Navigating the experience of identity intersection : an exploration of the lesbian mother identity in the United States

This purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of lesbian women who have become mothers. My specific research aim was to investigate the formation of the lesbian-mother identity in terms of the way the individual woman\u27s identity as a lesbian is shaped by her new experience and identity as a mother. Within this framework, I looked at which identity felt most salient in everyday life and how the individual woman felt each identity had contributed to her sense of self. I also looked at the different factors that either reinforce or inhibit an individual\u27s likelihood to feel comfortable in expressing her identity, as a mother or a lesbian. Ten self-identified lesbian women who were in state-recognized marriages with their partner and were co-mothering one or more children under the age of ten, were interviewed for this project. Only women who could participate in this interview with their partner were included in the study. The interviews were transcribed and the content was analyzed—four themes emerged from the data: relationship between sexual identity and accessing resources, low identity conflict, marginality as a site of resistance, and the importance of achieving motherhood. Throughout this project, I aimed to view the lesbian mother identity as one that is unique and fluid, and not in comparison to previously formed heteronormative mother identities

Understanding Stakeholder Motivations for Participating in Nature Conservation

Understanding what motivates stakeholders to participate in nature conservation is becoming increasingly important for developing effective conservation efforts in the midst of climate change. The intended outcomes of this type of research are improved policy making and implementation, and well-conceived and executed ecological restoration initiatives. In regions where sound biological knowledge exists, yet abundance of at-risk species continues to decline, it is particularly important for conservation scientists to understand stakeholder motivations. Natural resource management collaborative processes and focus groups are two methods that are useful for gaining insight into stakeholder motivations for conserving nature. A collaborative management process sponsored by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) provided an opportunity to study motivations for participating in collaborative natural resource management. For this study we used a survey to identify stakeholders’ motivations for participating in the Mission-Aransas NERR collaborative process by asking them what they think is important for the group to accomplish, the important roles they and other participants performed, and their reasons for continued participation. We found that opportunities to share information, the ability to play a wide variety of roles in the collaborative process, and contribution to closer connections between science and policy motivated these participants. We used the situation surrounding the decline in northern bobwhite and other grassland bird abundance across Texas as a case study to explore stakeholder motivations for conserving these species. We conducted focus groups across 10 ecoregions in Texas to assess the motivations of landowners, land managers, quail hunters, conservationists, and general public for participating in bobwhite and grassland bird conservation. Specifically, we were interested in whether stakeholders were motivated by their values, including culture, intrinsic values, ecosystem, policy, economic, and education. We found that these values are shared by all stakeholders interested in conservation, and occur in many variations depending on the values most important to an individual

Discoloration of a Green Pigment in Tintoretto’s Allegorical Figure of Spring and Analysis of the Chemical Properties and Stability of Copper Resinate

The focus of this thesis is the discoloration of a common historical green pigment, copper resinate. In this research the discoloration was investigated in Jacopo Tintoretto’s painting, Allegorical Figure of Spring, painted c. 1555. This painting is believed to have been painted with copper resinate which has discolored to brown over the centuries. The state of repair of the painting was determined using visual analysis under visible and UV light and the use of copper green pigments was confirmed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, including copper resinate based upon supplementary historical evidence. Substantial evidence was found from visual inspection and XRF determination of pigments that the painting had originally been lozenge-shaped and had been given its current rectangular shape only after the addition of supplementary canvas to its corners and top and bottom. Inspection of the painting under UV light highlighted areas of damage and repair, and the appearance of modern pigments such as titanium white and zinc white indicated that repairs and overpainting had been conducted as recently as the twentieth century. I also conducted an investigation of copper resinate in the laboratory to determine its chemical composition, stability and possible modes of degradation. For my study of copper resinate, I used pigments synthesized by historic and modern recipes to determine its composition using mass spectrometry and FTIR. I determined that in either case copper resinate is a mixture of copper compounds containing acetate and abietate ligands in varying ratios including [Cu2Ab4], [Cu2Ab3Ac], and [Cu2Ab2Ac2]. I investigated its chemical properties and stability by extraction, UV absorption, subjection to various solvents and environments. I found that the green color of copper resinate is a result of a combination of blue copper carboxylate compounds and free abietic acid, which is yellow in color. I also found that the drying process of copper resinate is light- and water-dependent and that both verdigris and copper resinate quickly discolor to brown upon the addition of a dilute basic solution. From this evidence, I hypothesize that the discoloration of copper resinate results from exposure to water in the environment and traditional treatments leading to the slow degradation of the pigment to brown copper oxide

Using policy network analysis to understand ideological convergence and change in educational subsystems

