Black parents’ observed racial socialization behaviors and the influence of race-related stress

As Black families navigate a racialized society, Black parents often engage in racial socialization as a way to prepare their children for and to protect against the negative racial encounters that they will likely experience. Racial socialization is the process by which parents transmit messages of race and racial pride within the context of broader society, as well as racial discrimination and how to cope with those encounters (Coard & Sellars, 2005). Over the last decade, the racial socialization literature has provided much detail as to what goes on during this dyadic process, with many studies utilizing parent and self-report measures. However, little research has utilized observational methods of examining racial socialization and/or focused on how parents of younger children engage in racial socialization. Informed by Garcia Coll et al.’s (1996) integrative model for the study of developmental competencies in minority children, which acknowledges how social and societal factors can influence family processes, along with observational dyadic data from the Parent-Child Race-Related Observational Measure (PC-ROM) (Coard & Wallace, 2001), this study examined the ways in which parents verbally communicate race-related content and suggest racial coping strategies when engaging in racial socialization with their children. This study also examined differences in parents’ racial communication as a result of parental race-related stress and gender of child. Findings revealed an emergence of pattern differences in parents’ racial communication as a function of race-related stress. That is, parents with high race-related stress had more proactive racial communication. Findings also revealed that there were no particular patterns that emerged that suggested differences in parents’ racial communication as a function of child’s gender. These findings provide insight into observed racial socialization processes among parents and their young children. They also fill a current gap in the racial socialization literature by providing future guidance on how to intervene and support Black parents in having challenging conversations

Environmental effectors of the reproductive cycle and breeding behavior in the male upland chorus frog, Pseudacris triseriata feriarum

This study attempts to define the spermatogenic cycle and its environmental effectors in the male upland chorus frog, Pseudacris triseriata feriarum (Wied) and to investigate the environmental stimulation of breeding behavior such as calling and mating. It was hypothesized that some environmental cue or cues might be operating to trigger reproductive behavior. It was also thought that spermatogenesis might be subject to environmental influences. Frogs were collected monthly, preserved, and their testes removed. Some frogs were kept in outdoor cages and others were held in indoor aquaria. Caged frogs were killed and preserved in the same manner as wild frogs at times when wild frogs were not available. The testes were sectioned, stained, and examined microscopically. Counts were made of spermatogonia, spematocytes, spermatids, and sperm. The cell counts were compared to environmental data using a computer-based multiple regression analysis. A computer program for discriminant function analysis was used to compare environmental data with mating call data. The testicular cycle consists of two periods of spermatogenesis; one occurring concurrent with breeding which lasts from January to mid-March, and the other begins in late June and ends before November. "Resting periods" occur during the intervening months. P. t. feriarum may be a potentially continuous breeder exhibiting a discontinuous breeding behavior in Guilford County, N.C

Toward an understanding of the impact of mobile data services on individual quality of life

The ubiquity of information technology has increased at an exponential rate since the inception of the internet. This phenomenon has only been compounded by the ability to connect through wireless mobile devices. The concept of quality of life (QOL) has been a highly researched area in many different disciplines, although there is a dearth of research on this concept and how it relates to the field of information systems. This study examines how mobile data services (MDS) is used in a multitude of life domains and what influence this has on an individual’s QOL. This research incorporates both qualitative/interpretive and quantitative methodologies to better understand this phenomenon. First we conduct interviews to gain a better understanding of the life domains influenced by MDS use and how these different types or use influence the QOL of individuals. Next a large scale quantitative survey is undertaken to test the hypothesized relationships emanating from the interpretive study. The survey is then administered in two different countries to test the significance national culture might play on MDS use. Findings suggest similar results from the U.S. and India and provide support for the usefulness of the research model and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory to explain how MDS use relates to an individual’s QOL. Contradicting much of the literature on the negative effects of work-life conflict and MDS addiction, our findings suggest that individuals are motivated by certain needs and make rational decisions based on realized motivational needs. While work-life conflict and MDS addiction might have negative influence on relationships with friends and family, continued use of MDS leading to these behaviors was shown to be positively related to esteem and self-actualization needs, respectively. Findings also suggest cultural differences paired with economic dissimilarities between the U.S. and India from the qualitative and quantitative studies

Are Mobile Devices Threatening Your Work-Life Balance?

