Adverse Childhood Experiences in the New Mexico Juvenile Justice Population

Faculty from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Law and the UNM School of Medicine, and New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) initiated a joint project to look at the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) nationally and in New Mexico. The study was intended to better establish the association between early childhood trauma and delinquency, as well as to explore the role that law and medicine can play in ensuring better health and juvenile justice outcomes for children who have experienced ACEs

Experience Design

This undergraduate research project aims to explore the question: “What is Experience Design(XD)?” and “How can Experience Design be executed in a magazine, both print and online versions?” My methods included extensive research on the history of XD, ethnography of typical magazine users, the study of magazine layout and design principles (both in print and online form) and finally, the execution of an XD-minded print and online digital-comp version of a fashion/lifestyle magazine. I used the Adobe Creative Suite to compile my research into tangible proof of the theory of XD in action. My results proved to be difficult to measure, as I found several constraints to my project throughout my course of study. For example: It was difficult for me to study good design principles being applied to fashion magazines as most American magazines have become so commercial and advertising based

A Concise Review of the Conflicting Roles of Dopamine-1 versus Dopamine-2 Receptors in Wound Healing.

Catecholamines play an important regulatory role in cutaneous wound healing. The exact role of dopamine in human epidermis has yet to be fully elucidated. Current published evidence describes its differential effects on two separate families of G protein coupled receptors: D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptors. Dopamine may enhance angiogenesis and wound healing through its action on dopamine D1 receptors, while impairing wound healing when activating D2 receptors. This review summarizes the evidence for the role of dopamine in wound healing and describes potential mechanisms behind its action on D1 versus D2-like receptors in the skin

Family and life stressors predict adolescents' social behaviors via parenting and moral identity

Dissertation supervisor: Dr. Gustavo Carlo.Includes vita.The goal of the current studies was to examine the associations between family-level stressors and low income adolescents' social behaviors. Previous theory and research has suggested that stress can be emotionally and cognitively debilitating and lead to lower levels of positive social behaviors, such as helping behaviors (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Alternatively, theorists have suggested that traumatic stressors may foster emotional sensitivity and ultimately contribute to higher levels of moral behaviors (Staub, 2007). In order to better understand the associations between stressors and adolescents' moral behaviors, two studies were conducted. Study 1 consisted of adolescents from Camden, NJ and St. Joseph, MO (Camden: n = 19, M age = 15.38, 72.2% girls; St. Joseph: n = 15, M age = 16.27, 65.5% girls). Adolescents completed self-reports of their economic stress and major life events as well as a moral identity structured interview. The results demonstrated that moral identity was marginally, positively associated with economic stressors for the St. Joseph sample such that adolescents with higher moral identity reported higher economic stressors. Moral identity was negatively associated with life events for the Camden sample such that adolescents with higher moral identity reported lower levels of life events. There was no association between moral identity and stressors for the St. Joseph sample, however. Study 2 extended study 1 by examining the associations between economic stressors and life events and adolescents' prosocial and aggressive behaviors via parenting practices (use of social and material rewards) and adolescents' moral identity. The sample consisted of 198 adolescents from St. Joseph, MO (M age = 16.22, 34.8% girls, 84.1% White). The results demonstrated that economic stress was negatively associated with parents' use of social rewards, whereas life events were marginally, positively associated with material rewards. Social rewards were positively associated with moral identity. Moral identity, in turn, was associated with moral behaviors. Discussion focuses on the importance of understanding how stressors are associated with parenting behaviors and adolescents' moral outcomes.Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-74)

Exposure study of an environmental mixture formed by bentazone and venlafaxine in mussels

An exposure experiment will be carried out in an artificial marine mesocosm (AAM) where mussels will be exposed to a mixture of environmental contaminants at relevant environmental concentrations. Specimens with a uniform size distribution will be used, they will be fed daily during the acclimation and experiment periods. Two aquariums will be used for the exposed groups and two for the controls. All groups will be held in the same conditions except the presence of contaminants that will be exclusively in the exposed groups

