Coach-Athlete Communication: Coaching Style, Leadership Characteristics, and Psychological Outcomes

The way communication affects coaches and athletes depends on the content of the message, method of delivery, and the relationship between the sender and receiver(s). This manual addresses the different social agents that should be considered when delivering a message effectively to either a coach, athlete, or teammate. A brief introduction of the relevant theories on leadership and communication, such as Self-Determination Theory and the Multi-dimensional Model of Leadership, is provided. The theories provide a background for understanding the basics of communication, coaching/ leadership styles, and the characteristics of good leadership. The remaining portion of the manual will discuss the select outcomes associated with different coaching and communication styles. Both the coach’s and athlete’s behavior will influence each other’s perceptions and motivation levels. Motivated athletes tend to perform well if they perceive more positive communications with the coach. Practical strategies from improving coaching behaviors and communication among social agents is provided throughout the manual

Characterization and regulation of the icsP and ospZ locus in Shigella flexneri

Shigella flexneri is a gram negative, rod shaped bacterium that is the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, which is characterized by fever, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea. Genes essential to the pathogenicity of S. flexneri are encoded by a virulence plasmid. Shigella has evolved a complex regulatory system to regulate transcription of virulence genes. This involves two regulators, VirF and VirB, which allow the bacterium to respond to environmental stimuli and maximally exploit host niches. An additional factor impacting virulence gene regulation is H-NS, a histone nucleoid structuring protein that globally represses transcription. This work addresses the transcriptional regulation of icsP and ospZ, divergent virulence plasmid encoded genes. Analysis of the intergenic region shared by icsP and ospZ has identified remote VirB binding sites essential to icsP promoter activity. Analyses of the requirements for VirB-dependent regulation of icsP promoter activity identified the VirB binding sites as a cis -acting element with small spacing requirements. In addition, analyses of H-NS-dependent regulation of the icsP promoter showed that intrinsic curvature does not have a role in H-NS mediated repression. Together, these data indicate that the VirB and H-NS interact to modulate icsP promoter activity, demonstrating that transcriptional regulation is an intricate process

NEVER SILENCE MY SEXY: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY STUDY WITH YOUNG BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN SEXY SELFIES

Hip Hop feminist research seeks to combat oppressive experiences of Black women by encouraging them to share their stories through its main tenets: fuck with the grays (Morgan, 2017), bring wreck (Pough, 2015), and pleasure politics (Morgan, 2015). Previous research on sexy selfies has mainly investigated the trends, motivations, and dangers of these practices, but only a few include the lived experiences and voices of Black women. Building on research surrounding identity and sexy selfie engagement within 21st century Hip Hop (HH) and social media cultures, this HH feminist narrative inquiry study investigated the following research questions: (1) How is young Black womens identity development influenced and shaped by sexy selfie practices? (2) In young Black women, what characteristics of identity are influenced by sexy selfie practices? (3) In young Black women, how are these characteristics of identity shaped by social media and sexy selfie practices? Nine young Black women, aged 18-24, from an urban city in the southern region of the United States participated in this study. Participants were asked to engage in one semi-structured interview and complete four reflective journal entries. The researcher kept field journals as well. The resulting data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with respect to two levels of theory: Hip Hop feminist theory at the macro level and identity development theories (e.g. gendered-racial identity, sexual scripting, and sexual attachment) at mid-level. The following themes emerged: (1) there is an other that impacts young Black womens display of sexiness; (2) sexy selfies empower Black women to fuck with the grays and bring wreck to oppressive sexuality constraints; (3) social media is a creative space and an outlet for Black women to represent themselves, and (4) everyone is doing it; so protect, not silence us. In addition, nine unique narratives highlighting participants sexy selfie experiences were co-created through creative analytic practice. This study demonstrates the importance of Hip Hop and social media as outlets for creative and expressional freedom and establishes the need for (1) laws to help protect Black youth who feel oppressed, demoralized, and silenced; and (2) critical media literacy and educational reform that would mandate a critical analysis of the images prevalent in lives of youth

