Poetry from the Glass Closet: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Pk-12 Educators as They Manage Their Sexual Orientation Identity Within a Teaching Role

The purpose of this study was to portray the experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual educators in PK-12 schools in the State of Colorado. This aim emerged from my own personal experiences, previous research, and the current status of state and federal laws. This research focused on the experiences of 15 lesbian, gay, bisexual and allied identified teachers, including myself. This study focused on a primary research question: What are the experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual PK-12 educators as they manage their sexual orientation identities within a teaching role? Heuristics was the qualitative methodology best suited to address this question. Heuristics is a process, which combines personal passions and inquiry to illuminate larger universal significance. For this study, I used a three interview protocol, extensive journaling and member checking. There are six distinct phases of heuristics in order to maintain methodological integrity. The final phase was creative synthesis where I used poetic transcription to capture the experiences of my participants. In addition to making critical decisions around the heuristics methodology, my theoretical framework of Queer Theory, challenged me to explore varying dimensions of the research study, my personal journey, and those of the participants. Queer Theory is about de-centering, fluidity, and a wider view into identities, both marginalized and mainstream. This framework was central to grappling with the data and information that did not mirror my own experience or political stance regarding being out in the classroom. This study is a step in beginning to uncover the components of many lesbian, gay, and bisexual educators, as each poem further adds to the shallow body of existing literature. During the research process seven themes emerged: experience, personality, philosophy, isolation vs. support, non-negotiables, sense of self, and navigations. Using the seven themes as a guide, the reader can begin to appreciate the complexities and nuances of how one manages sexual orientation in a teaching role. This guide will be useful to various stakeholders, including state and federal policymakers, administrators, and teachers as they try to better inform their practices and create inclusive environments in schools

Evidence-Based Survey Design: The Use of Ascending or Descending Order of Likert Response Options

This article is one in the teams’ series of articles, addressing the issue of using ascending or descending order of Likert response options. The ascending order of Likert response options is: Strongly disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, and Strongly agree, whereas the descending order is: Strongly agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, and Strongly disagree. The purpose of this article is twofold: 1) describe several issues to be aware of when using ascending or descending order of Likert response options and 2) present research-based evidence and recommendations regarding the use of ascending or descending order of Likert response options in structured survey instruments

Gender differences in sexual assault and PTSD stigma

Sexual assault is a significant problem in our society, and is experienced differently by male and female sexual assault victims. Stigma, or blame and negative attitudes toward an individual or group, is frequently experienced by sexual assault victims and reinforced through media, culture, and rape/sexual assault myths. Sexual assault and experiences of stigma influence the mental health problems victims face after assault, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Overall, insufficient research has been conducted on the differing experiences of stigma related to male and female sexual assault victims. In order to separate stigma attributions based on sexual assault status and PTSD, the current study explored both. Specifically, four vignettes were used: a male victim with a diagnosis of PTSD, a male victim who was resilient, a female victim with a diagnosis of PTSD, or a female victim who was resilient. Stigma was assessed using the MISS and MIAS questionnaires. It was hypothesized that male sexual assault victims would elicit more stigma than female characters, and that characters with PTSD would elicit more stigma than characters who are resilient. It was also hypothesized that there would be an interaction effect in which male characters with PTSD would elicit the most stigma. With 214 participants, significant main effects were found with the MISS, lending partial support for the hypotheses that male sexual assault victims elicit more stigma than females, and individuals with PTSD elicit more stigma than those who are resilient following trauma. Implications and future directions are discussed

Evidence‐Based Survey Design: The Use of Ascending or Descending Order of Likert‐Type Response Options

Survey designers should be aware of response order effects associated with left-side selection bias, acquiescence bias, and satisficing. A sufficient amount of research has shown that descending-ordered response scales generate more positive responses from respondents than ascending-ordered scales. A simple solution to the inflated data obtained from descendingordered scales is to present response scales in ascending order. Otherwise, descending-ordered scales should be used with strategies for reducing response order effects

Bowhead and Gray Whale Distributions, Sighting Rates, and Habitat Associations in the Eastern Chukchi Sea, Summer and Fall 2009–15, with a Retrospective Comparison to 1982–91

