Emotional Response to Climate Change Learning: An Existential Inquiry

This qualitative study aims to explore and explain the existential underpinnings of learning about climate change and potential emotional responses to climate change learning. Undergraduate students in environmental sciences and studies classes at the University of Washingrounded theory on in Seattle, WA participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked about their experiences learning about climate change and how they responded emotionally to the learning. This dissertation examines the responses from those interviews and builds a theory out of the data analyzed. Constructivist Grounded theory as outlined by Kathy Charmaz (2014) was used to analyze the interviews. Codes were created and linked together to generate themes that undergird the theory that emerged out of the data. Analysis revealed strong themes of grief, values, and resilience that were then examined through the lens of existential psychological and philosophical concepts. The emergent theory was subsequently framed from this stance and shows a need to address the existential impacts of the climate change grief experience in undergraduate learners of the topic. Education, community, and connection to other learners of climate change played key roles in building resilience to existential nihilism while learning about climate change. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

Triggering social interactions:chimpanzees respond to imitation by a humanoid robot and request responses from it

Even the most rudimentary social cues may evoke affiliative responses in humans and promote socialcommunication and cohesion. The present work tested whether such cues of an agent may also promotecommunicative interactions in a nonhuman primate species, by examining interaction-promoting behavioursin chimpanzees. Here, chimpanzees were tested during interactions with an interactive humanoid robot, whichshowed simple bodily movements and sent out calls. The results revealed that chimpanzees exhibited twotypes of interaction-promoting behaviours during relaxed or playful contexts. First, the chimpanzees showedprolonged active interest when they were imitated by the robot. Second, the subjects requested ‘social’responses from the robot, i.e. by showing play invitations and offering toys or other objects. This study thusprovides evidence that even rudimentary cues of a robotic agent may promote social interactions inchimpanzees, like in humans. Such simple and frequent social interactions most likely provided a foundationfor sophisticated forms of affiliative communication to emerge

Work-Based Education as a Pathway to Resilience

The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of work-based education (WBE) as a pathway for enhancing resilience among youth-at-risk for disengaging from school. For students who have experienced traditional academic school as an adverse context, the decision to pursue an alternative path to high school completion, for example WBE, can be interpreted as agentic. We propose that WBE may have the requisite features of an educational context that fosters resilience in at-risk youth. We used a multipleperspective case study method involving three young people in their final stages of secondary school. The students were the focal participants in each case. Each was interviewed and observed on multiple occasions. We interviewed teachers and workplace supervisors associated with each student for additional perspectives. Cases were analyzed individually, followed by cross-case analyses utilizing a resilience framework. Our study revealed evidence that for the three youth we studied, WBE had many elements that appear to enhance resilience in a way that academic programs did not. WBE kept these students engaged in the school context and contributed to the eventual successful completion of secondary school for all three. Choosing WBE as a pathway to secondary school completion can be an agentic act by at-risk youth to achieve graduation. Engagement in WBE also appears to enhance resilience. WBE may foster resilience in at-risk youth, who despite academic adversity, progress to completion. Graduation from secondary school is frequently identified as a positive outcome and a predictor of success in productive occupation and adult life

Linking Household Food Inventories with Dietary Recalls to Examine the Association between Nutrient Availability and Dietary Intake among Mexican-origin Children who Reside in Texas Border Region Colonias

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between household food inventories (HFI) and dietary recalls among Mexican-origin children (ages 6-11 years old) who reside in Texas border region colonias. Household food availability is a known influence upon children's diets; however, this population faces unique influences upon children's dietary intake and household food availability may not exhibit the same influence upon children's dietary intake that it does in other areas of the United States. This study utilized promotoras (community healthcare workers native to the Texas border region) to collect data from participants due to their rapport with residents of the community. These promotoras collected a series of surveys, HFI's and 24-hour dietary recalls with each mother-child dyad participant. Data from the HFI-s and 24-hour recalls were entered into the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R) from the University of Minnesota and the nutrient profiles for each were analyzed. The HFI data was then adjusted for household composition to obtain a more accurate representation of what nutrients are available to each specific member of the household. After analysis, participant children reported living in households with 5.7 adults and children (range 3-10). All children participated in school breakfast and lunch programs. Age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI) percentiles indicated that 42% were considered overweight or obese. Lower food security was associated with greater energy, total sugar, and added sugar intakes. The largest correlations between HFI's and 24-hour intakes were for total protein, total sugar, sodium, and added sugar. Sodium was the only nutrient with a significant correlation between household availability and children's dietary intake. HFI was independently associated with greater intake of sodium and lower intakes of total sugar and added sugar. Results show a relationship between household food availability and children's dietary intake. However, at the nutrient level, this association is only statistically significant for sodium and almost significant for total sugar. Colonia children are likely eating many meals outside of the home; the traditional HFI might not be useful in determining what foods are available for these children to eat

Does prospective mental imagery predict symptoms of negative affect and anhedonia in young people?

