Factors related to muscle-building supplement use and non-use in males.

Although researchers have begun to study issues related to anabolic steroid use among males, similar studies focusing on legal muscle-building supplements are virtually non-existent. This is despite the likelihood that there are far more users of legal muscle-building supplements than users of anabolic-androgenic steroids. Given that supplements that purport to increase lean muscularity have not been found to be effective and may pose health risks to users, the identification of user characteristics and reasons for use are necessary in order to design education and prevention programs. Variables that have been studied with women in the context of eating pathology have not yet been studied with men, despite the parallels that have been drawn between males\u27 desire for muscularity and females\u27 desire for thinness. These variables include awareness and internalization of sociocultural ideals, frequency of social comparison, and teasing history. The present study sought to expand the existing literature by assessing the relationships between these variables and muscle-building supplement use. Ninety-eight males who met a minimum exercise requirement were administered: (a) queries regarding history of muscle-building supplement use; (b) the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire; (c) the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Scale; (d) queries regarding frequency of social comparison; (e) queries regarding history of being teased for thinness, fatness, and weakness; and (f) the Eating Disorder Inventory. Participant groups included 35 non-users, 27 former users, and 36 current users. Current and former users\u27 perceived muscularity was greater than that for non-users. Current users were reportedly more oriented towards fitness and health than non-users and were also reportedly teased for thinness as children more than non-users and former users. Perceived muscularity, reported orientation towards fitness and health and history of being teased for thinness were predictive of supplement use versus non-use. Orientation towards fitness and health was not predictive when former users were included. Males used muscle-building supplements in order to increase muscularity and strength. Non-users and former users believed they could achieve muscularity through diet and exercise and were concerned about health risks associated with supplement use, though cost was also highly prohibitive. Preliminary recommendations for education and prevention efforts were provided.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2006 .K45. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 4158. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2006

Design of Stormwater BMPs for Surface and Groundwater Protection Based on Site-Scale Soil Properties: Phase I

Much of Earth’s nutrient cycling takes place in soils. Characteristics of soils control physical, chemical, and biological processes that determine rates of nutrient fluxes, storage, or transformation. As remediation of excess nutrients in stormwater runoff is one function of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), the soil profile constitutes one of the most important factors of BMP design. Variation observed in BMP effectiveness (e.g., why one BMP design works effectively in one place and not another) can often be explained by variations in the soil profile, either through direct means or by a soil’s influence on hydraulics of stormwater flow through the vadose (unsaturated) zone. The objective of this research is to identify soil characteristics most strongly related to nutrient (nitrogen, N, and phosphorus, P) remediation within the soil profile and to apply this understanding to improve both efficiency and cost-effectiveness of stormwater BMP design. Phase I of this project developed experimental methodologies to quantify and compare the rates and means of nitrogen and phosphorus transformations through diverse soil profiles. Six sites were selected for study from areas of distinct geologic history in Florida. Soils from the six sites were chosen to represent a gradient of clay and organic matter content, two constituents that were hypothesized to influence nutrient remediation potential. A commercially-available engineered infiltration media, Biosorption Activated Media (BAM), was also tested for comparison. Physical, chemical and biological attributes of the six soils and BAM were fully characterized across sites and with profile depth. Each soil was subjected to extensive laboratory and field testing to parameterize hydraulics and nutrient transformation rates within the soil profile, including when exposed to simulated stormwater hydrology and nutrient loads. Soils consistently decreased concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus from simulated runoff. Mean efficiency of nitrate (NO3- ) removal from soils ranged from 75%­­–90%, mean decrease of ammonium (NH4+) concentration ranged from 31%–90% and mean decrease of total P concentrationranged from 65%–98%. BAM also generally decreased concentrations of N and P, though with slightly less efficiency than soils; mean reductions of NO3- and total Pby BAM were 60% and 21%, respectively. BAM was the only media tested that was a source of inorganic N. BAM released small amounts of NO3- following prolonged exposure to runoff, but increased NH4+ concentrations by a mean 43%. Removal of total N varied between soils due to an experimental effect of organic N released by decomposing root matter in soil cores taken from highly vegetated areas. Nitrogen cycling (N removal and N release) were largely balanced in soils immediately after extraction from field sites. However, after being exposed to conditions similar to a stormwater infiltration basin (repeated infiltration of stormwater with a consistent external load of N), N release and N removal were no longer balanced for some soils. The directionality of the imbalance varied within the tested soils; N removal potential increased in some soils but decreased in the soils with the highest clay and highest organic matter. Though all soils effectively removed inorganic N and retained P, there were notable performance differences related to soil characteristics. The data largely support project hypotheses, that clay content and organic matter content positively influence N and P remediation. However, soils containing either the highest or lowest organic matter and clay contents did not perform as well as soils that contained both. The best nutrient remediation performance overall was observed in two soils that both contained moderate and comparable amounts of clay and organic matter. Results of this preliminary study suggest that soils with clay content ranging from 5%–8% and organic matter content in the range of 400 g/kg–500 g/kg in the surface 10 cm and 60 g/kg–300 g/kg in 10–30 cm layers were associated with the greatest nutrient remediation potential. Furthermore, soils with pH over 7 and metal content in the range of 102 mg/kg–103 mg/kg were observed to retain phosphorus at high levels. Importantly, though clay content was similar, the two soils had different overall grain size distributions, which suggests that the organic matter may be as important as the mineral size class when predicting the nutrient remediation potential of a soil. Engineered media, including the BAM tested in this study, do not typically contain organic matter. Overall, results underscore that properties of project site soils should be understood before soils are amended for the purpose of nutrient remediation. While this preliminary work offers a promising direction for identifying soils that require amendment, thus justifying the material and environmental costs of soil replacement, longer term study under more natural environmental conditions is needed to predict the nutrient remediation potential of heterogeneous soils

