Minority Presence and Portrayal in Mainstream Magazine Advertising

In the spring of 1997, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly published a study by Lawrence Bowen and Jill Schmid entitled Minority Presence and Portrayal in Mainstream Magazine Advertising: An Update. The two professors of communication had selected editions from 1987 and 1992 of nine mass circulation magazines with a significant minority readership and coded every advertisement in those magazines for minority presence and portrayal. They found that the use of African-Americans in magazine advertisements had increased since the results of past studies had been published, but that the use of Hispanics and Asians remained minimal. They also found that the majority of the advertisements using minorities used Caucasians as well, and that advertisements featuring only minorities were very rare. This study was conducted in order to determine if any significant change in the presence and portrayal of minorities has occurred over the past thirteen years. The same magazines as in Bowen and Schmid\u27s (1997) study were chosen, and four issues of each magazine from 2005 were examined and coded for minority presence and portrayal. This study indicated that the use of African-American models has increased while the use of Asian and Hispanic models remains fairly low. Stereotypes were not so prevalent in this study as they were in the previous study. This study concludes that the values of tolerance and equality are beginning to take root in our society and that increased purchasing power among minorities has forced advertisers to consider them a valuable public

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationHydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a toxic gas with a distinct rotten-egg odor. While the detrimental affects of H2S on human health have been known for hundreds of years, it has recently become apparent that low levels of endogenously produced hydrogen sulfide are cytoprotective. In fact hydrogen sulfide is an important signaling molecule in a variety of systems resulting in a large range of physiological effects, from vasodilatory to antiinflammatory. However, the exact roles played by hydrogen sulfide, its concentrations in serum and tissues, and the enzymes that produce it are still being investigated. It seems that a lack of tools with which to accurately measure in vivo concentrations of hydrogen sulfide has stalled progress in the field. Herein we report several novel, fluorescent probes with which to detect endogenous concentrations of hydrogen sulfide both in vitro and in biological samples. These probes utilize an arylazide moiety that is selectively reduced by hydrogen sulfide to produce a signal. We show that this signal is concentration-dependent in a linear manner up to 300 !M hydrogen sulfide. We also show that these probes are sensitive down to 200 nM hydrogen sulfide. Additionally, we have applied these probes in assays to study hydrogen sulfide-producing enzymes, cystathionine "-synthase (CBS), cystathionine #-lysase (CGL), and tryptophan synthase (TS). By discovering selective inhibitors of these enzymes, we can modulate hydrogen sulfide production in vivo. Lastly, we have applied a series of lanthanide-based fluorescent probes to detect hydrogen sulfide in the petrochemical industry. These probes utilize a similar arylazide moiety as an antenna. The lanthanide center can be excited after reaction with H2S to give a signal with a long lifetime. By delaying the readout, it is possible to see this signal over a highly fluorescent background, such as crude oil. These probes have been used to study the presence of hydrogen sulfide in two sour water samples as well as five samples of crude oil obtained from the Tesoro Corporation

The self-efficacy of biological mothers and foster mothers caring for infants prenatally exposed to drugs or treated for NAS : examination of potentially influencing factors.

This study sought to identify demographic risk and protective factors that may relate to parental self-efficacy in biological and foster mothers caring for infants prenatally exposed to opioids. The study also examined whether participation in treatment for biological mothers and in training for foster mothers was associated with parental self-efficacy. Forty-nine women (21 biological mothers and 28 foster mothers) were surveyed. Measures included demographic, treatment, and training information. A single-item, self-report measure was used to assess satisfaction with support from friends using an item from the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref scale (Skevington, Lotfy, & O\u27Connell, 2004). The Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale was used to measure mothers’ parental self-efficacy (Črnčec, Barnett, & Matthey, 2008). Results found significant differences in demographic representation between biological and foster mothers, but did not find a significant association between parental self-efficacy and participation in treatment for biological mothers or in training for foster mothers