Peer guide website for new CSUMB students

We studied the needs of incoming students because we wanted to find out how they can more effectively acclimate to CSUMB\u27s unique culture. Our goal was to produce an addition to the current CSUMB website containing information that we and other students found lacking to our acclimation to CSUMB. We also applied for a capstone grant to try and make a booklet to distribute the information in more than one media. We did not get the grant and all our information is being presented in the form of a website. We used the information provided by the CSUMB Prospective Student link website and added our peer insight and experiences to the information. We also added in information that we found lacking in the website based on our own experiences as new students at CSUMB

Cultural values mediate the effect of parenting styles on Mexican American adolescents' prosocial behaviors

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 7, 2013).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Thesis advisor: Dr. Gustavo CarloIncludes bibliographical references.M.A. University of Missouri-Columbia 2012."December 2012"The aim of this study was to examine the relations between supportive and strict parenting, traditional Mexican American culture values (respect and traditional gender roles), and prosocial tendencies in Mexican American adolescents. Participants (n=207) completed questionnaires regarding their parents' support and strictness, their endorsement of the cultural values respect and traditional gender roles, and their tendencies to engage in six types of prosocial behaviors. Structural equation modeling was conducted. The model was not significantly different for boys and girls. Results indicated that supportive and strict parenting both positively predicted respect values. Strict parenting was negatively associated with traditional gender roles, and support was not associated with traditional gender roles. Respect positively predicted dire, compliant, emotional, and anonymous prosocial tendencies, and traditional gender roles positively predicted anonymous and public prosocial tendencies and negatively predicted altruistic prosocial tendencies. Discussion will focus on the significance of parenting and cultural values for Mexican American adolescent prosocial behaviors and the differential relations between these values and different types of prosocial tendencies

Informal mentorship of new engineers in the workplace

Despite the long history of apprenticeship in engineering (Wilson, 1965), little is understood about the transition from school to work in the modern engineering workforce. How do new engineers gain experience and knowledge while also gaining trust and establishing themselves with more senior engineers and their company? In this work we draw on a large ethnographic study of new engineers in their first year on the job to characterize the role and nature of apprenticeship-like training in the modern engineering workforce. In our analysis, apprenticeship on the job appears to be mostly ad hoc and fleeting with rare instances of direct intentional instruction (as opposed to in-the-moment correction or feedback). Furthermore, learning arrangements between new and more senior engineers are constrained by several factors, including the rigidity of organizational hierarchy, the thoroughness of division of labor, and the senior engineers willingness to actively mentor. For example, we see how new engineers attempt to gain knowledge and experiences from more senior engineers, but are often rebuked due to corporate structure and hierarchy. Yet, at the same time, we see examples of new engineers successfully finding senior co-workers who recognize the importance of training them to navigate these restrictive structures and hierarchies for the benefit of not only the new engineer, but also the senior engineer and the company itself. We find a variety of learning arrangements, including isolated new engineers struggling to find a place in their new work, while also learning new skills, and fully collaborative work between new and senior engineers. We use these findings to suggest ways that engineering schools and companies can help support and enrich the learning of new engineers in the workforce

Building Life-Cycle Carbon and Operational Energy Report

The premise of this report is to surmise the embodied carbon impact and anticipated operational energy use of the 57,995 sf crosslaminated timber (CLT) and glulam addition to the Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) on the University of Maine campus. The project will contain open lab space for the world’s largest prototype polymer 3D printer, offices, and a presentation venue. A life-cycle assessment is a methodology for quantifying environmental impacts at all stages of a building’s life cycle. This is a cradle-to-grave assessment of the building, beginning from raw material extraction and sourcing, to manufacturing, transportation, construction, energy use, maintenance and building end-of-life recycling/disposal. The intent of the life-cycle assessment (LCA) is to evaluate the embodied carbon impact of the timber design and identify opportunities for impact reductions. The primary goal of the engineering analysis is to understand and determine the feasibility of the project operational energy use to achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE) for the new lab addition. Using the results from the LCA, low carbon benchmarks will be developed for major structural components, to inform future timber developments on the University campus and in the Northeast region at large