A Vegan Exploration of Social Movement Theory

This paper was written as a final project for POLS 419 Social Movements and Political Protests with Dr. Jean Williams in the Spring of 2018. This paper aims to explore veganism within the context of social movement theory, examine the ideological boundary found at the intersection of private action and movement participation, and look at the relationship between personal and collective identity and change. First, through defining Suzanne Stagenborg’s Theories of Social Movements and Collective Action, this paper establishes veganism within the context of existent social movement theories such as collective behavior, resource mobilization, political process, synthetic approach, and new social movement theories. It then goes on to explore veganism within the frameworks of a lifestyle movement, the relationship between private action and movement participation, and the importance and implication of personal and social change. This paper then concludes with a synthesis of movement theories

Cyber Stalking: Impact Of Gender, Cyber Stalker-Victim Relationship And Proximity

Cyber stalking is a relatively new phenomenon that is currently limited in empirical research. Consequently, despite the seriousness of the crime, prevalence rates are unreliable and estimates suffer from vast variation. Cyber stalking may be underreported due to limited community understanding of what behaviors constitute cyber stalking. Many factors unique to cyber stalking may impact the extent to which the crime is reported, and the extent to which the perpetrator or victim is held responsible. The current study aimed to examine the impact of perpetrator gender, relationship between the perpetrator and victim, and the perpetrator\u27s proximity to the victim on perceptions of cyber stalking and victim blame. The current study further aimed to gather data on the prevalence of cyber stalking, by measuring cyber stalking behaviors experienced by participants and cyber stalking behaviors engaged in by participants. Participants read one of eight scenarios that varied victim gender, cyber stalker-victim relationship, and proximity. Perpetrator gender and proximity both impacted perceptions of the scenario as cyber stalking and its severity. While cyber stalking-victim relationship was found not to impact perceptions of the scenario, contrary to previous stalking research. Finally, both participant gender and self-reported prior cyber stalking victimization was found to impact attitudes toward cyber stalking. Implications are discussed

Schulbücher im Sachunterricht - welche Themenauswahl bieten sie? Eine inhaltsanalytische Studie zu ausgesuchten Lehrwerken

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit aktuellen Strukturen und Inhalten des Schulfaches Sachunterricht. Dazu werden alle derzeit in Niedersachsen zugelassen Lehrwerke für dieses Fach inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet. Im Zuge dessen werden elf Inhaltsbereiche gebildet, denen die in den Schulbüchern vorgefundenen Themen zugeordnet wurden. Es zeigen sich Kernbereiche und Peripherien eines inhaltlichen Kanons auf Grundlage der Sachunterrichtslehrwerke.This article deals with the current structures as well as contents of the subject «Sachunterricht». Therefore, each course book which is authorised in Lower-Saxony is evaluated in terms of it’s content. On the basis of this analysis eleven contents areas are formed. In a second step, the topics which are covered within the course books are assigned to these contents areas. The analysis un-folds core areas as well as peripheries for a content-based canon

Synthesis of Ortho-Substituted Benzamides through Decarbonylative Cross-Coupling of Phthalimides

The development of nickel-mediated catalysis has progressed to the decarbonylation of phthalimides for cross-coupling with boronic acids to form ortho-substituted benzamides. The variables of the reaction are being manipulated to determine if the nickel can be used catalytically rather than stoichiometrically. In addition, many reactions produce a byproduct in which a carbon-hydrogen bond forms in the desired position of the boronic acid substituent, making isolation of the ortho-substituted benzamide through column chromatography difficult. The source of this byproduct—the reduction product—is still under investigation as the scope and isolation of the product is expanded

Application of Intermittent Vibration to Fluctuating Pressure Pain

The effects of chronic pain are debilitating and long-lasting, which make traditional tools like pharmaceuticals impractical and ineffective. One alternative treatment is vibratory stimulation to promote pain gating: decreased pain in the presence of innocuous tactile stimuli. However, evidence concerning the parameters to maximize pain modulation is contradictory. Earlier work has shown that vibration can even increase pain in those who sensitize rapidly to repetitive heat stimuli, suggesting that the application of vibration to increasing pain can exacerbate the change (Hollins, Harper & Maixner, 2011). The present study changed the force of a pressure stimulus to elicit large changes in pain and selectively applied vibration while subjects reported their pain as increasing or decreasing. Although the vibration condition did not cause a change in overall pain, the presence of vibration attenuated the pain fluctuations. A similar phenomenon was found when runs were grouped by order: earlier runs created smaller increases and decreases of pain. These findings suggest that offset analgesia is related to vibratory pain gating and sensitization. The lack of difference in pain between vibration paradigms suggests that vibratory hyperalgesia is a result of a central process unrelated to changes in pain intensity. Nevertheless, the change in fluctuation magnitude found with vibration and sensitization may provide a new parameter for effective vibratory pain modulation and the management of chronic pain.Bachelor of Scienc