In recent years, education policy scholars have begun to utilize social network concepts and methods to describe contemporary policy changes across P-16 levels. While many insights have emerged from this growing literature base, we argue that a more formal network approach rooted in policy network analysis (PNA) is needed to fulfill its conceptual and analytical ambitions. Policy network analysis integrates concepts from social network analysis with theoretical assumptions developed in the field of political science. Toward this end, we first argue that a more rigorous treatment of policy beliefs is needed to analyze the impact of ideas on the policy agenda. Existing literature on the ideological dimensions of market-based reform movements tends to define them largely within the bounds of neo-liberalism and thus far has failed to systematically explain how policy beliefs emerge and converge in this context. Second, we contend that previous work has generally lacked theoretical grounding in formal policy network analysis (PNA). Although there are clear links between the concepts and findings in traditional PNA literature and educational research – particularly the use of networked governance as a concept for understanding the interconnectedness of educational reform networks – a more diligent application of PNA theory and methods would enable educational policy scholars to gain deeper insights into the explanatory processes of policy change. We pay particular attention to the usefulness of these approaches for examining two-mode network data and for modeling ideological policy change.En los últimos años, los académicos de las políticas educativas han comenzado a utilizar conceptos y métodos de redes sociales para describir los cambios políticos contemporáneos en los niveles P-16, pero se necesita un enfoque de red más formal arraigado en el análisis de redes de políticas (ANP). El análisis de redes de políticas integra conceptos del análisis de redes sociales con supuestos teóricos desarrollados en el campo de las ciencias políticas. A pesar de los vínculos entre los conceptos y los hallazgos en la literatura tradicional de la ANP y la investigación educativa, en particular el uso de la gobernanza en red como concepto para comprender la interconexión de las redes de reforma educativa, una aplicación más diligente de la teoría y los métodos de la ANP permitiría a los académicos de la política educativa profundizar conocimientos sobre los procesos explicativos del cambio de políticas. Prestamos especial atención a la utilidad de estos enfoques para examinar datos de red de dos modos y para modelar cambios de políticas ideológicas.Nos últimos anos, estudiosos de políticas educacionais começaram a utilizar conceitos e métodos de redes sociais para descrever mudanças políticas contemporâneas em todos os níveis P-16, embora seja necessária uma abordagem de rede mais formal enraizada na análise de redes políticas (PNA). A análise de redes políticas integra conceitos da análise de redes sociais com pressupostos teóricos desenvolvidos no campo da ciência política. Apesar das ligações entre os conceitos e descobertas na literatura tradicional de PNA e a pesquisa educacional - particularmente o uso de governança em rede como um conceito para compreender a interconexão das redes de reforma educacional - uma aplicação mais diligente da teoria e dos métodos de PNA permitiria que estudiosos de políticas educacionais se aprofundassem percepções sobre os processos explicativos de mudança de política. Prestamos atenção especial à utilidade dessas abordagens para examinar dados de rede de dois modos e para modelar mudanças ideológicas nas políticas

Susan Ursin Niemcewicz with Peter and Sarah Van Horn, May 2, 1829

This legal document, between Susan Ursin Niemcewicz and Peter and Sarah Van Horn, is for the manumission (release from slavery) of Peter and Sarah Van Horn. The husband and wife were guaranteed payment, food, and clothing for future service to Susan. If one of them were to die, their wages would go to their son, Robert, at the completion of his service at the age of 25. It was signed in the presence of Mose Chandler. The file includes the original with signatures and marks, as well as a copy. There\u27s additional text on the original verso stating that Peter and Sarah were paid after Susan\u27s death, witnessed by James Crane.https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1820s/1000/thumbnail.jp

Adjustment of Couples to the Transition to Retirement: The Interplay of Intra- and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in Daily Life

Background: Retirement is a central transition in late adulthood and requires adjustment. These processes not only affect the retired individuals but also their romantic partners. The aim of this study is to investigate the interplay of intrapersonal emotion regulation (rumination) with interpersonal regulation processes (disclosure quality). Furthermore, the associations of daily retirement-related disclosure with adjustment symptoms in disclosing and the listening partner will be investigated. It is expected that the effects of disclosure alter after providing the couples with a self-applied solitary written disclosure task in order to support their intrapersonal emotion regulation. Methods: In this dyadic online-diary study, 45 couples (N = 45) with one partner perceiving the adjustment to a recent retirement as challenging reported rumination, perceived disclosure quality (repetitive, focused on negative content, hard to follow, disclosing partner open for common/authentic), retirement-related disclosure, and ICD-11 adjustment symptoms preoccupation and failure to adapt were assessed at the end of the day over 14 days. In the middle of this assessment period, couples performed a modified online-expressive writing about their thoughts and feelings regarding the transition to retirement. Results: The double-intercept multilevel Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIM) reveal that on days with more daily rumination, the spouse perceived that disclosure of the retiree is more difficult to follow, more negative, and repetitive. In contrast, the retiree perceived less authenticity and openness to comments during disclosure on days when the spouse reports more rumination. Retirement-related disclosure showed no within-couple association with failure to adapt but actor effects on preoccupation. Moreover, a partner effect of disclosure of the retirees on the preoccupation of spouses could be observed. This contagious effect of the retiree disclosure, however, disappeared during the week after writing. Conclusion: Our results support the notion that disclosure processes are altered during maladaptive intrapersonal emotion regulation processes. This in turn seems to lead to less effective interpersonal regulation and contagious spilling over of symptoms. Supporting intrapersonal emotion regulation seems to have the potential to allow more favorable interpersonal regulation processes and to free interpersonal resources for an individual adjustment. This has implications for further planning of support for couples facing life transitions and aging-related changes

