Gendered Admission: Transinclusive Admissions Policies at Women\u27s Colleges

Many women’s colleges in the United States are evaluating their mission to educate women in a society where gender is recognized as a social construct. As a result, some women’s colleges have changed their admissions policies to include transgender people. By examining the admissions policies of select women’s colleges, I analyze who becomes a thinkable student at women’s colleges, as well as who is excluded by the admissions policies. Through my analysis of the admissions policies of twelve women’s colleges, I divide the colleges into four categories: colleges with self-identification policies, colleges with consistent identification policies, colleges with legal and/or medical policies, and colleges with no specific admissions policies

Creating Connection Between Individuals And Teams: Understanding Human Biology And Psychology For High Performance

This capstone is a result of four questions formulated around a central theme focused on understanding what it is that makes teams and environments high performing today, and additionally, how leaders connect with others in order to set high performing environments. In the first question (Chapter 2), exploration of our human biology shows our genetics are wired for connection and collaboration although this may be in contradiction with many aspects of American society today. The second question (Chapter 3) explored human motivation. Instead of understanding the individual, we have to look further to understand how the cues from the environment are impacting motivations. With focus on creating better environments—those rooted in purpose and fulfilling human needs—performance improves. Question 3 (Chapter 4) examined examples of leaders who create high quality motivational environments and how it impacts people and teams. In the final chapter (Chapter 5), Question 4 there are some applied ideas for leaders to begin to understand how to better build teams. Through this Capstone, it becomes clear that in order to perform at a high level, leaders have to create environments where individuals are connected to both a strong purpose and the people around them. In order for this connection to occur individuals must be willing to accept vulnerabilities and take risk. Psychologically safe environments (created by leaders) encourage individuals to show up authentically as themselves and perform to their potential

Evaluation of the Interaction of Beta-Adrenergic Agonists Supplementation and Heat Stress on Growth Performance and Carcass Composition in Feeder Lambs

Forty-nine crossbred feeder lambs (wethers, n = 49; 53.3 ± 3.7 kg BW) were utilized to evaluate the interaction of b - adrenergic agonist (bAA) supplementation and heat stress on growth performance and carcass composition. Utilizing and 3 x 2 factorial design, lambs were randomly assigned to one of three bAA supplementation: 1) Control, CON, 2) Ractopamine Hydrochloride at 40 mg/hd/d, RHCL, and Zilpaterol Hydrochloride at 2.5 mg/hd/d, ZHCL for a period of 20 d and one of two environmental conditions (Thermal Neutral: TN and Heat Stress: HS). The TN environment had a constant thermal heat index (THI) of 16.6°C. Within the HS environment, a cyclic design was utilized to achieve a THI of 29.5ºC from 10:00 to 20:00 h and a THI of 24.5ºC from 22:00 to 08:00 h. Starting at 08:01 and continuing to 09:59 h, temperature and RH were gradually increased to achieve a THI of 29.5ºC at 10:00 h and reduction of temperature and RH from 20:01 to 21:59 h to achieve a THI of 24.5ºC at 22:00 h. Regardless of bAA supplementation (P = ≥ 0.09), lambs exposed to the HS environment had reduced DMI (P \u3c 0.001), ADG (P = 0.002), and final BW (P = 0.03). In addition, exposure to the HS environment (regardless of bAA supplementation; P = ≥ 0.07) decreased HCW (P \u3c 0.001), percent change in LM area (P = 0.004) and percent change in LM depth (P = 0.005). There was a bAA x environment interaction associated with RHCL supplementation and heat stress (P = 0.003). Lambs supplemented RHCL in the HS environment had reduced (P = 0.003) respiration rates, when compared to CON and ZHCL supplemented lambs. Supplementation of ZHCL decreased adipose tissue (P = 0.05) and increased percent fat free lean (P = 0.01), when compared to RHCL and CON lambs. Within the current study, both heat stress and bAA supplementation had an impact on growth performance and carcass composition. However, the data does not indicate that there was any significant interaction between bAA supplementation within a heat stress environment on growth performance or carcass composition in feeder lambs. Advisor: Ty B. Schmid

Evaluation of the Interaction of Beta-Adrenergic Agonists Supplementation and Heat Stress on Growth Performance and Carcass Composition in Feeder Lambs