The Effect of Nutrition on the Microbiome in Pregnant Women and the Use of Micronutrient Supplemented Probiotic Yogurt to Improve Outcomes

The aims of this study were to characterize the gut, oral, and vaginal microbiotas of pregnant women with varying nutritional status and to determine if daily supplementation with probiotic yogurt containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and ground Moringa leaves, would ‘normalize’ the microbiota and improve pregnancy outcomes. For the latter, a clinical study was performed in Mwanza, Tanzania, in which consumption of yogurt for 88 ± 31 days, starting from the second trimester, did not result in excess weight gain, altered pregnancy outcomes or increased blood nutrient levels compared to an under-nourished group not taking the yogurt. Ingestion of the probiotic yogurt did not cause a significant shift in the gut microbiota, consistent with previous studies. However, Bifidobacterium abundance increased in the gut of infants from mothers who consumed the yogurt. Furthermore, blood levels of mercury and arsenic were lower in these women compared to controls

Decorated Ceramics At Cypress Citadel (11Js76): Patterning At A Late Woodland Site In Southern Illinois

The Cypress Citadel (11js76) is a late Woodland hill top site located in southern Illinois in the southwest portion of Johnson County, near the community of Cypress. Previous research has documented it as a Lewis phase site within the late Woodland period. The Lewis phase is set apart from late Woodland phases by the existence of decorated ceramics. The information presented in this thesis is intended to identify and describe specific decorative attributes of the ceramics at Cypress Citadel and examine specific patterns of incising within the site. Although determining patterning in the decoration is difficult, a focus on attributes allofor a thorough investigation. After using attribute analysis, it is clear that the ceramics shosmall nuances in decoration and style between early and late occupations at the site, primarily in the rim treatment. The results of this document indicate that there is a definitive tendency for two styles of lip treatment, one which predominantly occurs early at the site and another which appears later

The Connection of the Parental Understanding of Phenylketonuria and Demographic Information to Recommended Treatment Blood Levels of Phenylalanine of Children in their Care

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism. In PKU phenylalanine cannot be converted to tyrosine; when phenylalanine levels remain elevated intellectual disabilities, as well as other side effects, can occur. These side effects can be prevented if the phenylalanine levels remain within treatment range. The purpose of this study was to determine if the parents\u27 understanding of PKU and demographics affected the children\u27s phenylalanine level. A questionnaire was developed to asses the parents\u27 understanding and demographics; these were then correlated to the child\u27s average blood phenylalanine levels using Pearson\u27s Correlation. The strongest relationship to the child\u27s blood phenylalanine level was a negative relationship with the parent\u27s understanding of the disorder. Other variables examined were parental age, number of children, employment, income, education, and marital status. In conclusion, the study demonstrated the need for the parents to understand their child\u27s disorder for improved management of PKU

Exclusion from gender counter-stereotypic activities: Proximal and distal effects

The current work explored whether an incidence of exclusion is experienced differently depending on the activity from which one is excluded. Specifically, we investigated whether exclusion from gender stereotypic vs. counter-stereotypic activities affects both how threatening the experience is and beliefs about gender stereotypes. The effects of exclusion activity on need threat and beliefs about gender stereotypes were explored in a series of four studies using multiple methods: participants relived exclusion or inclusion instances from their real lives (Study 1), imagined exclusion or inclusion scenarios (Study 2), were excluded from a virtual ball toss game (Study 3), and were included or excluded using a live confederate paradigm (Study 4). We tested opposing hypotheses. Work by Crocker and Major suggests that exclusion from counter-stereotypic activities may not be particularly threatening, as one can attribute the experience to the external cause of others\u27 prejudice. However work by Branscombe and colleagues suggests that exclusion from counter-stereotypic activities may be particularly threatening, as it serves as a reminder that one\u27s group is devalued in society. Evidence from Studies 2 and 4 suggests that exclusion from counter-stereotypic activities, where there are pre-existing negative stereotypes about one\u27s group, is more threatening than exclusion from stereotypic activities. To the extent that individuals associate these particularly negative exclusion experiences with the counter-stereotypic activity, it is possible that they may decide not to further pursue this activity, contributing to gender segregation. This finding provides evidence of a novel moderator of exclusion effects, and demonstrates that not only do the source and targets of ostracism matter, but so too does the activity from which the targets of ostracism are excluded. This effect can be explained in part by individuals\u27 increased likelihood to consider whether other members of their gender ingroup may have had similar experiences when excluded from counter-stereotypic activities. We also found that men\u27s inclusion in counter-stereotypic activities reduces their endorsement of traditional gender stereotypes and beliefs about stereotype persistence. Although future research is necessary, these effects offer potential insights into both the perpetuation of gender segregation across activities and prejudice reduction

