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User-Centered Design of a Weight Loss Mobile App
No full textObesity, the excessive accumulation of body fat, increases risk for chronic disease and affects 34% of U.S. adults (10). Lifestyle interventions are effective but heavily rely on calorie tracking, while adherence to this behavioral strategy is low (6). An alternative to calorie tracking is to simply track instances of overeating. In a pilot trial, obese individuals used Habit app, a mobile app that assists users in tracking overeating episodes. Users were asked to identify, record, and reflect on dietary slips, or deviations from the recommended diet. Following 6 months of use, in a focus group session, 20 participants were asked how they felt about the app’s slip tracking feature in terms of their ability to identify slips and their opinions about tracking slips. Thematic qualitative analyses were used to analyze the user’s reflections. Findings revealed that 45% of users found it difficult to know what to count as a slip, only 33.3% of users believed they tracked an accurate number of slips, and 52.6% of users found the reflective questions following tracking a slip insightful to their behavioral patterns, while others found these questions laborious or overwhelming. Users who found it easier to identify slips had a clear understanding of the dietary intervention they were provided with, indicating that having difficulty defining slips was likely a result of poor engagement with the dietary intervention. To mitigate these challenges, potential solutions aim to increase retention of the dietary intervention and personalize the slip tracker to users’ diverse experiences and emotional states
Identifying Trends Among University Club Athletes
No full textThis study explores the factors influencing students’ decisions to join and remain involved in club sports at the University of Connecticut. Drawing on survey data and in-depth interviews with current club sport athletes, the research investigates how demographic, socioeconomic, and personal background variables such as prior sport involvement, academic motivations, and social aspirations shape patterns of participation. Findings suggest that students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and those with significant competitive youth sport involvement comprise most club sport athletes, often citing a desire for balance, community, and stress relief as key motivators to joining. These results align with prior literature on youth sports specialization, family influence, and systemic inequities in access to resources. By considering club sports within the broader context of college identity, this study highlights their unique role in enhancing student experience
Teachers’ Beliefs About ASL and Its Impact in the Classroom
No full textThis study explores American Sign Language (ASL) teachers’ beliefs and experiences, and how they influence their instructional approaches and goals for their students. Despite ASL’s growing presence in education as a world language, minimal research has examined ASL teachers’ perspectives and how they shape classroom practices. Through semi-structured interviews, six ASL teachers – three Deaf and three hearing – this research identified four major themes: challenges teachers face in the classroom, cultural takeaways, best teaching practices, and persistent systemic issues affecting ASL’s status in education. Findings suggest that regardless of hearing status, teachers prioritize cultural awareness and respectful engagement with the Deaf community alongside language acquisition. These guide teachers’ classroom approaches and goals for their students once they have left the classroom. This research contributes to understanding ASL education beyond linguistic components, highlighting its role in fostering global citizenship and challenging misconceptions about ASL and Deaf culture. The study’s implications include the importance of teacher collaboration, culturally centered instruction, and redefining classroom success to encompass both linguistic proficiency and cultural competence
Investigating the ability of the Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor Nomifensine to Reverse the Effort-related Effects of Tetrabenazine in Female Rats
No full textAnergia, lassitude, and psychomotor retardation are core symptoms of motivational dysfunction that often accompany Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors effectively alleviate mood and anxiety symptoms, they remain relatively ineffective at alleviating motivational deficits. Compounds that elevate extracellular dopamine (DA) have shown promise in addressing these symptoms. Bupropion, a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), increases DA and is effective at attenuating motivational symptoms in patients. Another NDRI, nomifensine, has demonstrated potential antidepressant properties in preclinical research. Effort-based choice tasks, such as the FR5/chow choice task, serve as animal models for studying motivational dysfunction. Rats choose between exerting effort to obtain a preferred food (high-carbohydrate pellets) via lever pressing or consuming freely available less preferred chow. Tetrabenazine (TBZ), a dopamine-depleting agent, shifts behavior toward the low-effort option, modeling motivational impairments seen in MDD. Previous studies in male rats have shown that nomifensine effectively reverses the TBZ-induced behavioral effects, however the effects in female rats are unknown. Given the higher prevalence of depression in women and sex differences in symptomatology, the present study examined whether nomifensine could reverse TBZ-induced low-effort bias in female. Nomifensine partially restored lever pressing and dose-dependently reversed the effects of TBZ on chow intake. These findings support the efficacy of NDRIs in mitigating motivational deficits and highlight the importance of exploring sex-specific responses to antidepressant treatments
