Minority Small-Firm Credit Applicants: Does Persistence Pay?

When credit application experiences are examined, minority-owned small firms are not the discouraged borrowers that credit outcome studies generally suggest. This paper examines repeated application for credit by small firms. Univariate statistical analysis reveals that persistence is necessary but insufficient for minority firms to be successful credit applicants. At the same time, minority-owned firms overall were more likely than white-owned firms to make repeated attempts to obtain credit, though successful minority applicants actually required fewer applications than their white cohorts. Multivariate regression also finds that different firm, lender, banking relationship, and loan characteristics affect the continued search for credit by minority- and white-owned small firms

It Takes Two?: Exploring The Supportive Role Of Fathers During Pregnancy And Its Effect On Birth Outcomes Among Young Couples

Few studies have evaluated the relationship between prenatal paternal support and adverse birth outcomes among young couples. Traditionally, paternal support has been measured based on pregnancy wantedness and the presence of the father’s name on the child’s birth certificate. However, these indices may not capture key components of paternal support. The current study developed a paternal support index that expands the traditional view of parental support by incorporating other forms of support, including financial support, accompanying the mother to prenatal care visits, labor/birth classes, ultrasound appointments, and the father’s presence at the child’s birth. We examined its association with various birth outcomes controlling for known risk factors of adverse birth outcomes. We hypothesized that increased prenatal paternal support would reduce the risk of low birth weight birth, preterm birth, small for gestational age birth, and labor and delivery complications. The current study utilizes interview data collected from a longitudinal study on 296 young couples living in lower Connecticut. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between the paternal support index and the outcome index, and separate logistic regression models were applied to understand the relationship between the paternal support index and preterm and low birth weight birth. Findings suggest that increased paternal support during pregnancy is significantly associated with higher risk of low birth weight birth, and more adverse birth outcomes. The risk of preterm birth was also associated with more prenatal paternal support, but was not significant. Results from the current study are not consistent with the existing literature on this topic. Further research should be conducted to better understand the mechanism through which paternal support during pregnancy works to impact birth outcomes, and how this mechanism might be different for young couples

Abandoning the Subjective and Objective Components of a Well-Founded Fear of Persecution

Current asylum law requires that asylum seekers prove that they have a “well-founded fear of persecution.” However, a “well-founded fear”—the evidentiary standard in asylum cases—has remained ambiguous and difficult to apply in asylum cases. In Cardoza-Fonseca, the Supreme Court held that an asylum seeker can establish a well-founded fear with less than a 50% probability of future persecution. Although the Supreme Court sought to clarify the meaning of a well-founded fear, the decision has complicated the evidentiary standard by implying that it consists of two parts: the subjective component and objective component. The “subjective” component—the asylum seekers’ subjective fear of being persecuted if they return to their home countries—is superfluous because this component is rarely contested. The subjective component is essentially a non-issue because asylum seekers can prove this component by stating that they are afraid to go back to their home countries. The objective component—whether asylum seekers’ fears are objectively reasonable—remains unclear. Moreover, courts have misapplied the well-founded fear standard and interpreted the objective component in inconsistent ways. Thus, this Note argues that the Supreme Court should eliminate the subjective component in the well-founded fear analysis and assume that asylum seekers have a genuine fear if they submit an application. In addition, the Supreme Court should simplify the objectively reasonable fear analysis to “a reasonable possibility of persecution,” which would be a 10% chance of persecution. A reasonable possibility of persecution would emphasize how a well-founded fear points to a threshold or probability of persecution rather than a separate, convoluted analysis

Calming effects of repetition in music for children with sensory sensitivities

Most people diagnosed with autism experience some form of sensory sensitivity and anxiety. Repetitive behaviours such as rocking, flapping, and spinning are a typical way to self- regulate and help reduce anxiety. Yet, the stigma attached to these behaviours can attract social judgement and isolation. Children with sensory sensitivities often miss out on the emotional, social, and developmental benefits of attending a live classical concert as they are unable to regulate their senses when required to meet the traditional expectation of sitting still and being quiet during the concert. This research investigates how the predictability of intraopus (internal) repetition in classical music can reduce anxiety and increase engagement and interest for children aged 5-14 with sensory sensitivities. The two-part experiments studied the children’s responses to live music with strong and weak repetition, performed by a professional musician. Study 1 was conducted one-on-one, and in which parents or carers were asked to observe and record their child’s response to the music by filling in a questionnaire using the Music in Dementia Assessment Scale (MiDAS), and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC). Study 1 also included FaceReader analyses and finger oximeter measurement of arousal level. Study 2 was organised as a live concert to further explore the research questions in a realistic setting. The parents and carers were asked to record their observations using the MiDAS and MASC. The results showed that both music types had a calming effect; additionally in Study 2 the children responded with significantly higher interest and engagement levels when listening to music with high internal repetition

Consequences Of Normative Body Image Dissatisfaction: The Development Of Two Scales

Body image dissatisfaction is often seen as a predictor variable for the development of eating disorders; however, this study contends that the consequences of body dissatisfaction itself are problematic. Body image dissatisfaction of both men and women can have negative effects on psychological health and well being. This study examined the literature on body image and body image dissatisfaction, specifically emphasizing various mental health consequences as well as the influence of sex and sexual orientation. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to investigate the consequences of normative body image dissatisfaction among non-clinical adult populations, and to offer initial validation of two new scales, the Body Image Dissatisfaction Scale (BIDS) and the Consequences of Body Image Dissatisfaction Scale (CoBIDS). Specifically this study examined the interaction between body image dissatisfaction, sex, sexual orientation, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. The previously mentioned constructs were measured via an online survey of non-clinical male and female adults. This study looked at both the factor structure and reliability of the BIDS and CoBIDS. It was hypothesized that the BIDS and CoBIDS would provide clinicians and researchers measures that could be used with non clinical adult population to address normative body image dissatisfaction and the possible psychosocial consequences. The findings of this study support the use of two new scales that broaden the examination of the construct and possible consequences. Additionally the limited differences found based on sex and sexual orientation may point to the importance of examining body image dissatisfaction further in a non clinical population to better understand the consequences of high levels of dissatisfaction with one\u27s body

