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Attachment and Delusional Ideation: A Systematic Review and Proposed Model of the Association Between Attachment Insecurity and Delusion Symptoms
Full text linkEarly repeated child-parent experiences impact the emergence of children’s reality testing by providing them with secure, trusting relationships with reality-oriented caregivers in which beliefs can be evaluated and refined. These relationships facilitate open and reciprocal communication about thoughts and feelings. Caregivers facilitate the development of children’s reflective capacities by helping them connect their inner experiences to their behavior. This process encourages them to assess whether their thoughts and feelings accurately reflect reality by remaining attuned to the perceptions of reality that are shared with others. Given the centrality of early caregiving experiences to one’s development of reality testing, attachment theory may contribute a unique insight into the developmental origins of delusions. Several studies have thus far assessed the association between attachment relationships across the lifespan and psychotic symptoms. Delusions, a key symptom of psychotic disorders, can occur at subclinical levels in individuals without a formal diagnosis. To clarify the association between attachment relationships and delusions and facilitate future research on this topic, the current systematic review surveyed the empirical evidence pertaining to this association in both clinical and nonclinical adult populations. We found evidence for an association between attachment relationships and several manifestations of delusional ideation across clinical and normative-risk samples. In addition, cognitive, affective, and interpersonal mechanisms that explain these associations were identified, allowing us to propose a model of the association between early child-parent experiences and delusions. Understanding the developmental origins of delusions may inform treatment and research of these debilitating, life-altering symptoms
The nurturing father: The role of fathers\u27 masculine ideology, caregiving beliefs, and reflective functioning
No full textPrior research has documented the effects of traditional masculine ideologies (TMI) on men’s restrictive emotionality (Levant, 2011), labeled as normative male alexithymia (Levant et al., 2006). For men who become fathers, research has noted how the rejection of TMI increases fathers’ nurturing role beliefs and the frequency that children turn to their fathers for emotional support, but these findings do not outline the quality of fathers’ emotional support (Petts al., 2018; Shafer et al., 2019). Therefore, the current project examined the effects of TMI on 281 fathers’ capacity to respond to their children’s negative emotions with Expressive Encouragement (EE), which is a response that provides validation and encouragement (Fabes et al., 2002). In addition, the first study hypothesized that the relationship between fathers’ rejection of TMI and their increased use of EE would be mediated by fathers’ nurturing role beliefs and their decreased normative male alexithymia, using self-report and vignette style measures. In the second study, 85 fathers’ reflective functioning was assessed using the Brief Reflective Function Interview (Rudden et al., 2005). It was hypothesized that fathers’ reflective functioning would mediate the relationship between TMI and EE, as reflective functioning directly assesses one’s ability to reflect on their own and others’ mental states. The results of the first study confirmed many proposed hypotheses, including a significant relationship between the rejection of TMI and EE, and the mediating role of fathers’ nurturing role beliefs. Additionally, the second study found a significant and strong relationship between fathers’ rejection of TMI and their improved reflective functioning. These novel findings and related limitations were discussed in conjunction with existing research
Preliminary evaluation of Bahamian botanicals for tropical applications
No full textThis thesis explores the phytochemical composition and cosmetic potential of three Bahamian botanicals- Mosiera longipes (MLE), Tabebuia bahamensis (TBE), and Momordica charantia (MCE)---traditionally used in local bush medicine. Methanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared and incorporated into topical cream formulations. While HPLC-DAD analysis was performed, no compounds were definitively identified due to hardware limitations; chromatographic data remain preliminary, providing a foundation for future validation. Formulations were assessed for stability under centrifugation, thermal cycling, and long-term storage. All samples demonstrated acceptable initial pH values within the skin-compatible range (4.5-5.5): BWE (5.63 ± 0.04), TBE (5.47 ± 0.02), MLE (5.72 ± 0.04), and MCE (5.66 ± 0.07). After 30 days at 40 °C, pH decreased to 5.24±0.02 (BWE), 5.19±0.01 (TBE), 5.18±0.01 (MLE), and 5.40±0.03 (MCE), confirming expected thermal degradation. At 25 °C and 4 °C, pH remained relatively stable. Under thermal cycling, MCE exhibited the most consistent stability, decreasing from 5.66 ± 0.07 to 5.53 ± 0.01 over six cycles. MLE showed the largest pH drop, from 5. 72 ± 0.04 to 5.19±0.01. No phase separation or significant physical degradation was observed across conditions. However, microbial growth occurred in all samples, likely due to inadequate preservation and compromised sterility. Despite this, the study demonstrates the feasibility of using these extracts in cosmetic formulations and supports further investigation. Findings offer a preliminary framework for the development of stable, bioactive, plant-based skincare products rooted in Bahamian ethnobotanical knowledge
Support Effects on Novel Fe-Mn Bimetallic Catalysts for CO2 Conversion to Light Olefins
No full textINTRODUCTION: Addressing climate change remains a critical global challenge, with the reduction of CO₂ emissions through catalytic hydrogenation offering a promising solution. This study extends previous research on Fe-Mn bimetallic catalysts for CO₂ hydrogenation, where an Fe/Mn molar ratio of 30:1 exhibited superior activity and selectivity for light olefin production. Building on these findings, the present work investigates the impact of support materials on catalytic efficiency.
