The Otterbein Review May 28, 1917

Volume 8, Number 32https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/otreview/1017/thumbnail.jp

Eating vs. Competing: Comparing Pressures of Disordered Eating in Lean and Non-lean Sports

In the current study, I compared the risk factors of disordered eating between athletes in weight dependent and non-weight dependent sports, specifically the motivating pressures to pursue this behavior. Weight dependent or “lean athletes” participate in sports with emphasis on weight, size, or bodily appearance. Non-weight dependent or “non-lean athletes” participate in sports without emphasis on weight or aesthetics, which tend to be team sports. While there are many different disordered eating risk factors in athletics, the current study focused on sport based pressures and societal based pressures. Participants included undergraduate student athletes on female athletic teams or dance minors at a Division III midwestern liberal arts university. I utilized a survey questionnaire (N = 72) as well as semi-structured interviews with selected athletes (n = 7). Results implied that disordered behavior and negative body image were prevalent in both sport types, however motivation for these behaviors differed. Lean athletes reported experiencing sport pressures whereas both lean and non-lean athletes reported experiencing societal factors. In qualitative analysis, both sport types faced sport and societal pressures. The most frequently mentioned sport pressures were team dynamics and comparison, while the most frequently mentioned societal pressures were social media and interpersonal relationships. However, lean athletes associated body image pressures with the desire to excel at their sport and non-lean athletes associated body image pressure with a desire to obtain a societally attractive body ideal

Social Support and Mental Wellbeing Among Veterinary Clinic Employees

Mental wellbeing is a significant concern for veterinary professionals and the subject of much discussion in the veterinary and academic fields. To determine whether social support is an effective protective factor for the mental wellbeing of veterinary professionals, I administered a survey to 879 veterinary clinics in Ohio, with ninety-two responses received for final analysis. The scales assessed mental wellbeing, organizational support, and nonorganizational support. I found organizational support, friends support, and family support to be positively correlated with mental wellbeing. Significant other support was not correlated with mental wellbeing. A linear regression evaluating social support as predictors of mental wellbeing was found to be a significant model. Specifically, organizational support and friends support were significant predictors of mental wellbeing. Family support was not a significant predictor. In a hierarchical regression controlling for demographic factors, age was found to be a significant predictor of mental wellbeing as well. Older age groups had higher mental wellbeing scores. Notable differences in mental wellbeing and social support levels were seen between job titles in the veterinary clinic, with veterinarians and owners more likely to have higher mental wellbeing scores, and veterinary assistants having lower mental wellbeing scores. Both veterinary assistants and client service representatives also had lower scores of organizational support. By identifying the importance of social support in and out of the workplace and key differences between individuals in the workplace, this research can help streamline initiatives to improve mental wellbeing for all in the veterinary field

The Effect of Dewormer on Inflammatory Cytokine Interleukin-17 Levels in Serum from Horses

Gastrointestinal parasites are a significant health concern in horses, and anthelmintic treatment can influence both parasite burden and host inflammatory responses. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), a pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with neutrophil recruitment and epithelial immune activation, may serve as a marker of inflammation following parasite death. This study evaluated the effect of anthelmintic treatment with fenbendazole or moxidectin on circulating IL-17 concentrations in horses over a one-week period. Fifty-six horses with fecal egg counts ≥ 200 eggs per gram were blocked by age and body condition score, and then randomly assigned to control, fenbendazole, or moxidectin groups. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 1, and 7 and analyzed using a bead-based multiplex cytokine assay, and fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) were performed for treated horses. IL-17A concentrations did not differ significantly over time within any group (control: p = .867; fenbendazole: p = .086; moxidectin: p = 1.000) nor among groups at any time point (all p \u3e .20). Regression analyses revealed no associations between IL-17A and age, BCS, or fecal egg count. FECRT results demonstrated 100% reduction for moxidectin and 7.99% reduction for fenbendazole, confirming high macrocyclic lactone efficacy and substantial benzimidazole resistance. These findings indicate that neither anthelmintic treatment nor host factors influenced circulating IL-17A concentrations, suggesting that IL-17A is not a sensitive systemic marker of inflammatory responses to parasite clearance in horses. Broader cytokine profiling and more frequent sampling may better characterize equine immune responses to anthelmintic therapy

THE EFFECT OF DIET ON THE POPULATION SIZE AND NUTRITIONAL CONTENT OF ONISCUS ASELLUS

Diet strongly influences the population size of isopods, making nutrition a key factor in colony growth. This study tested the effects of high protein, high carbohydrate, and high calcium diets on the population size and nutritional content of Oniscus asellus. Isopods were housed in plastic tubs with soil and moss and were randomly assigned to a diet. Supplemental powders and leaf litter were provided ad libitum, and consumption was measured to ensure treatment exposure. After four months of feeding, population size and body composition were assessed. Although all isopods from all treatments consumed their leaf litter diet at similar rates, the supplemental powder intake differed, with isopods on the high calcium treatment consuming the least. Diet had a significant impact on the population size of O. asellus, with isopods reared on a high protein diet having a significantly higher population count. Only the protein treatment had an increasing population and was three times higher than other treatments. The body composition of Oniscus asellus reared in the high protein treatment had the highest percentage of organic matter and the lowest inorganic matter. Isopods reared on the calcium and control treatments had the lowest organic matter and the highest inorganic matter. Providing isopods with a higher protein diet may promote faster growth of individuals and increased reproduction, resulting in more sustainable populations. By understanding how diet influences colony development, keepers can better manage their isopod colonies and improve the reliability of using isopods as a mineral rich feeder for insectivores