#THEMTOO: Two NFL Team Options for Not Exploiting Women Cheerleaders

This paper presents the results of an exploratory study of why and how professional football teams in the National Football League (NFL) use cheerleaders, the vast majority of whom are women. From archival press reports, media guides, and team website content, we examine why some teams choose not to use cheerleaders; and among the majority of teams that do use cheerleaders, the purposes for which they employ them. Based upon the findings, we categorize teams into two groups: (a) NFL teams that do not use cheerleaders but that also fail to capitalize on this potential competitive advantage; and (b) NFL teams that present sexually exploited cheer squads but that complicate public perceptions by emphasizing cheerleaders’ more legitimate roles (e.g., philanthropy). We conclude with two options for NFL teams seeking to avoid the sexual exploitation of women cheerleaders. We also urge cheerleaders to consider unionization

Children’s Act Evaluation and Emotion Attribution Reasoning Regarding Different Moral Transgressions

This study investigated patterns of reasoning regarding different types of moral transgressions and different measures of moral development in children 6–8 years of age (N = 130). The findings documented different patterns of reasoning for each measure and for transgressions including different moral principles. Children distinguished between their understanding of their emotional response to a transgression and the moral violation that has occurred, using much more moral reasoning when justifying act evaluations and much more self-interest reasoning when justifying emotion attributions. Children also differentiated between different types of moral violations—that is, transgressions including different moral principles. Stories about others’ welfare elicited reasoning related to others’ welfare, stories about fairness elicited reasoning related to equality/rights/fairness, and a multifaceted story elicited both types of moral reasoning

Resource Leveling for a Mass Digitization Project

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature of the project management concept of resource leveling, particularly how it can be utilized for grant-funded mass digitization projects where time, cost and available resources – the elements of the project scope triangle – are in tension with each other to define the scope and quality of a project. Design/methodology/approach – This article presents a case study of resource leveling for a mass digitization project in an academic library. Details on the use of resource leveling through deconstructing activities, smoothing and alternative scheduling are described in relation to this project. Findings – Resource leveling techniques can assist digitization project managers to meet project milestones on time and within budget and may be particularly useful for digitization projects with limited budgets. Originality/value – As digitization projects become more universal for libraries and cultural heritage institutions, this original case study offers insights into applying no-cost project management techniques

Body image in males as related to fraternity membership and levels of exercise.