METHOD: Various supports, including CeO₂, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TiO₂, ZrO₂, and ZSM-5, were incorporated into the Fe/Mn = 30:1 solution mixture, and the supported Fe-Mn catalysts were synthesized using the solvent evaporation method. The catalysts were then evaluated for CO₂ conversion to light olefins in a flow bed reactor at controlled temperatures (275–400°C), with product analysis conducted via an online gas chromatograph (GC).
CONCLUSION: Results indicate that catalytic performance is highly dependent on the choice of support material. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of supports in enhancing the efficiency and selectivity of Fe-Mn catalysts for CO₂ hydrogenation to light olefins and other value-added compounds
How Can Social Workers Play a Role in Police Related Gun Violence Prevention?
No full textINTRODUCTION: There has been much spoken about in modern times regarding gun violence and how it affects the safety of our communities, however, there has not been much conversation in terms of the role social workers play in the prevention, treatment, and advocacy in connection with how gun policy dictates our current level of safety. In this study, the reader will be exposed to preventive measures that can be taken to stave off gun violence, possible social work-related treatments that can help alleviate post-gun violence trauma/anxiety, how social workers can put their advocacy into action to assist in reforming gun laws to reflect an equitable level of safety for everyone.
METHOD: This paper is based on data collected via peer reviewed articles via JMU Libraries, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Oxford Academic, Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, The Lancet, American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, as well as a news excerpt from CBS News, New York and some other articles that covered the impact social workers stand to have regarding the positive transformation of law enforcement and suggests through an evidence-based practice approach, that social workers can have a major positive impact on the prevention, treatment and advocacy regarding gun violence. The articles also suggest that more law enforcement training regarding the methods in which officers approach direct citizen interactions are in order if we’d stand to have an impact on the lowering and/or eradication of gun violence. The articles also cover how social work oversight may assist in ushering in a new renaissance of kindness and mutual respect among officers as well as with the civilian population they serve. The first article kicks off the conversation with university experts who have an educated talk about how to approach gun violence and why social work oversight is necessary in order to assist in alleviating the issue.
