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Exploring the Association Between Goal Difficulty and Well-Being
Get PDFGoals are important sources of motivation and well-being, but not all goals are made alike. In this research, we investigate the effects of difficult goals on well-being. College students completed a series of four self-report surveys to track their goal progress and well-being over the course of a semester. In the first survey (Nт1=150), participants were asked to describe and rate various features of a goal they had for the semester. In the fourth and final survey (Nт4=48), they indicated their well-being, specifically life satisfaction and affect balance. Regression analyses indicated no significant main or interactive effects of goal difficulty and goal autonomy on life satisfaction or affect balance, ps \u3e .154, and the same is true of main and interactive effects of goal difficulty and goal autonomy on these outcomes, ps \u3e .095. When omitting two outliers (\u3e2 SD below the mean of goal difficulty), results indicated a marginally significant curvilinear association between goal difficulty squared and affect balance (B = -1.254, β = -.273, SE= .682, p= .075). In general, this study suggests few effects of goal difficulty on well-being, even when goal autonomy and goal specificity are taken into account. However, this study does show a marginally significant curvilinear relationship between goal difficulty and affect balance. As a participant’s goal difficulty increased, the effect of goal difficulty on their well-being decreased. This may suggest the existence of an optimal level of goal difficulty, implying that not all difficult goals will be beneficial for one’s well-being.https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/collaborative_presentations/1090/thumbnail.jp
Palladium Catalysts Immobilized on Silica via Tripodal Phosphine Linkers
Get PDFCatalysis is immensely important in academia and industry, as emphasized by the Nobel Prizes 2021 that were awarded to David MacMillan and Benjamin List for establishing the new field of organocatalysis. However, some organic catalysts require complicated syntheses, and most of the conventional transition metal catalysts are expensive. These factors often make it difficult to obtain the materials and resources necessary to carry out catalytic reactions. Immobilized metal catalysts are a potential solution to this problem by combining the high selectivity of homogeneous catalysts and the easy separation and recycling of heterogeneous catalysts. To create an ideal immobilized catalytic system, the homogeneous catalysts are bound covalently to insoluble supports, such as silica. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool to study these materials and is used throughout this research. Past investigations have shown that separate palladium and copper components can be immobilized on silica using bifunctional phosphine linkers to create an active and recyclable Sonogashira catalyst system. The Sonogashira reaction is a prominent cross-coupling reaction for aryl halides and acetylenes. Here, we describe the palladium component of a surface-bound heterobimetallic palladium/copper complex, in which the turnover frequency (TOF) and number (TON) are expected to be higher than for previously reported systems with separate palladium and copper components. The palladium mobility on the surface in the presence of uncomplexed phosphine linkers is observed using 31P High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HRMAS) NMR spectroscopy. Linker degradation pathways and surface bonding modes are studied using 29Si Cross-Polarization Magic Angle Spinning (CP/MAS) and 31P HRMAS NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the immobilization of disiloxanes on silica supports is investigated. Disiloxane immobilization is more favorable than ethoxysilane immobilization because the disiloxanes are water tolerant, have higher atom economy, and result in higher surface coverages than their ethoxysilane counterparts.https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/collaborative_presentations/1086/thumbnail.jp
Characterization of rfbB as a virulence-associated gene in B. cepacia
Get PDFBurkholderia cepacia is a gram-negative bacterium that is a known pathogen of plants and humans. B. cepacia was first described as the causative agent of sour skin rot in onion crops and has more recently been recognized as an opportunistic pathogen in cystic fibrosis patients where it is able to colonize the airway and cause rapid pulmonary decline. There are limited treatments available for this bacterium due to its innate resistance to antibiotics, and the mechanisms of virulence used by B. cepacia in different contexts are not well understood. This work aims to identify and describe virulence factors necessary for B. cepacia pathogenesis. Transposon mutagenesis in B. cepacia ATCC 25416, followed by a virulence assay that screened mutants using an onion infection model, was used to identify mutants of interest. A variety of phenotypes were observed, and mutant 169 was selected for follow-up studies as it generated smaller wounds as soon as 24 hours post-infection. Genetic characterizations determined that the transposon inserted in the rfbB gene which is the first gene in a five gene operon within chromosome 1. Analysis of cDNA generated from the operon concluded that the rfbB and downstream genes are not expressed in the mutant. Therefore, the inactivation of the entire operon is responsible for the observed phenotype. This gene likely encodes a virulence factor, as the disruption does not alter bacterial growth in rich media or the formation of biofilms. rfbB shows homology to genes encoding glucose dehydratase, which plays a role in the synthesis of the O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The disturbance in this outer membrane component may point towards the pathogen’s inability to interact with host cells. Therefore, current work is focused on characterizing structural differences in the LPS molecules produced by the rfbB mutant and the wildtype strain and assessing the binding and invasion efficiency of these two strains in a plant model of infection. In doing so, this potential virulence factor can be characterized and then applied to further the understanding of the infection process.https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/collaborative_presentations/1083/thumbnail.jp
Global Challenges to Human Rights Today
Get PDFIn this lecture, Zeid discusses his concerns about the threats to global stability posed by such forces as racism, xenophobia, nationalism and authoritarian leaders, and poses that the safety of humanity will be secured only through vision, energy and generosity of spirit. According to Zeid, Silence does not earn you any respect — none, and only through civic activism can we ensure equality and justice
Fall/Winter 2021: Residence Halls to Receive Major Upgrades Over the Summer
Get PDFMay 17 will bring a bit more summer bustle than usual to campus. St. Norbert residence halls Sensenbrenner, Madelaine/Lorraine Hall (Mad/Lor), Bergstrom and Victor McCormick (VMC) are slated to receive substantial renovations and updates.https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/snc_magazine_archives_2019-2023/1248/thumbnail.jp
St. Norbert College Magazine Fall/Winter 2022
Get PDFThe home page of Fall/Winter 2022 St. Norbert College Magazine.https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/snc_magazine_archives_2019-2023/1291/thumbnail.jp
Spring 2022: “John McGivern’s Main Streets” on Campus
Get PDFTV host John McGivern and his Main Streets crew filmed an episode in De Pere, featuring St. Norbert College, Old St. Joe’s, Ruth’s Marketplace, and local landmarks to showcase the community’s history and character.https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/snc_magazine_archives_2019-2023/1301/thumbnail.jp
Spring 2022: “Yes, And” Mindset Casts Actor in Visiting Professor Role
Get PDFEquity actor and visiting professor Noah Simon brings his improv-driven “yes, and” philosophy to St. Norbert theatre studies, inspiring students to embrace creativity, failure, and observation while blending professional performance with innovative teaching.https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/snc_magazine_archives_2019-2023/1302/thumbnail.jp
Spring 2022: Pre-Veterinary Grad Moves on Toward the Career of Her Dreams
Get PDFAlicia Gehlhoff ’22, a biology major with a pre-veterinary focus at St. Norbert College, has achieved her lifelong dream of being accepted to veterinary school at UW-Madison, thanks to her dedication, research experience, and hands-on work with animals.https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/snc_magazine_archives_2019-2023/1317/thumbnail.jp