Moral Injury: The Hidden Adversary of War

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of United States Army combat veterans who have supported combat operations at least once over the past fourteen years in either Iraq or Afghanistan who self-identified as suffering from symptoms of moral injury. This study was designed to elucidate the impact of faith on resilience and coping mechanisms and broaden previous research on moral injury and whether Army leaders should identify and mitigate moral injury within the ranks. Phenomenology focuses on the interpretation and meaning of how individuals experience their world within a given context. Seven individuals who have experienced moral injury were purposively selected to participate. Audio and video interviews were conducted through the social media platform Zoom, allowing participants to tell their lived experiences of combat operations, moral injury, and the impact of faith. Five themes emerged: 1) faith, 2) lack of resources, 3) lack of anonymity and confidentiality, 4) lack of training, and 5) duty to God and country. Combat veterans described leadership involvement in helping soldiers cope with moral injury as lacking or non-existent. The data also indicated that faith directly impacted and enhanced the resilience and coping mechanisms of the participants

Resilience and Success of Graduated Undergraduates Who Experienced Homelessness During Their Undergraduate Years

Approximately 9% of students who attend 4-year colleges and community colleges have experienced homelessness at some time during their undergraduate years. Researchers have primarily focused on the negative effects of homelessness of these students related to academic success. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to investigate the internal goals and drives associated with the resiliency of graduated undergraduates as well as support systems they believed helped them overcome barriers to become academically successful. Resiliency theory was the theoretical framework for the study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with two women regarding their experiences. Data were analyzed using a combination of cross-case synthesis and pattern matching. The sample for this study had the unique perspective of being undocumented individuals as well as being homeless during their undergraduate years, yet they were able to graduate. Positive social supports that were outside of the university structure helped them overcome barriers to completing their undergraduate programs. This information could be used by higher education leaders to identify gaps in the supports offered through the institution and to inform their policies, practices, and support programs to increase positive outcomes for these undergraduate students

Racist Framing in the Criminal Justice System: Powerful White Officials

In this qualitative study, I examine the criminal justice system, specifically powerful individuals’ (primarily high-ranking police officers, district attorneys [also referenced as prosecutors], and authoritative judges) mindset when interacting with people of color. I argue lumping people of color into “typical” categories — stereotyping, images, prejudice, and emotions — are compiling factors for consequences (unequitable discretionary decisions, criminalization, and mass incarceration) people of color encounter when interacting with powerful individuals in the criminal justice system. Therefore, I will demonstrate the mode of thinking by powerful criminal justice individuals in relation to people of color through relevant quotes. The quotes for this study were collected directly from interactions within court cases (court transcripts), exchanges of emails (primarily during business hours shared on company computers), and intimate interactions (everyday actions) provided by people in power. This study will analyze a vast majority of available public interactions with multiple powerful individuals within the criminal justice system. This research has found direct results of people of color being criminalized and facing inequality, discrimination, and racist interactions with powerful individuals’ in the criminal justice system. Primarily, patterns of systemic racism in conjunction with white racially framed mindsets of powerful individuals resulted in institutional and embedded practices of bias. The results of this study suggest integral to the existing body of knowledge now available, studying the criminal justice system from the bottom-up (how the actions of minorities contribute to the system) is the incorporation of the top- down (how the actions of the powerful contribute to the system) perspective. Ultimately, people of color are criminalized in multiple facets of the criminal justice system, influencing how they formulate appropriate counter narratives. Thus, the concluding chapter describes the creation of a resisting counter frame by people of color. These resistance forms include active individual aspects coupled with community action — National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and activists —and resistance to racism. Consequently, the cases of activism are connected to specific instances in relation to the quotes provided in this study. Demanding actions against powerful individuals’ abuses of power