CONCLUSION: Within this study, covered was the fact that in order to combat police gun violence, we must involve the professionals who specialize in dealing with the very thing that dictates individuals\u27 decision making on a daily basis, and that is the state of their mental health at the moment they encounter an officer of the law. These professionals are social workers. The oversight that social workers can provide to law enforcement may be able to stem the tide in terms of the prevention of further crimes that could have been avoided with a person-centered approach. Also covered was the importance of the aforementioned oversight. Without the oversight of professionals who understand how to manage individuals who are dealing with crises, police gun violence is almost always a certainty. These professionals are individuals who have gotten through rigorous training, class hours and licensing requirements in order to become said professionals. This profession is called social work. Social workers are well versed in dealing with all kinds of crises. Whether it be with a single adult client, a child, a teen, or a family, we are adept at handling whatever situation that requires an empathetic touch that eases tensions and brings everyone closer to solutions for the issue at hand. Another aspect in this thesis that was covered was something that social workers are uniquely qualified to create, which are crisis intervention teams. Crisis intervention is one of the most utilized aspects of the social work profession, especially in neighborhoods that possess a lack of resources and are heavy on trauma and lack of safety. So, it would not be a far stretch to state that social workers should be at the forefront of creating the policies that will provide these task forces with all the resources they need to complete each encounter with the dignity, worth and self-determination of the individuals they will be working with
Targeting SREBP-driven Transcriptional Programs in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
No full textINTRODUCTION: Metastasis is the major cause of mortality associated with prostate cancer (PCa), and despite the availability of targeted therapeutic agents, metastatic prostate cancer remains a lethal disease. Sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) are transcription factors involved in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, and when overexpressed, they have been associated with the progression of PCa. Therefore, we hypothesized that the pharmacological inhibition of SREBPs could be an effective therapeutic strategy against metastatic prostate cancer. BF175 is a new stilbene-derivative, boron-containing small molecule inhibitor known to inhibit SREBP activity. The exact mechanism of action of BF-175 in PCa and its efficacy in PCa remains fully elucidated.
METHOD: Prostate Oncomine and cBioportal databases contain prostate cancer patient datasets, which were queried for SREBP mRNA overexpression and copy number alterations. We used 4 PCa cell lines, namely PC3, PC3M, LNCaP, and C4-2B, to conduct our cell viability and proliferation assays, clonogenic survival assay, wound healing assay, trans-well migration, and invasion assays. RESULTS: SREBP inhibition by BF175 significantly reduced cell viability, proliferation, and clonogenic survival in all prostate cancer cell lines tested. Analysis of wound healing, trans-well migration, and invasion assay revealed that BF175 significantly reduced migration and invasion in all PCa cells tested. We also confirmed that BF175 inhibited the expression of SREBPs in the tested prostate cancer cell lines. Of note, BF175 exhibited significantly higher potency as an anticancer agent in more invasive prostate cancer cell lines than their less invasive counterparts.
CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that BF175 shows promise as a novel anticancer agent that may improve outcomes in lethal metastatic PCa
Extraction and Quantification of Vitamin C in Kiwi Fruits Using Iodometric Titration
No full textVitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a vital antioxidant present in various fruits, with kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) being one of the richest natural sources. The accurate determination of vitamin C content is essential for nutritional and food quality assessments. This study focuses on the extraction and quantification of vitamin C from kiwi fruits using the iodometric titration method, a well-established redox-based technique. Kiwi samples were subjected to different extraction solvents, including metaphosphoric acid, oxalic acid, and citric acid solutions, to enhance ascorbic acid stability. The extracted vitamin C was then quantified through iodometric titration, utilizing iodine as an oxidizing agent and starch as an endpoint indicator. The influence of extraction conditions, sample preparation, and titration parameters on the accuracy and precision of vitamin C determination was systematically evaluated. Preliminary results indicate that metaphosphoric acid extraction yields the highest vitamin C recovery by minimizing oxidative degradation. The iodometric titration method proved to be a cost-effective and reliable approach for vitamin C quantification, with acceptable precision and reproducibility. This study underscores the importance of optimizing extraction protocols to improve the accuracy of vitamin C determination in kiwi fruits for food quality control and nutritional analysis
Prevalence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus from 2023-2025 in Long Island, New York