Employees are constantly engaging in new technologies that allow them to connect to the work place from different locations and at different time periods. The increased ubiquity of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and in particular the use of mobile devices has coincidentally increased the number of hours employees are spending on work related tasks. This study seeks to further previous qualitative research on the influence of mobile device use on individuals. The main objective is to understand how mobile devices influence the work-life balance of business professionals by exploring the relationships between mobile device usage, productivity, employer expectations, flexibility of work structure, and work-life balance. After examining previous literature, a model is developed to formulate hypothesized relationships. An instrument was developed and a survey was conducted. Interesting results emerge contributing to academic knowledge while also helping to gain a better understanding of a current challenge facing many organisations

Critical Issues in EHR Implementation: Provider and Vendor Perspectives

Stakeholders, both internal and external, can have differing and sometimes conflicting perspectives and priorities even though each has a vested interest in organizational success. Using the lens of stakeholder theory, we examine the differing views of stakeholders (namely, medical providers and vendors) in the implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems. The implementation process itself can be broken down into three phases: pre-implementation, during implementation, and post-implementation. After determining a comprehensive set of seventeen key issues relevant to each phase, we discovered that there are significant differences in the perceptions of EHR vendors and their customers in terms of which issues in each phase of an EHR implementation are most important. These findings indicate that vendors tend to underestimate the role of nursing staff and that providers tend to underestimate the role of security. Both groups, however, agree that physician support throughout the implementation is essential for success

Talking the talk, walking the walk : Black children’s understanding of race and racism

Children in the United States live in a highly racialized society and, as a result, acquire an awareness of race at an early age, eventually developing an understanding of racism (Quintana, 2008). Understanding race and racism is especially relevant for Black children, given their marginalized status in the U.S. and the likelihood that they will encounter racial discrimination before the age of ten (Brody et al., 2006; Johnson, 2022). Traditionally, parents have been viewed as the primary socializers for the knowledge that Black children gain around issues of race (Hughes et al., 2006); however, the U.S.’s long history with racism, the current socio-political context, and other socializing forces (e.g., peers, other adults, media) are undoubtedly contributing to Black children’s understanding of race and racism. Therefore, this study aimed to explore Black children’s understanding of race and racism, how other socializing agents contribute to this understanding, and the ways in which this understanding may show up when faced with a scenario that describes a potentially discriminatory experience. Qualitative data were collected from a sample of ten Black children (M=10.9 years) and one of their parents using semi-structured interviews and an observational task. In the interviews, children were queried about topics such as how they define race and racism, what these mean to them, how they have engaged in conversations with others, and their media exposure around issues of race. The observational task aimed to capture children’s understanding of race and racism from five-minute discussions with their parent after hearing two scenarios of discrimination experiences that were described in contexts such as school or a grocery store. Using a modified grounded theory approach to data analysis, findings highlighted the various understandings of race and racism that Black children have and how different socializing agents, especially media (television and social media), have contributed to this understanding. This knowledge, which varied among children, ranged from a quite limited to a more complex and nuanced understanding; and children reported this knowledge base was developed based primarily on conversations with parents and peers, but notably, also due to exposure from social media sites such as TikTok and YouTube. Further, findings highlighted the observed differences in Black children’s knowledge of racism when presented with covert versus overt racial discrimination scenarios. These findings spoke to potential age-related cognitive differences among the children in the sample. Taken together, these findings suggest a contextually relevant framework for Black children’s understanding of race and racism. Insight into Black children’s knowledge around race and racism offer valuable information to practitioners and policymakers during a time when knowledge of race and racism in children has become highly politicized