Adolescent depression is associated with unhelpful emotional mental imagery. Here, we investigated whether vividness of negative and positive prospective mental imagery predict negative affect and anhedonia in adolescents. 111 people from Israel completed measures of prospective mental imagery, negative affect, and anhedonia at two time-points approximately three months apart. Using three cross-lagged panel models, we showed once ‘concurrent’ (across-variable, within-time) and ‘stability’ paths (across-time, within-variable) were estimated, there were no significant cross-lag paths between: i) T1 prospective negative mental imagery and T8 negative affect (i.e., increased vividness of negative future imagery at Time 1 did not predict increased negative affect at Time 8); ii) T1 prospective positive mental imagery and T8 negative affect (i.e., reduced vividness of positive future imagery at Time 1 did not predict increased negative affect at Time 8); and iii) T1 prospective positive mental imagery and T8 anhedonia (i.e., reduced vividness of positive future imagery at Time 1 did not predict increased anhedonia at Time 8). Given high levels of attrition, future research should aim to explore these associations in a larger, more diverse population, as such data could inform on whether modifying earlier prospective mental imagery may influence later time/context-specific effects of prospective mental imagery on negative affect and anhedonia

The appendage role of insect disco genes and possible implications on the evolution of the maggot larval form

AbstractThough initially identified as necessary for neural migration, Disconnected and its partially redundant paralog, Disco-related, are required for proper head segment identity during Drosophila embryogenesis. Here, we present evidence that these genes are also required for proper ventral appendage development during development of the adult fly, where they specify medial to distal appendage development. Cells lacking the disco genes cannot contribute to the medial and distal portions of ventral appendages. Further, ectopic disco transforms dorsal appendages toward ventral fates; in wing discs, the medial and distal leg development pathways are activated. Interestingly, this appendage role is conserved in the red flour beetle, Tribolium (where legs develop during embryogenesis), yet in the beetle we found no evidence for a head segmentation role. The lack of an embryonic head specification role in Tribolium could be interpreted as a loss of the head segmentation function in Tribolium or gain of this function during evolution of flies. However, we suggest an alternative explanation. We propose that the disco genes always function as appendage factors, but their appendage nature is masked during Drosophila embryogenesis due to the reduction of limb fields in the maggot style Drosophila larva

Maintaining Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Network Analysis of Well-Being Responses from British Youth

COVID-19 has significant impacts on young peoples’ lives and emotions. Understanding how young people maintain well-being in the face of challenges can inform future mental health intervention development. Here we applied network analysis to well-being data gathered from 2532 young people (12-25 years) residing in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify the structure across well-being and crucially, its central defining features. Gender and age differences in networks were also investigated. Across all participants, items emerged in two clusters: 1) optimism, positive self-perception, and social connectedness, and 2) processing problems and ideas. The two central features of well-being were: “I’ve been dealing with problems well” and “I’ve been thinking clearly”. There were minimal age and gender differences. Our findings suggest that the perception of being able to process problems and ideas efficiently could be a hallmark of well-being, particularly in the face of challenging circumstances. These findings contrast with pre-pandemic studies that point to positive affect as central aspects of well-being networks. Future interventions that encourage problem-solving and mental flexibility could be useful in helping young people maintain well-being during times of stress and uncertainty

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT AND HOME ENVIRONMENT INTERVENTIONS TO PREVENT ASTHMA ATTACKS AMONG MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS IN CLEVELAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

Asthma is a condition caused by both biological and environmental factors that impacts 8% of Americans. Residents of Cleveland County, North Carolina report asthma as the 5th most common health issue, and the county’s asthma prevalence is almost twice that of the state and national average. Asthma and environmental determinants of asthma disproportionately impact Black, Latinx, and low-income populations. This intervention proposes to prevent the development of and manage the treatment of asthma in Black, Latinx, and low-income populations through two core interventions: breastfeeding promotion by certifying Atrium Health Cleveland as a Baby-Friendly hospital and indoor home environment assessments to manage asthma triggers. This approach will utilize partnerships with the County Health Department, community health workers, and hospital administrators, in addition to current residents with asthma. Short term and long-term impacts will be monitored and evaluated for program effectiveness analysis and data distribution.Master of Public Healt

The Grizzly, September 28, 1979

College Considers Censoring Newspaper • Committee Discusses Campus Problems • Baltz Mellows Union With Jenny • Fago, Pilgrim Receive Lindback • USGA Notes • Booters Fall Victim To Lafayette, Scranton • Zetans, Skins Undefeated In Flag Football • Weather, Injuries Hamper Gridders • V-Ball Starts Slow • Bear Pack Starts Stronghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1021/thumbnail.jp