Development of a Divorce Recovery Program for Korean American Women

This study is a needs assessment of first generation immigrant, separated and divorced Christian Korean-American women for the purpose of developing a divorce recovery program. A large number of divorced Korean-American women currently do not receive adequate support from their communities, whether from the church or from their social networks (Kim, B., Titterinton, Kim, Y., & Wells, 2010; Lee & Scott, 2009; Son, 2011). This inadequate support may in part be due to the lack of a research community investigating the issues that Korean-American women face during divorce (Lee & Scott, 2009). The complexity of the divorce recovery process for Korean-American women remains unexamined (Park, 2008; Kim et.al. 2010). In addition, the divorce processes in these cases often takes longer than the divorce processes among Caucasian American women. Both Confucianism and gender oppression within Korean-American culture contribute to the longer process of divorce and increase depression and other negative impacts on these women. Understanding these processes provides differentiation and supports the creation of culturally nuanced programs based on key treatment principles developed from the study. Using the experiences and stories of 20 divorced Korean-American women from a single women’s ministry program in Southern California, this study provides data on a range of contributing factors that influence the recovery process (e.g. duration of marriage, age during divorce, the acculturation process, awareness of feminism, and socioeconomic status). This study presents the experiences of these women using perspectives afforded by social constructionism (SC) and multicultural feminism (MF). As a research approach, Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis (IPA) proved especially useful given the cultural impact of these factors on the recovery process. The findings from the needs assessment from IPA analysis provide important insight into the process of Korean-American women’s divorce and recovery, and form the basis for creating a new therapy program called New Life. The study analyzes the unique experiences that divorced Korean-American women encounter in their transition from married to unmarried status. The key findings may be summarized by five major themes: 1) The transition from a unilateral to a bilateral relationship with God 2) The development of a new identity that is based on self-worth regardless of marital status 3) A sense of self-progression in transitioning from separation, to divorce, and to post-divorce 4) The gradual change from seeking indirect forms of interactional support, to seeking more direct forms 5) The importance of a relational collectivist public in promoting healing. This study therefore took into account the perspectives of both the divorced women themselves and the entire social community of which they are a part

Learning environments of our stories

This thesis reframes the traditional classroom as a “learning environment” in order to broaden the perspective of the causes and effects of learning in the context of today’s culture and technology. Learning environments are examined through the lens of three key learning theories: Lev Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, the Montessori Method of Education , and the Reggio Emilia Approach. The learning environments are further dissected into the three dimensions of: (1) the physical space, (2) the psychological space, and (3) the virtual space, and these dimensions are examined through the various interactions, which happen within each space. Through qualitative analysis and observations, this thesis speculates that the psychological space and its particular interactions provide significant opportunities to evolve as dynamic conditions for future generations’ learning. The author heavily references Lee S. Shulman’s concept of Signature Pedagogies, in parallel to the assessments of the learning environments, as Shulman’s particularly resonate with the author’s personal educational experiences and the observation of classrooms made during this thesis research investigation. The inferences made in this work contribute to a reassessment of art & design education’s potential in the transformation of traditional pedagogies in the context of the evolving landscape of learning environments

SDSL-EPR of Residues 60-70 of Influenza M2 Protein Reveals Structural Properties of a Region Involved in Viral Budding

The M2 protein is a 97-residue multifunctional transmembrane homotetrameric protein. It is found in the viral coat of the Influenza A virus, which is responsible for approximately 250,000 to 500,000 deaths annually worldwide.¹ Extensive research has elucidated M2\u27s role as an ion channel, which plays a critical role in the uncoating of the viron once it has entered the host cell. The C-terminal tail of M2 has also been shown to play a crucial role in generating curvature in the cell membrane to mediate viral budding.²³ Deletions in the C-terminal tail of the M2 protein lead to impaired viral infectivity.⁴ While the early portion of the C-terminal tail (residues 46-60) has been previously shown to be an amphipathic helix and has been extensively studied. High-resolution structural detail is limited in the region (residues 61-70), though it has been shown that these regions also play a role in viral budding. This study uses site-directed spin-label electron paramagnetic resonance (SDSL-EPR) to look at the region (residues 61-70) in the absence and presence of cholesterol. Continuous wave EPR line shapes demonstrate that this region is more mobile than amphipathic helix (46-60) suggesting that its movement is not restricted by the lipid bilayer. This assertion is also confirmed by power saturation EPR which demonstrate low ΔP_(1/2) values, suggesting that this region is not as oxygen accessible. Interestingly, a novel finding from this study is that this region has a regular conformation, which contrasts previous predictions that suggest that this region may be disordered. While further investigation is necessary, the experiments presented in this study provide a preliminary characterization to the later C-terminal domain (residues 61- 70) of the Influenza M2 protein

A Compendium of Core Lexicon Checklists

Core Lexicon (CoreLex) is a relatively new approach assessing lexical use in discourse. CoreLex examines the specific lexical items used to tell a story, or how typical lexical items are compared with a normative sample. This method has great potential for clinical utilization because CoreLex measures are fast, easy to administer, and correlate with microlinguistic and macrolinguistic discourse measures. The purpose of this article is to provide clinicians with a centralized resource for currently available CoreLex checklists, including information regarding development, norms, and guidelines for use