Brrr! It’s Cold in the Fridge: The Treatment of Women in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Female characters depicted within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have faced unequal treatment and significant erasure since the origin of the franchise. As the series gained popularity and cultural discussions of representation grew, the MCU has since introduced more female characters. This then prompts concerns regarding the quality of that representation and how those female characters are treated within the franchise, and if that treatment has changed over time. Six films were selected from across the four first phases of the MCU for content analysis and data was compiled into two tables to quantifiably measure the depowerment aspect of fridging, which is excessive violence and disempowerment ascribed solely to female characters. The tools used to quantify and analyze includes the Bechdel Test (Bechdel, 1985, as cited in Selisker, 2015), the Smurfette Principle (Pollitt, 1991), and the Female Affiliation Complex (Gilbert & Gubar, 1988 as cited in Nichols, 2022). The Bechdel Test, Smurfette Principle, and Female Affiliation Complex all serve as theoretical frameworks for quantifiably measuring female representation within a piece of media. These three frameworks were then applied to the six films using the method of content analysis. This study found that female representation across the six films had increased both in quantity and quality, with the most drastic change occurring across the fourth phase of the MCU. These findings are indicative of an overall awareness of diversity that seems projected to increase as the franchise continues

Challenges that Women in Athletic Training Face in NCAA Athletics

Athletic training was once known to be a male dominated profession however in more recent years the number of females in the profession has been increasing. According to the National Athletic Trainer’s Association 55% of its members identify as being a woman. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to seek the challenges that athletic trainers who identify as a woman have/or are currently facing while working in NCAA Athletics. There are many young women out there who aspire to be an athletic trainer one day but are hesitant about joining the profession because they want to have a family one day, or worry about having to face the challenge of their knowledge being questioned, and lastly the struggle of gaining respect from athletic directors, coaches and athletes, along with many other challenges. METHODS:For this study a survey was created for those who met the criteria. In order to participate in the survey participants needed to identify as a woman, be a certified or licensed athletic trainer, and have experience working in the NCAA setting as a certified or licensed athletic trainer. The survey asked participants about how they managed work-life balance, hours worked, positions they held, locations/accessibility of the athletic training facility, and other related topics. The survey contained multiple choice, and short answer questions. The survey was sent out via social media and was open for about 3 weeks, with 96 responses. RESULTS: Out of the 96 participants, 68.75% have been a certified or licensed athletic trainer for 10 years or less. 28.42% reported having 1-3, while 21.05% were on the other end of the spectrum having 10+ full-time clinical staff athletic trainers. When asked if the participants felt supported by their administration or supervisors, the majority 68.61% said that they agreed that they felt supported. There was not a statistically significant difference regarding the level of support based on years of experience (p=.472). Nor was there a significant difference reported when referencing if the supervisor was a man or woman and their level of support (p=.167). When asked if their knowledge has ever been questioned by an athlete, parent or coach, 89.58% of participants agreed that their knowledge has been question. CONCLUSION: Women in athletic training positions on NCAA staffs face many barriers and challenges includinglow pay compared to hours worked and duties assigned, wanting to spend more time with family and having their knowledge questioned. Future studies comparing this information to that of the men in similar roles would be helpful in noting any disparity between these two groups

The Importance of Maintaining Upland Forest Habitat Surrounding Salamander Breeding Ponds: Case Study of the Eastern Tiger Salamander in New York, USA

Most amphibians use both wetland and upland habitats, but the extent of their movement in forested habitats is poorly known. We used radiotelemetry to observe the movements of adult and juvenile eastern tiger salamanders over a 4-year period. Females tended to move farther from the breeding ponds into upland forested habitat than males, while the distance a juvenile moved appeared to be related to body size, with the largest individuals moving as far as the adult females. Individuals chose refugia in native pitch pine-oak forested habitat and avoided open fields, roads, and developed areas. We also observed a difference in potential predation pressures in relation to the distance an individual moved from the edge of the pond. Our results support delineating forested wetland buffer zones on a case-by-case basis to reduce the impacts of concentrated predation, to increase and protect the availability of pitch pine-oak forests near the breeding pond, and to focus primarily on the habitat needs of the adult females and larger juveniles, which in turn will encompass habitat needs of adult males and smaller juveniles