What About Black Music? Exploring A Gap In Music Therapy Training

This project began as a phenomenological interview proposal exploring how music therapists develop knowledge, authenticity, and limits in working with Black/African American clients and musics. The thesis pivoted to a critical interpretive synthesis investigating gaps in music therapy academic literature regarding Black/African American clients and musics, and resources that may fill those gaps. The thesis is rooted in standpoint epistemology and includes personal reflections on my process as a white music therapist. I searched academic databases for potentially relevant articles and focused on sources that discussed Black experiences in music therapy, excluding materials outside of music therapy, those that discussed Black perspectives in problematic or limited ways, and those focused on race in general or multicultural issues without naming Black experiences as such. I included 13 sources in my synthesis, which yielded significant themes in terms of revealing gaps: (a) racist contexts, (b) silencing Black music therapists, and (c) silencing Black musics. The synthesis also revealed a theme of filling in gaps, including two subthemes of Black community and white authors discussing their biases and dealing with ruptures. Notably, the synthesis brought contrast to the utter inadequacy of the metaphor of gaps that framed the research questions, since the failures that the synthesis revealed were systemic in nature

Prolactin and Dehydroepiandrosterone Levels in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The Role of the Extrapituitary Prolactin Promoter Polymorphism at −1149G/T

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has shown an association with high levels of prolactin, low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and induction of inflammatory cytokines in the serum of patients with the disease. This preliminary study examined the relevance of a −1149G/T functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs1341239) in the promoter of the extrapituitary prolactin gene in a cohort of African American and European American women with lupus. Examination of this SNP revealed that the −1149TT genotype was correlated with higher levels of prolactin in serum and prolactin gene expression (p = 0.0001) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Lower levels of DHEA in serum were demonstrated in lupus patients (p = 0.001); those with the −1149TT genotype had the lowest levels of DHEA. Furthermore, a small subset of women who were on DHEA therapy and had a TT genotype showed a significant decrease in prolactin gene expression and lower disease activity scores (SLEDAI). Lupus patients, particularly African Americans, had significantly higher levels of IL-6 (p = 0.0001) and TNF-α (p = 0.042). This study suggests that the −1149TT genotype may be a risk factor for lupus and may predict who could possibly benefit from DHEA therapy; therefore, these results should be validated in a larger cohort with all ethnic groups

A Tale of Four “Carp”: Invasion Potential and Ecological Niche Modeling

. We assessed the geographic potential of four Eurasian cyprinid fishes (common carp, tench, grass carp, black carp) as invaders in North America via ecological niche modeling (ENM). These “carp” represent four stages of invasion of the continent (a long-established invader with a wide distribution, a long-established invader with a limited distribution, a spreading invader whose distribution is expanding, and a newly introduced potential invader that is not yet established), and as such illustrate the progressive reduction of distributional disequilibrium over the history of species' invasions.We used ENM to estimate the potential distributional area for each species in North America using models based on native range distribution data. Environmental data layers for native and introduced ranges were imported from state, national, and international climate and environmental databases. Models were evaluated using independent validation data on native and invaded areas. We calculated omission error for the independent validation data for each species: all native range tests were highly successful (all omission values <7%); invaded-range predictions were predictive for common and grass carp (omission values 8.8 and 19.8%, respectively). Model omission was high for introduced tench populations (54.7%), but the model correctly identified some areas where the species has been successful; distributional predictions for black carp show that large portions of eastern North America are at risk.ENMs predicted potential ranges of carp species accurately even in regions where the species have not been present until recently. ENM can forecast species' potential geographic ranges with reasonable precision and within the short screening time required by proposed U.S. invasive species legislation

21st Annual Midwest/Midsouth Estate Planning Institute

Materials from UK/CLE\u27s 21st Annual Midwest/Midsouth Estate Planning Institute held in July 1994