Previous body image research has typically included females, while comparatively fewer studies focus solely on males. These studies have variously concluded that males are satisfied and dissatisfied with their bodies, with many suggesting that the desire for muscularity is related to their dissatisfaction without assessing muscularity levels. Exercise involvement has been linked to body image ratings, with regular exercisers reporting more satisfaction. The present study attempted to clarify the nature and extent of body dissatisfaction in males using 202 undergraduate males recruited from three Michigan-area universities. Males were grouped according to fraternity membership (n = 81), and football participation (n = 61), and participation in neither group (n = 60). Analyses focused on the effects of group membership and exercise levels on body image ratings, which was assessed using the Figure Rating Scale, the Body Esteem Scale, and several muscularity-related questions. No significant differences were found between the satisfaction levels of fraternity members and non fraternity, non-football males, or between football players and non-fraternity, non-football males. Findings indicated widespread dissatisfaction with current appearance, with most males desiring a more muscular upper body and, to a lesser extent, a more muscular lower body. The desire to be leaner in addition to more muscular was commonly reported. Several reasons for this dissatisfaction were identified, and were found to be similar in content among the groups but varied in terms of importance. A majority of the males reported at least some degree of satisfaction with their physical conditioning, physical attractiveness, and upper body strength. Low exercisers were more dissatisfied than regular exercisers on all body image variables except muscularity levels. These findings are discussed in the context of previous findings, and directions for future research are suggested.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2000 .K45. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-03, page: 0789. Adviser: Cheryl Thomas. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2000

Transition to professional social work practice: The first three years

This article presents the findings of a longitudinal research project that followed the employ-ment outcomes of one cohort of Bachelor of Social Work graduates for three years. Prior to graduation, students receive professional preparation that develops their ability to critically engage with theory and practice. Following graduation, newly qualified social workers require quality induction, supervision and other workload management strategies to support the transition to social work practice. The development of this study was fuelled by political criticism of social work education. Additionally, there was a desire to track the employment outcomes of the graduates and understand what supported their transition to competent professional practice. The findings fit within a five-year longitudinal research project that follows three separate graduate cohorts each for three years to seek and compare participants’ experiences for their first three years post-qualification. An anonymous, semi-structured, on-line survey was used to provide both quantitative and qualitative data. By the second year of practice, these respond-ents were taking on the workload of an experienced social work practitioner with widely varied levels of support. By the end of their third year in practice, they reported that they had found little opportunity to apply their critical analytical academic skills to consider the wider social system in practice. Further, the graduates’ confidence in their cultural competencies also gradually decreased over the three-year period

Transition to Professional Social Work Practice: The First Three Years

This article presents the findings of a longitudinal research project that followed the employ-ment outcomes of one cohort of Bachelor of Social Work graduates for three years. Prior to graduation, students receive professional preparation that develops their ability to critically engage with theory and practice. Following graduation, newly qualified social workers require quality induction, supervision and other workload management strategies to support the transition to social work practice. The development of this study was fuelled by political criticism of social work education. Additionally, there was a desire to track the employment outcomes of the graduates and understand what supported their transition to competent professional practice. The findings fit within a five-year longitudinal research project that follows three separate graduate cohorts each for three years to seek and compare participants’ experiences for their first three years post-qualification. An anonymous, semi-structured, on-line survey was used to provide both quantitative and qualitative data. By the second year of practice, these respond-ents were taking on the workload of an experienced social work practitioner with widely varied levels of support. By the end of their third year in practice, they reported that they had found little opportunity to apply their critical analytical academic skills to consider the wider social system in practice. Further, the graduates’ confidence in their cultural competencies also gradually decreased over the three-year period

Regionale Energiewende-Governance zur Co-Transformation zukunftsfähiger Energieinfrastrukturen als Daseinsvorsorge im ländlichen Raum

Die dringende Transformation unseres Energiesystems hin zu einer nachhaltigen Infrastruktur der Daseinsvorsorge scheitert in der regionalen Umsetzung regelmäßig an raumbezogenen und gesellschaftlichen Anforderungen des ländlichen Raums. In diesem Beitrag werden am Beispiel eines transdisziplinären Projektes Dilemmata in der partizipativen Umsetzung der regionalen Energiewende identifiziert und Gelingensbedingungen einer raumsensiblen Energiewende-Governance formuliert. Wie mit dem entwickelten Governance-Ansatz zur „Co-Transformation“ gezeigt wird, können kontextsensitive Partizipationsformen der Co-Regulierung, Co-Allokation und Co-Visionierung zur Verfahrens‑, Verteilungs- sowie Zukunftsgerechtigkeit und damit zur Akzeptabilität der regionalen Energiewende als Daseinsvorsorgeinfrastruktur im ländlichen Raum beitragen. Zentrale Maßnahmenfelder sind dabei ergebnisoffene und regional angepasste Formen der Mitwirkung durch die Co-Regulierung im Planungsprozess, Ansätze zur räumlichen Co-Allokation energiewendebezogener Belastungen und lokaler Mehrwerte sowie die Co-Visionierung regionaler Energiezukünfte und daraus abzuleitender regionaler Energievisionen