Active versus passive: evaluating the effectiveness of inoculation techniques in relation to misinformation about climate change

Objective: The current study evaluated whether an active inoculation (interactive skill development) or a passive inoculation message (provision of information) were effective tools for conferring resistance to misinformation about climate science in the context of extreme weather events. Method: Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions: a control condition (no training); a passive inoculation condition; or an active inoculation condition. Participants completed demographic questions followed by training or no training and then evaluated a misinformation and factual article for reliability and persuasiveness. Results: Participants in the active inoculation condition rated the reliability and persuasiveness of the misinformation article and the reliability of the factual article lower than participants in the control condition. Participants in the passive inoculation training did not rate the reliability and persuasiveness of a misinformation and factual article significantly differently to those in the control condition. When factors such as ideological worldview and climate change beliefs were controlled for however, the inoculation interventions had no significant effect on ratings of reliability and persuasiveness for a misinformation or factual article. Conclusion: Inoculation seems to be a promising method of preventing the acceptance of misinformation on climate science. However, this analysis highlights that more investigation is required in order to determine the most effective inoculation training design

Testing Differences in Vital Lung Capacity Between Long-Term Cigarette Smokers, Vapers, and Non-Smokers

Our research group sampled 15 subjects lungs in a semester-long project. Will there be a significant difference between the lung capacity and lung volume of cigarette smokers, vapers, and non-smokers? It is hypothesized that the lung capacity and lung volume of cigarette smokers and vapers should be relatively equal. Additionally, it is hypothesized that the non-smokers’ lung capacity and lung volume should be significantly higher relative to cigarette smokers and vapers

The Relationship Between Intensity of Fitness Tracker Usage and Motivation

Many college students engage in unhealthy behaviors which may contribute to diseases. Additionally, some students may lack motivation to rectify these behaviors to improve their long-term health. This study assessed the relationship between intensity of fitness tracker usage and motivation among health professions students at a large, public Midwestern university. This non-experimental, correlational study used convenience sampling and a theoretical framework based on Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. Online recruitment announcements were emailed and included links to the consent form and survey. Motivation was measured with Deci and Ryan’s modified self-determination tool. Intensity of tracker usage was measured using a scale of questions regarding various tracker functions. The data was analyzed with Pearson’s coefficient correlations and no significant relationships between intensity of tracker usage and (a) intrinsic motivation, (b) extrinsic motivation, and (c) prosocial behaviors were found

A Qualitative Study: Caregiver Experience of Dementia

Purpose and Background/Significance: Dementia affects an estimated 5.5 million Americans (Czekanski, 2017) and has ramifications for those affected with the disease as well as their caregivers. More than 15 million Americans currently care for individuals with dementia without pay, most provided by their loved ones (Czekanski, 2017). Caring for a loved one with dementia is associated with emotional, physical, and financial repercussions (Warchol-Biedermann et al., 2014). The objectives of this qualitative study were to assess effects of being a caregiver for someone with dementia and the impact of using an adult day service. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework: Caregiver resilience is the successful use of coping strategies that emphasize the perspective of resilience rather than burden (Roberts & Struckmeyer, 2018). Fitting with the conceptualization of resilience, caregivers experience subtle but long-term role changes, both physical and emotional (Roberts & Struckmeyer). Method: The sample consisted of caregivers of people attending an adult day center. Undergraduate nursing research assistants conducted two focus groups of 6-8 participants each to assess the caregivers’ experiences with their loved one. Data were collected through a series of structured, open-ended questions. Each session was audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. All recordings and transcripts were destroyed after dissemination of the data. Conclusion: Results demonstrated that caregivers experience role overload, role strain, and variable levels of burden depending on their resiliency to manage the care that is needed. Using an adult day service assists with role strain and provide respite for the caregiver