Imagining Boundaries: (Post) Humanist Understandings and Ecological Ethics in the Fiction of Margaret Atwood

Atwood’s concern for the environment has spanned nearly the entirety of her career, informing her fears about the future and providing the grounding for her speculative fiction. In Atwood’s understanding, ecological ruin stems from human estrangement from the natural environment, an estrangement fortified by capitalism and consumerism in contemporary societies. Instead, she strives to situate the creative, imaginative human species within a larger natural order that inspires ethical treatment of the more-than-human world. Atwood attempts to provide us with a model of interconnection and respect for nature that we must imagine if we desire to avoid the apocalyptic future she describes in her novels. This paper will investigate three of Atwood’s novels that address issues concerning our interactions with nature and the effects of technology. In Oryx and Crake, humanist and posthumanist understandings of the world cannot provide individuals with meaning in their radically altered environment. In The Year of the Flood, the second of Atwood’s trilogy, we are introduced to the God’s Gardeners, who demonstrate how new ethical systems can be enacted within specific subcultural spaces. From their space on the Edencliff Rooftop Garden, the Gardeners have a critical vantage point by which to view society and resist the controlling aspects of corporation run state. Atwood gives us a model by which to imagine enacting change in our own society, and the ethical system that must be implemented if we wish to avoid ecological ruin. Finally, I turn to Atwood’s second novel, Surfacing, to end my discussion. Surfacing demonstrates that Atwood does not believe that returning to nature is the answer to ecological problems and the ills of society. The dissatisfaction at the end of the novel hints at the necessity of humans to exist within communities, as well as the affirmation of traits specific to the human – creativity and the imagination. The image of personal survival depicted by Surfacing does not allow for large-scale political or social change. The answer to our dissatisfaction is not to return to nature, but to, like the God’s Gardeners, find a way to be both social and natural – the human animal

Bumping up the body : examining the impact of celebrity gossip magazines on body image during pregnancy

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 26, 2011).Thesis advisor: Dr. Jennifer Stevens Aubrey.Vita.Ph. D. University of Missouri--Columbia 2010.The present analysis examined the impact of celebrity gossip magazine coverage on pregnant women through both quantitative and qualitative methods. Study 1 employed both objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) and social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954) in an experimental design. Results showed that exposure to full-body sexually objectified images and text concerning pregnant celebrities resulted in more social comparison than nonobjectifying images and text. However, exposure to non-objectifying headshot-only images and accompanying text concerning celebrities resulted in significantly more self-objectification than exposure to control images of baby products. Study 2 employed the articulation model of meaning (Hall, 1986) in small group discussions in which participants indicated that they recognize how celebrity gossip magazines sexually objectify pregnant celebrities. Participants largely criticized this sexual objectification while simultaneously describing their own objectification of pregnant celebrities featured in these magazines. Although they did not feel as if they were negatively affected by this sexual objectification in the long term, participants indicated that younger pregnant women most likely are. The results of both studies are interpreted in light of objectification theory, social comparison theory, and the articulation model of meaning.Includes bibliographical reference