No full textRetroviral infections pose a significant risk to the feline population globally; Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) in particular. Very few molecular, serological, and statistical studies have been performed within the United States. The primary objective of this study was to do molecular and serological surveillance of FIV and FeLV in cats within the locally accessible region of Long Island, New York. A total of 100 cats were subjected to this study from which we collected paired blood serum, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs. We used HESKA’s trūRapid™ FIV/FeLV kits to detect FIV antibodies and FeLV antigen per tested cat sample set and Retroviral infections pose a significant risk to the feline population across the globe, including in the USA. There are three known retroviruses affecting cats: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Foamy Virus (FFV). The FIV and FeLV are of major concern among the cat population. While FFV is most likely causing life-long infection in cats, it is not of significant concern, unlike FIV/FeLV infections. Little is known about the prevalence of the FIV/FeLV in feral cats in Long Island. The primary objective of the current study is to do molecular and serological surveillance of the FIV/FeLV in some feral cats in Long Island during 2022-2025. A total of 80 cats were subjected to this study. We collected paired serum, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs from each cat. All the tested cats were feral cats and not vaccinated against FIV/FeLV. We used the rapid Sensitive Non-Agglutination Particle (SNAP) kits to detect the FIV/FeLV antigens and antibodies per each tested cat sample. Our results show a total of 13/80 samples (16.25%) tested positive for the FIV antibody. A total of 7/80 samples (8.75%) were positive for the FeLV antigen. Meanwhile, 3/80 cat samples (3.75%) tested positive for the FIV antigens and FeLV antibodies. These results clearly confirm the active circulation of the FIV/FeLV in the feral cat population in Long Island. Further molecular characterization studies are ongoing in our laboratory to further characterize these FIV/FeLV strains in feral cats in Long Island. This study highlights the mandates of continuing surveillance of the FIV/FeLV in cats to prepare some novel diagnostic assays and vaccines against the currently circulating strains of these viruses in cats. The risk of cat infection with those viruses could be mitigated
I think you think I\u27m a virus: Metastereotype awareness in Asian Americans
No full textReports of anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic are concerning, particularly given that Asian Americans may especially perceive and anticipate being stereotyped by others as virus-carrying foreigners due to their Asian American identity (e.g., increased perpetual foreigner metastereotype awareness). The present study explored metastereotype awareness (MSA) – an individual\u27s belief that someone holds a stereotype about them as a result of their group membership – in a sample of 1.5 and 2nd generation East and Southeast Asian Americans (N = 422). Participants completed an MSA activation paradigm, followed by self-report measures assessing their MSA of the perpetual foreigner, model minority, and unsociable stereotypes as well as affective and interpersonal functioning. Results of a path analysis and structural equation modeling indicated overall negative outcomes associated with heightened levels of MSA, such as decreased self-esteem, increased interpersonal shame, greater intergroup anxiety, and heightened state anger. However, results also provided support for the Rejection- Identification Model, a means through which these negative effects can be mitigated. Individuals who demonstrated a greater propensity to attribute their experiences of MSA to prejudice demonstrated a stronger affiliation with their ethnic identity, which in turn, protected against the negative effects observed between MSA and self-esteem. Exploratory analyses examined the creation of an Asian American MSA latent construct, which allowed for three historically and conceptually interrelated metastereotypes to be explored concurrently. Clinical implications, limitations of the present study, and future directions are also discussed
INVISIBLE BARRIERS: INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF TEACHER BIAS ON BLACK STUDENTS’ OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE
No full textThis study investigates the role of implicit racial bias in limiting Black students’ access to advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities in secondary public schools across Long Island (LI), New York. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study triangulates data from Harvard’s Implicit Association Test (IAT), a custom-designed Likert-style self-perception survey, and open-ended participant reflections. A custom-coded, anonymous online platform was used to assess all instruments. After completing the survey and IAT, participants reviewed both sets of results and responded to reflection prompts about the alignment or misalignment between the two. Although 78% of participants rated themselves as highly equitable, 65% demonstrated moderate to strong pro-White bias on the IAT. Qualitative analysis revealed that 79% of participants responded reflectively, proposing strategies such as transparent placement protocols, consistent equity training, and stronger mentorship systems for underrepresented students. In contrast, 21% exhibited defensive responses, consistent with the discomfort and rationalization predicted by cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1957). This inquiry is guided by the intersecting theoretical lenses of critical race theory (Ladson-Billings & Tate, 1995), social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986), and cognitive dissonance theory. The findings suggest that bias awareness alone has a limited impact on increasing equitable access to STEM courses. Without real accountability from leadership, the necessary system redesign will leave inequities unchanged. This study highlights the importance of coordinated action across classrooms, schools, and leadership structures to promote equity in education