A Qualitative Study: Caregiver Experience of Dementia

Purpose and Background/Significance: Dementia affects an estimated 5.5 million Americans (Czekanski, 2017) and has ramifications for those affected with the disease as well as their caregivers. More than 15 million Americans currently care for individuals with dementia without pay, most provided by their loved ones (Czekanski, 2017). Caring for a loved one with dementia is associated with emotional, physical, and financial repercussions (Warchol-Biedermann et al., 2014). The objectives of this qualitative study were to assess effects of being a caregiver for someone with dementia and the impact of using an adult day service. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework: Caregiver resilience is the successful use of coping strategies that emphasize the perspective of resilience rather than burden (Roberts & Struckmeyer, 2018). Fitting with the conceptualization of resilience, caregivers experience subtle but long-term role changes, both physical and emotional (Roberts & Struckmeyer). Method: The sample consisted of caregivers of people attending an adult day center. Undergraduate nursing research assistants conducted two focus groups of 6-8 participants each to assess the caregivers’ experiences with their loved one. Data were collected through a series of structured, open-ended questions. Each session was audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. All recordings and transcripts were destroyed after dissemination of the data. Conclusion: Results demonstrated that caregivers experience role overload, role strain, and variable levels of burden depending on their resiliency to manage the care that is needed. Using an adult day service assists with role strain and provide respite for the caregiver

Quantum vortices in systems obeying a generalized exclusion principle

The paper deals with a planar particle system obeying a generalized exclusion principle (EP) and governed, in the mean field approximation, by a nonlinear Schroedinger equation. We show that the EP involves a mathematically simple and physically transparent mechanism, which allows the genesis of quantum vortices in the system. We obtain in a closed form the shape of the vortices and investigate its main physical properties. PACS numbers: 03.65.-w, 03.65.Ge, 05.45.YvComment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Training "Pivots" from the Pandemic: Lessons Learned Transitioning from In-Person to Virtual Synchronous Training in the Clinical Scholars Leadership Program

Introduction: Since the inception of distance-based teaching modalities, a debate has ensued over the quality of online versus in-person instruction. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of teaching environments-including leadership development trainings for post-graduate learners-have been thrust into exploring the virtual learning environment more thoroughly. One three-year leadership development program for interdisciplinary healthcare professionals transitioned three simultaneous leadership intensives from in-person to online in the spring of 2020. Methods: Documented changes in overall training length, session length, and session format are described. Further, evaluative data were collected from participants at both retreats via post-session surveys. Ninety-three participants attended the 2019 retreat, and 92 participants attended the 2020 virtual retreat. Quantitative data of three rating questions per session are reported: 1) overall session satisfaction, 2) participants' reported knowledge gain, and 3) participants' reported ability gain. Qualitative data were obtained via two open-ended feedback questions per session. Results: In comparing pre/post scores for knowledge and ability, participants had meaningful (and in some cases higher) self-reported gains in knowledge and ability measures in the online environment, as compared to the in-person environment. Participants reported statistically significant gains in all sessions for both knowledge and ability. Qualitative data of participant feedback identified a number of positive themes similar across the in-person and virtual settings. Negative or constructive feedback of the virtual setting included time constraint issues (eg too much content in one session, a desire for more sessions overall), technical difficulties, and the loss of social connection and networking with fellow participants as compared to in-person trainings. Discussion: While meaningful shifts in knowledge and ability ratings indicate that the transition to successful online learning is possible, several disadvantages remain. The preparation time for both faculty and participants was considerable, there is a need to reduce overall content in each session due to time restraints, and participants indicated feeling the loss of one-on-one connections with their peers in the training. Lessons learned of transitioning leadership training from in-person to an online experience are highlighted