Vertical fixation disparity and essential hypertension

Vertical fixation disparity and essential hypertensio

Examination of the scoring structure of the psychopathology instrument for mentally retarded adults

"The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of an instrument designed to assist in the diagnosis of mental illness in individuals diagnosed with mental retardation titled "The Psychopathology Inventory for Mentally Retarded Adults (PIMRA)." Procedures included conducting an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify a more parsimonious model and a series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to test the hypotheses of factorial invariance, first, with two random samples, and then with three groups based on level of mental retardation. A series of logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the ability of each scoring model to predict the "true" mental health diagnosis. Results of CFA of the PIMRA found the model to be ill fitting. Examination of the factor correlations, item correlations and item R2 values found significant problems such that the scoring model of the PIMRA was found to be unsupported. Results of the EFA identified an interpretable six factor solution. A confirmatory factor analysis of the six factor solution revealed a model that approached adequacy after deleting ten items. The hypothesis of factorial invariance was not supported in two random samples and three groups based on level of mental retardation. Results of the logistic regressions revealed that both models were better predictors of schizophrenia, affective disorder and psychosexual disorder than other mental health disorders. Both models are better predictors of lack of diagnosis rather than diagnosis. The six factor model was only slightly better than the PIMRA. These results suggest that neither the PIMRA nor the six-factor scoring model provide any diagnostic in determining the mental health status of an individual with mental retardation."--Abstract from author supplied metadata

Optogenetic Stimulation of the Basolateral Amygdala Increased Theta-Modulated Gamma Oscillations in the Hippocampus

The amygdala can modulate declarative memory. For example, previous research in rats and humans showed that brief electrical stimulation to the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) prioritized specific objects to be consolidated into long term memory in the absence of emotional stimuli and without awareness of stimulation. The capacity of the BLA to influence memory depends on its substantial projections to many other brain regions, including the hippocampus. Nevertheless, how activation of the BLA influences ongoing neuronal activity in other regions is poorly understood. The current study used optogenetic stimulation of putative glutamatergic neurons in the BLA of freely exploring rats to determine whether brief activation of the BLA could increase in the hippocampus gamma oscillations for which the amplitude was modulated by the phase of theta oscillations, an oscillatory state previously reported to correlate with good memory. BLA neurons were stimulated in 1-s bouts with pulse frequencies that included the theta range (8 Hz), the gamma range (50 Hz), or a combination of both ranges (eight 50-Hz bursts). Local field potentials were recorded in the BLA and in the pyramidal layer of CA1 in the intermediate hippocampus. A key question was whether BLA stimulation at either theta or gamma frequencies could combine with ongoing hippocampal oscillations to result in theta-modulated gamma or whether BLA stimulation that included both theta and gamma frequencies would be necessary to increase theta–gamma comodulation in the hippocampus. All stimulation conditions elicited robust responses in BLA and CA1, but theta-modulated gamma oscillations increased in CA1 only when BLA stimulation included both theta and gamma frequencies. Longer bouts (5-s) of BLA stimulation resulted in hippocampal activity that evolved away from the initial oscillatory states and toward those characterized more by prominent low-frequency oscillations. The current results indicated that one mechanism by which the amygdala might influence declarative memory is by eliciting neuronal oscillatory states in the hippocampus that benefit memory

Examination of Cybersecurity Technologies, Practices, Challenges, and Wish List in K-12 School Districts

With the growth in digital teaching and learning, there has been a sharp rise in the number of cybersecurity attacks on K-12 school networks. This has demonstrated a need for security technologies and cybersecurity education. This study examined security technologies used, effective security practices, challenges, concerns, and wish list of technology leaders in K-12 settings. Data collected from 23 district websites and from interviews with 12 district technology leaders were analyzed. Top security practices included cloud-based technologies, segregated network/V-LAN, two-factor authentication, limiting access, and use of Clever or Class Link. Top challenges included keeping users informed, lack of buy-in from staff and decision-makers, lack of expertise to implement modern best practices, and cost of resources. Top concerns included possible cyberattacks, leaked student data, and lack of user awareness. Finally, their wish list included technology personnel, access to Clever of Class Link, external system diagnostic checks, professional development for staff, and replacing aging infrastructure. The findings have implications for K-12 administrators, technology leaders, and teachers