burnout within this specific population
Can I Recycle My Homework Too: Sustainability Composition and Environmental Justice\u27s Role in the Classroom
No full textThis paper will explore the importance of education when examining the complexities of taking care of our environment and the impact our care, or lack thereof, has on earth’s inhabitants. Sustainability composition, a term which refers to a focus on pedagogical methods to include topics about environmental injustices, conservation, climate change, or sustainability, is not a required topic in school, but should it be? Acknowledging the potential challenge of educating students about sustainability composition in a time where misinformation spreads like wildfires and the validity of climate change is debated, this project attempts to determine if learning about sustainability composition is actually beneficial for students and society. Secondary research will examine the history of environmental injustice and find real world examples of how environmental hazards disproportionately impact minority and low-income communities, as well as look at the validity of claims that prove climate change is real. Primary research will survey Xavier undergrads to gauge their experience and interest with the term sustainability composition, and how they think their education can impact the world. The research question I am attempting to answer is: how can sustainability composition being taught in schools have an impact on social justice movements