Examining Loss of Imprint in F1 Hybrid Female Mice Due to X Chromosome Epimutation and the Implications for Autism
No full textSex biases are prevalent among various neurodevelopmental disorders, with males experiencing them at higher frequencies or severities than females. This male bias is poorly understood, and our lab aims to elucidate this mechanism using our model of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Our lab identified the cluster of genes Xlr3b/4b/4c on the X chromosome that are imprinted in the female brain. Preliminary studies suggest that Xlr3 acts as a mediator molecule in our model. Xlr3 knockdown male mice exhibited significant meiocyte loss that can be attributed to Meiotic Sex Chromosome Inactivation. Their female offspring also displayed loss of imprinting of Xlr3 and their grandsons exhibited neurodevelopmental abnormalities and behavioral deficits. This project focuses on the imprint status of control versus transgenic F1 female hybrid mice, generated from a cross between a homozygous In(X)1h mother and homozygous C57 father. Brains were collected and RNA was extracted and converted into cDNA for use in the AdamAB PCR, an allele-specific assay designed to detect Xlr3a and Xlr3b. This PCR is run out on a gel to visualize the imprint status of control and transgenic mice. The frequency of LOI was calculated for the control and transgenic mice. Results showed that the control frequency was about 20.7% and for transgenic mice was about 16.9%. Statistical analysis concluded there is insufficient evidence of a difference between the frequencies. Further research should involve age-matched and larger sample sizes and quantitative analysis for more accurate results
Investigating the Parameters Driving Black Hole-Galaxy Co-evolution
No full textIn this research project, we study supermassive black holes that reside in the center of galaxies. More specifically, we explore the self-regulatory nature of these black holes as well as their relationship with their host galaxies. Simulations are utilized to study these cosmic entities, as they allow us to investigate the implications of different physical mechanisms in galaxy evolution. We use Cosmology and Astrophysics with MachinE Learning Simulations (CAMELS) to identify the astrophysical parameters that drive the black hole-galaxy coevolution. Building on our earlier results based on the SIMBA simulation, which established broad correlations with black hole and stellar mass, CAMELS lets us systematically vary stellar feedback and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) feedback parameters, which provides a more detailed exploration of their impact in black hole-galaxy co-evolution. We identify two complementary regulatory channels: (1) host-galaxy regulation, where stellar-feedback driven winds affect the central black hole’s accretion supply, and (2) black-hole self-regulation, where jet feedback affects further growth and therefore reduces the overall impact of AGN feedback. Our analysis reveals a clear self-regulatory signature in the jet-mode parameters as well as strong host-galaxy regulation with the galactic wind parameters. These findings emphasize the intertwined roles of stellar and AGN feedback in shaping supermassive black hole growth. Future work will extend this parameter study to other simulations and earlier times in cosmic history
Exploring Healthcare Barriers: Perspectives of Immigrants and Providers
No full textImmigrants in the United States face significant barriers when accessing healthcare, despite healthcare being recognized as a fundamental human right. This literature review explores six key barriers: language difficulties, discrimination, cost, cultural differences, transportation issues, and challenges navigating a new healthcare system. Through the analysis of 23 peer-reviewed articles, this review identifies how each barrier affects healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for immigrant populations. Language barriers interfere with effective communication and trust, while discrimination—rooted in race, ethnicity, nationality, and immigration status—reduces the likelihood of seeking care. Financial constraints, including lack of insurance and high out-of-pocket costs, prevent timely medical intervention. Cultural differences influence perceptions of illness, Western medicine, and the use of alternative therapies, while transportation difficulties limit appointment scheduling and availability. Finally, unfamiliarity with preventative care models and referral systems complicates healthcare navigation for many immigrants. These barriers are interconnected, increasing the disparities faced by immigrant communities. Understanding these challenges is critical for structuring a more equitable and culturally competent healthcare system. Future steps include direct survey-based research with immigrant patients and providers in Connecticut to further identify local gaps and inform interventions
Appraisal and Acquisition Strategies in Collecting Repositories
No full textThis chapter explores the principles, values, and practices that shape intentional collecting and acquisitions work in archival repositories. The authors argue that acquisitions are a form of public service, requiring archivists to engage actively and responsibly with communities to diversify the historical record and counteract the biases of passive or unexamined collecting. Drawing on case studies from institutions such as Northeastern University, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the New York State Archives, the chapter outlines models and strategies for building trust with donors, navigating power dynamics, and aligning acquisitions with institutional mission and capacity. Topics include advisory boards, documentation strategy, cultural humility, donor relations, legal agreements, and the long-term stewardship costs of collections. Emphasizing hospitality, equity, and accountability, the authors situate acquisitions as a values-driven practice essential to both archival integrity and social relevance