Forty-nine crossbred feeder lambs (wethers, n = 49; 53.3 ± 3.7 kg BW) were utilized to evaluate the interaction of b - adrenergic agonist (bAA) supplementation and heat stress on growth performance and carcass composition. Utilizing and 3 x 2 factorial design, lambs were randomly assigned to one of three bAA supplementation: 1) Control, CON, 2) Ractopamine Hydrochloride at 40 mg/hd/d, RHCL, and Zilpaterol Hydrochloride at 2.5 mg/hd/d, ZHCL for a period of 20 d and one of two environmental conditions (Thermal Neutral: TN and Heat Stress: HS). The TN environment had a constant thermal heat index (THI) of 16.6°C. Within the HS environment, a cyclic design was utilized to achieve a THI of 29.5ºC from 10:00 to 20:00 h and a THI of 24.5ºC from 22:00 to 08:00 h. Starting at 08:01 and continuing to 09:59 h, temperature and RH were gradually increased to achieve a THI of 29.5ºC at 10:00 h and reduction of temperature and RH from 20:01 to 21:59 h to achieve a THI of 24.5ºC at 22:00 h. Regardless of bAA supplementation (P = ≥ 0.09), lambs exposed to the HS environment had reduced DMI (P \u3c 0.001), ADG (P = 0.002), and final BW (P = 0.03). In addition, exposure to the HS environment (regardless of bAA supplementation; P = ≥ 0.07) decreased HCW (P \u3c 0.001), percent change in LM area (P = 0.004) and percent change in LM depth (P = 0.005). There was a bAA x environment interaction associated with RHCL supplementation and heat stress (P = 0.003). Lambs supplemented RHCL in the HS environment had reduced (P = 0.003) respiration rates, when compared to CON and ZHCL supplemented lambs. Supplementation of ZHCL decreased adipose tissue (P = 0.05) and increased percent fat free lean (P = 0.01), when compared to RHCL and CON lambs. Within the current study, both heat stress and bAA supplementation had an impact on growth performance and carcass composition. However, the data does not indicate that there was any significant interaction between bAA supplementation within a heat stress environment on growth performance or carcass composition in feeder lambs. Advisor: Ty B. Schmid

Current prospects and future challenges for nasal vaccine delivery

Nasal delivery offers many benefits over traditional approaches to vaccine administration. These include ease of administration without needles that reduces issues associated with needlestick injuries and disposal. Additionally, this route offers easy access to a key part of the immune system that can stimulate other mucosal sites throughout the body. Increased acceptance of nasal vaccine products in both adults and children has led to a burgeoning pipeline of nasal delivery technology. Key challenges and opportunities for the future will include translating in vivo data to clinical outcomes. Particular focus should be brought to designing delivery strategies that take into account the broad range of diseases, populations and healthcare delivery settings that stand to benefit from this unique mucosal route

Wolbachia and Spiroplasma endosymbionts in the Anurida maritima (Collembola) species group

A large proportion of arthropods carry maternally-inherited endosymbiotic bacteria with which they have developed close relationships. Some of these endosymbionts are selfish genetic elements and manipulate their hosts’ reproduction to their own advantage, for example via cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) or male killing. Here we report that the sexually reproducing collembolan Anurida maritima carries two endosymbionts (Wolbachia and Spiroplasma) and provide genome sequences for both bacteria. Phylogenomic analyses indicate that the Wolbachia belong to the A supergroup and that the Spiroplasma are sister to the Citri-Chrysopicola-Mirum lineage. A. maritima is considered a species group and consists of at least two distinct genetic lineages. We show that both lineages carry both endosymbionts. No homologs of the Spiroplasma male-killing gene SpAID were observed within our datasets. Homologs of the male-killing associated wmk and the CI inducing cifA and cifB prophage genes were detected in the Wolbachia genome. Phylogenetic analyses placed the cif genes in the poorly characterised Type V clade. The cifA and cifB gene sequences of the two Anurida lineages are identical. It therefore seems unlikely that the genetic divergence within the species group stems from cifA and cifB induced CI. Laboratory controlled genetic crosses and sex ratio studies will be needed to reveal any potential effect of the two endosymbionts on A. maritima’s reproduction