Knowledge of Beachgoers to the Presence of and Threats to Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico; Results of a Survey of Visitors to Galveston Island, Texas

The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is home to five of seven extant species of sea turtles: Lepidochelys kempii (Kemp’s ridley), Chelonia mydas (green turtle), Caretta caretta (loggerhead), Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill), and Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback). Knowledge of Galveston Island residents and visitors regarding these species is relatively unknown. Our objective was to quantify, through surveys, the public’s knowledge of sea turtles on Texas beaches and in GOM waters. Specifically, we were interested in: 1) awareness of threats to sea turtles in various life history stages and habitats; 2) peoples understanding of their own role in mitigating threats to sea turtles; and 3) their willingness to support programs whose foci include: protection and conservation of sea turtle habitats, outreach and education, and legislation designed to facilitate the conservation of sea turtles in the GOM. A random survey of visitors to the Midtown Beach and Galveston Island State Park (GISP) on Galveston Island was conducted during Summer and Fall of 2012 (n=132). Participants were asked to provide responses to 17 questions. We found that Texas residents exhibited greater awareness of the sea turtle hotline phone number compared to non-Texas residents. Both resident and non-resident visitors to GISP also exhibited a greater awareness to the sea turtle hotline phone number compared to all visitors surveyed at Midtown beaches. Though the majority of participants lacked overall awareness of sea turtles and their habitats, 80% of the total number of people surveyed expressed their willingness to support regulations that protect sea turtles and their habitats. Identifying the demographics of visitors is vital as we refine materials used in outreach, and the survey results clarified what visitors and residents are unaware of, thus providing a foundation of topics and concepts for future education and outreach

Observations of CH3_3OH and CH3_3CHO in a Sample of Protostellar Outflow Sources

Iram 30-m Observations towards eight protostellar outflow sources were taken in the 96-\SI{176}{\giga\hertz} range. Transitions of CH$_3$OH and CH$_3$CHO were detected in seven of them. The integrated emission of the transitions of each species that fell into the observed frequency range were measured and fit using RADEX and LTE models. Column densities and gas properties inferred from this fitting are presented. The ratio of the A and E-type isomers of CH$_3$OH indicate that the methanol observed in these outflows was formed on the grain surface. Both species demonstrate a reduction of terminal velocity in their line profiles in faster outflows, indicating destruction in the post-shock gas phase. This destruction, and a near constant ratio of the CH$_3$OH and CH$_3$CHO column densities imply it is most likely that CH$_3$CHO also forms on the grain surface.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Adjustment of Couples to the Transition to Retirement: The Interplay of Intra- and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in Daily Life

Background: Retirement is a central transition in late adulthood and requires adjustment. These processes not only affect the retired individuals but also their romantic partners. The aim of this study is to investigate the interplay of intrapersonal emotion regulation (rumination) with interpersonal regulation processes (disclosure quality). Furthermore, the associations of daily retirement-related disclosure with adjustment symptoms in disclosing and the listening partner will be investigated. It is expected that the effects of disclosure alter after providing the couples with a self-applied solitary written disclosure task in order to support their intrapersonal emotion regulation.Methods: In this dyadic online-diary study, 45 couples (N = 45) with one partner perceiving the adjustment to a recent retirement as challenging reported rumination, perceived disclosure quality (repetitive, focused on negative content, hard to follow, disclosing partner open for common/authentic), retirement-related disclosure, and ICD-11 adjustment symptoms preoccupation and failure to adapt were assessed at the end of the day over 14 days. In the middle of this assessment period, couples performed a modified online-expressive writing about their thoughts and feelings regarding the transition to retirement.Results: The double-intercept multilevel Actor–Partner Interdependence Models (APIM) reveal that on days with more daily rumination, the spouse perceived that disclosure of the retiree is more difficult to follow, more negative, and repetitive. In contrast, the retiree perceived less authenticity and openness to comments during disclosure on days when the spouse reports more rumination. Retirement-related disclosure showed no within-couple association with failure to adapt but actor effects on preoccupation. Moreover, a partner effect of disclosure of the retirees on the preoccupation of spouses could be observed. This contagious effect of the retiree disclosure, however, disappeared during the week after writing.Conclusion: Our results support the notion that disclosure processes are altered during maladaptive intrapersonal emotion regulation processes. This in turn seems to lead to less effective interpersonal regulation and contagious spilling over of symptoms.Supporting intrapersonal emotion regulation seems to have the potential to allow more favorable interpersonal regulation processes and to free interpersonal resources for an individual adjustment. This has implications for further planning of support for couples facing life transitions and aging-related changes