We analyzed data from line-transect aerial surveys for marine mammals conducted in the eastern Chukchi Sea (67˚–72˚ N, 157˚–169˚ W) in July to October of 2009–15 to investigate bowhead and gray whale distributions, behaviors, sighting rates, and habitat selection preferences, the last of which allowed direct comparison with results from data collected in this area in 1982–91. Bowhead whales use the eastern Chukchi Sea primarily for migrating between the Beaufort Sea and the Bering Sea, while gray whales use the area to feed on locally abundant benthic amphipods and other prey. Bowhead whales were observed during all survey months and were distributed up to 300 km offshore west and southwest of Point Barrow, Alaska, but without a defined migratory corridor in either summer (July-August) or fall (September-October). Bowhead whale sighting rates (whales per km on effort) were highest in the shelf/trough (51–200 m North) depth zone in the northeastern Chukchi Sea in both summer and fall. This pattern was reflected in habitat selection ratios, which found bowhead whales in summer and fall selecting primarily shelf/trough habitat in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, with shelf habitat (36 – 50 m) being preferred secondarily. Gray whales were observed in all survey months and were distributed primarily within ~95 km of shore between Point Barrow and Icy Cape in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, and about 60–115 km southwest of Point Hope in the southern Chukchi Sea. In both summer and fall, gray whale sighting rates and habitat selection ratios were highest in the shelf/trough (51–200 m South) depth zone in the southern Chukchi Sea. In the northeastern part of the study area, gray whale sighting rates and habitat selection ratios both identified coastal habitat (≤ 35 m) as preferred habitat in summer and shelf/trough (51–200 m North) as preferred habitat in fall. Distribution and habitat associations of bowhead and gray whales remained similar over the 34-year time span with one exception: gray whale preference for shelf/trough habitat in the southern Chukchi Sea is now evident throughout summer and fall, whereas three decades ago gray whale preference for that area was limited to fall only.Nous avons analysé les données provenant de levés aériens par transects linéaires à l’égard de mammifères marins, levés effectués dans l’est de la mer des Tchouktches (67˚–72˚ N, 157˚–169˚ O) d’octobre à juillet 2009 à 2015 afin de prélever des données sur la répartition des baleines boréales et des baleines grises, sur leurs comportements, sur leurs taux d’observation et sur leurs préférences en matière d’habitat. Ce dernier élément nous a permis de faire des comparaisons directes avec les résultats de la collecte de données effectuée dans cette région entre 1982 et 1991. Les baleines boréales se servent principalement de l’est de la mer des Tchouktches pour migrer entre la mer de Beaufort et la mer de Béring, tandis que les baleines grises empruntent cette région pour se nourrir des amphipodes benthiques qui y abondent ainsi que d’autres proies. Des baleines boréales ont été observées pendant tous les mois visés par les levés, et celles-ci étaient réparties sur une distance allant jusqu’à 300 km au large, à l’ouest et au sud-ouest de Point Barrow, en Alaska, sans toutefois emprunter un couloir migratoire particulier à l’été (juillet et août) ou à l’automne (septembre et octobre). Les taux d’observation de baleines boréales (nombre de baleines par km à l’effort) étaient plus élevés dans la zone de profondeur de plateformes et de dépressions (de 51 à 200 m nord) faisant partie du nord-est de la mer des Tchouktches, tant à l’été qu’à l’automne. Cette tendance se reflète dans les rapports de sélection d’habitats, selon lesquels les baleines boréales choisissent principalement, l’été et l’automne, un habitat de plateformes et de dépressions dans le nord-est de la mer des Tchouktches, l’habitat des plateformes (de 36 à 50 m) constituant une préférence secondaire. Des baleines grises ont été observées pendant tous les mois visés par les levés. Elles se répartissaient principalement à l’intérieur de ~95 km de la côte, entre Point Barrow et Icy Cape, dans le nord-est de la mer des Tchouktches, et à environ 60 à 115 km au sud-ouest de Point Hope, dans le sud de la mer des Tchouktches. Tant à l’été qu’à l’automne, les taux d’observation et les rapports de sélection d’habitats des baleines grises étaient à leur point le plus élevé dans la zone de profondeur des plateformes et des dépressions (de 51 à 200 m sud) du sud de la mer des Tchouktches. Dans le secteur nord-est de la région visée par l’étude, les taux d’observation et les ratios de sélection d’habitats des baleines grises ont tous deux permis d’affirmer que l’habitat côtier (≤ 35 m) était l’habitat préféré pendant l’été, et que l’habitat des plateformes et des dépressions (de 51 à 200 m nord) était l’habitat préféré à l’automne. Les associations en matière de répartition et d’habitat des baleines boréales et des baleines grises sont demeurées semblables au cours de la période de 34 ans, à une exception près : la préférence de la baleine grise pour l’habitat des plateformes et des dépressions dans le sud de la mer des Tchouktches est maintenant évidente à l’été et à l’automne, tandis qu’il y a trois décennies, la préférence de la baleine grise pour cet habitat se limitait à l’automne

Gender Differences in Sexual Assault and PTSD Stigma

Sexual assault, a significant problem in our society, is experienced differently by male and female sexual assault victims. Stigma is frequently experienced by sexual assault victims and reinforced through media, culture, and rape/sexual assault myths, and influences the mental health problems victims face after assault, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Overall, insufficient research has been conducted on the differing experiences of stigma based on gender and diagnosis. It was hypothesized that male sexual assault victims would elicit more stigma than female characters, and characters with PTSD would elicit more stigma than characters who are resilient. With 214 participants, partial support was provided for the hypotheses that male sexual assault victims elicit more stigma than females, and individuals with PTSD elicit more stigma than those who are resilient following trauma

Environmentally-triggered contraction of the norovirus virion determines diarrheagenic potential

Noroviruses are the leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea and foodborne disease worldwide. While they are a major cause of disease in all age groups, infections in the very young can be quite severe with annual estimates of 50,000-200,000 fatalities in children under 5 years old. In spite of the remarkable disease burden associated with norovirus infections in people, very little is known about the pathogenic mechanisms underlying norovirus diarrhea, principally because of the lack of tractable small animal models. We recently demonstrated that wild-type neonatal mice are susceptible to murine norovirus (MNV)-induced acute self-resolving diarrhea in a time course mirroring human norovirus disease. Using this robust pathogenesis model system, we demonstrate that virulence is regulated by the responsiveness of the viral capsid to environmental cues that trigger contraction of the VP1 protruding (P) domain onto the particle shell, thus enhancing receptor binding and infectivity. The capacity of a given MNV strain to undergo this contraction positively correlates with infection of cells expressing low abundance of the virus receptor CD300lf, supporting a model whereby virion contraction triggers infection of CD300l