Demographics, Self-Autonomy, and Relationships as Predictors of Substance Use Among Community College Learners

Abuse of prescription and over-the-counter substances other than alcohol is becoming a prevalent issue; therefore, it is important to identify factors that may help predict risk for this abuse. Some demographic and situational factors have been identified for traditional 4-year college students. However, less is known about community college students, who enter college less academically prepared and may be still enmeshed with family and peer groups from high school. In this correlational study, predictors of substance abuse other than alcohol were explored among a convenience sample of 118 students from an American community college. The research question was developed based on previous research such as Bandura\u27s social learning theory and Arnett\u27s theory of emerging adults. The question explored how well gender (male, female, other) and 2 dimensions from the Ryff scale of psychological well-being (sense of autonomy and positive relationships with others) predict substance use among the community college sample. Use of substances other than alcohol was measured using the Drug Abuse Screening Test-10. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to test the research hypotheses. Although gender was not related to substance use, higher autonomy and more positive relationships scores were statistically significant predictors of higher use of substances other than alcohol among this sample. These findings were consistent with characteristics of emerging adulthood that may present risk factors for this group of college students. Findings support positive social change as they may be considered by stakeholders when considering possible prevention or intervention activities to address substance use issues on community college campuses

Racist Framing in the Criminal Justice System: Powerful White Officials

In this qualitative study, I examine the criminal justice system, specifically powerful individuals’ (primarily high-ranking police officers, district attorneys [also referenced as prosecutors], and authoritative judges) mindset when interacting with people of color. I argue lumping people of color into “typical” categories — stereotyping, images, prejudice, and emotions — are compiling factors for consequences (unequitable discretionary decisions, criminalization, and mass incarceration) people of color encounter when interacting with powerful individuals in the criminal justice system. Therefore, I will demonstrate the mode of thinking by powerful criminal justice individuals in relation to people of color through relevant quotes. The quotes for this study were collected directly from interactions within court cases (court transcripts), exchanges of emails (primarily during business hours shared on company computers), and intimate interactions (everyday actions) provided by people in power. This study will analyze a vast majority of available public interactions with multiple powerful individuals within the criminal justice system. This research has found direct results of people of color being criminalized and facing inequality, discrimination, and racist interactions with powerful individuals’ in the criminal justice system. Primarily, patterns of systemic racism in conjunction with white racially framed mindsets of powerful individuals resulted in institutional and embedded practices of bias. The results of this study suggest integral to the existing body of knowledge now available, studying the criminal justice system from the bottom-up (how the actions of minorities contribute to the system) is the incorporation of the top- down (how the actions of the powerful contribute to the system) perspective. Ultimately, people of color are criminalized in multiple facets of the criminal justice system, influencing how they formulate appropriate counter narratives. Thus, the concluding chapter describes the creation of a resisting counter frame by people of color. These resistance forms include active individual aspects coupled with community action — National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and activists —and resistance to racism. Consequently, the cases of activism are connected to specific instances in relation to the quotes provided in this study. Demanding actions against powerful individuals’ abuses of power

2D superconductivity with strong spin-orbit interaction

We consider superconductivity confined at a two-dimensional interface with a strong surface spin-orbit (Rashba) interaction. Some peculiar properties of this system are investigated. In particular, we show that an in-plane Zeeman field can induce a supercurrent flow.Comment: latex, 1 figure in ep

Strong Influence of Phonons on the Electron Dynamics of Bi2212

The sudden change of the velocity, so-called "kink," of the dispersing peak in angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy is a well-known feature in the high temperature superconducting cuprates. Currently, the origin of the kink is being much debated, but a consensus has not emerged yet. Here, we present a study of the momentum evolution of the kink structure from the nodal region towards the anti-nodal region, for optimally doped Bi2212 sample. We show that the observed temperature dependence of the kink structure in both regions of the momentum space is consistent with a scenario in which phonons contribute strongly to the kink