The Psychological Jesus: Recognizing the Divinity of Psychoanalysis and Self-Understanding

The research performed seeks to provide proper and sufficient evidence of the existence of Jungian qualities within the apostle Thomas’ gospel, as well as the divine qualities of psychology, psychoanalysis, and self-understanding. The Gospel of Thomas tackles issues of the self, and contrary to the canonical gospels, puts immense emphasis and responsibility on the human as an individual in the universe, and displays an image of salvation rooted in increasing one’s understanding of their psyche. Thomas’ gospel also touches on salvation by means of changing one’s sex, which allows for discussion of the much larger concept of gender-nonconformity within the history of Christianity. Understanding the Gospel of Thomas allows us as knowledge seekers to peer into ancient understandings of the self, and to gain knowledge on how people within antiquity viewed their autonomy and consciousness. Through seeing how ancient humans once lived and thought, we are able to gain a deeper appreciation of ourselves in the modern day. Evidence of the gospel’s psychological qualities is sourced by means of reading Thomas’ account in conjunction with the works of Jung and Freud, as well as other contemporaries within the fields of psychoanalysis and self-understanding. Furthermore, texts that share qualities and that parallel the Gospel of Thomas will be considered, be they psychological, philosophical, or religious. Additionally, sources that give proper background knowledge of gender-nonconformity during antiquity will be used as evidence to support the relevancy of the claims made within the gospel

Just Unmasking Knowledge? A Critical Interpretation of Fluctuating Jellyfish Populations for a Mass Media Audience

While podcasts may not be the most popular form of mass media, they are growing in their accessibility and prevalence in educational discourse. My creative work, in the form of a podcast, unmasks scientific knowledge in an untraditional, mass-media form and will use podcast techniques, such as music transitions and storytelling techniques, to maintain engagement. Additionally, my podcast aims to transpose academic knowledge into a comprehensible, interesting form for a non-academic audience. Jellyfish have no brains, no heart, no blood, and no bones and yet, they have survived for millions of years. The goal of my podcast is to educate about jellyfish and their impact on human society. I will analyze studies done by professional scientists and researchers so that my thesis will take an academic approach to real-life issues in society. With a well-researched perspective, my podcast will act as a personalized, awareness-raising, comprehensive approach to fluctuating jellyfish populations. By exploring this topic, this thesis will be relevant globally and will be a way to find out how jellyfish are able to thrive on a changing planet

Superstition and Perceived Athlete Performance

Every year millions of sports fans watch their favorite athletes compete. Those athletes put forth their best performance in the hope of winning, and fans show their support in the hopes they do. Whether on the field or in the stands, tension can be high. For this reason, athletes have developed rituals, ways of coping with the immense pressure of performance and success. The present study analyzed athlete\u27s rituals through a lens of superstition. Athletes at the Division III level were surveyed and interviewed to see why they perform the rituals they do. Our hypotheses are that those rituals will be perceived as alleviating stress and anxiety, that rituals will be perceived by athletes as improving performance, and that the specific form of ritual will have deep meaning to them as individuals and as a team. Overall, our hypotheses were supported. Division III athletes reported partaking in ritual behavior. Analysis indicated a statistically significant difference in their perceived performance with and without their rituals. Rituals were meaningful to athletes, though rituals\u27 meaning was different depending on the team

Assessing the Risk of Low Energy Availability in NCAA Division III Female Soccer Players

Low Energy Availability (LEA) can occur when an athlete’s energy intake is insufficient to meet the physiological demands of training as well as normal physiological functions. Female soccer players may be at an increased risk of developing LEA due to the high exercise energy expenditure paired with decreased energy intake. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of LEA among Division III female soccer players. Division III female soccer players (n = 11) completed the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q). 45.5% (n = 5) of the participants were classified as “At Risk” for LEA. Of the 5 At Risk participants, 18.2% (n = 2) indicated being 18 years of age, while the remaining 27.3% (n = 3) indicated being 19 years of age. 3 (27.3%) reported abnormal menstruation, and 45.5% (n = 5) of the 11 subjects reported absences from training or competition due to injury in the last year. A binary logistic regression concluded that age was not a statistically significant predictor of risk status for low energy availability (p = .348). The regression coefficient for age was negative (B = -0.831), suggesting that older athletes may have lower odds of being classified as “At Risk”; however, this relationship was not statistically significant. The prevalence of athletes classified as “At Risk” in the present study was higher than previously reported in similar populations. Additionally, elevated rates of menstrual dysfunction and injury history further emphasize the potential health risks associated with inadequate energy intake and energy availability. This suggests that LEA may be an important concern in NCAA Division III female soccer players

Model Woman: Realizing Frances Folsom Cleveland as a Fashion Archetype of Gilded-Age America

This paper is an exploration of former First Lady Frances Folsom Cleveland’s position as an influential figure in women’s fashion during her years in the White House, seeking to fill a gap in historical scholarship regarding her legacy. It proposes the term “fashion archetype” to describe the phenomenon of celebrity that Frances experienced in which her public persona was detached from her individual identity and manipulated by the media to influence American women. Analysis of her early-White House wardrobe and the media attention her style and appearance received reveals the power that clothing held in nineteenth-century American society, as well as the shifting expectations in the role of First Lady. Relying heavily on articles from the New York Times and the Columbus Dispatch, this paper examines how the press constructed an image of Frances to function as a manifestation of idealized womanhood, and did so without her active involvement