Complexity Theory: An Approach to Understanding the Weak Relationships between Valparaiso’s International and Non-International Student Populations

The Valparaiso University campus is becoming more diverse as each year passes. The undergraduate population on campus is experiencing a rise in international admissions. Although the University has many recognized student organizational groups, including VISA (Valparaiso International Student Association), these student organizations are failing to connect with one another, which results in a very fragmented student population rather than an intertwined group of young adults. The prior being the case, this campaign directly targets the international student association known as VISA, and is related to increasing student awareness (both international and national) of the VISA organization, their events, and also increasing student participation and membership within the program. This campaign will likely prove to be mutually beneficial to both the VISA program and to all other campus organizations that form partnerships with VISA. Within the campaign, several questionnaires were circulated to international and national students as well as to key dignitaries within specific and pre-identified campus organizations. With the feedback that was obtained through these questionnaires, plans were formulated to form partnerships with campus organizations, by which VISA and all partnered programs could realize a mutual benefit from the campaign. This benefit included, but was not limited to, increasing publicity and awareness of VISA events during the calendar year. The results of the campaign included the exchange of experiences between VISA and non-VISA organizations on the Valpo campus. The focus groups further confirmed: 1) stereotyping by each group toward the other, 2) the lack of incentive to mix, and 3) the need for leadership to facilitate better understanding and to create opportunities to mix student groups

Age- and AD-related redox state of NADH in subcellular compartments by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form: NADH) serves as a vital redox-energy currency for reduction-oxidation homeostasis and fulfilling energetic demands. While NADH exists as free and bound forms, only free NADH is utilized for complex I to power oxidative phosphorylation, especially important in neurons. Here, we studied how much free NADH remains available for energy production in mitochondria of old living neurons. We hypothesize that free NADH in neurons from old mice is lower than the levels in young mice and even lower in neurons from the 3xTg-AD Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model. To assess free NADH, we used lifetime imaging of NADH autofluorescence with 2-photon excitation to be able to resolve the pool of NADH in mitochondria, cytoplasm, and nuclei. Primary neurons from old mice were characterized by a lower free/bound NADH ratio than young neurons from both non-transgenic (NTg) and more so in 3xTg-AD mice. Mitochondrial compartments maintained 26 to 41% more reducing NADH redox state than cytoplasm for each age, genotype, and sex. Aging diminished the mitochondrial free NADH concentration in NTg neurons by 43% and in 3xTg-AD by 50%. The lower free NADH with age suggests a decline in capacity to regenerate free NADH for energetic supply to power oxidative phosphorylation which further worsens in AD. Applying this non-invasive approach, we showed the most explicit measures yet of bioenergetic deficits in free NADH with aging at the subcellular level in live neurons from in-bred mice and an AD model

May I help you? How stereotypes and innuendoes influence service encounters

You only get one chance to make a good first impression. The dissertation focuses on marketing agents; among the most visible is the service provider. Previous research establishes the important role of cognitive social schemata in determining the way consumers react to different types of marketing agents, including service providers. In the literature review, a classification schema is developed for service provider stereotypes derived from theory using social stereotypes. The development of the Service Provider Perception Framework (SPPF) creates a classification for the individual service provider along two main dimensions: competence and affect. In services design (particularly situations involving a first impression or service encounter that has yet to develop into a committed relationship) consumers commonly possess and maintain stereotypes for service providers based on accumulated knowledge about people in a provider category. Prior to entering a service encounter, consumers use available information to form judgments based on descriptions of the selected service provider. Due to unfamiliarity with the specific provider, consumers are apt to focus on tangible cues (stereotypical attributes) of the service provider to evaluate the level of perceived quality and satisfaction associated with the service. This research furthers our understanding of how consumers evaluate service providers and, subsequently, the service experience. Following the development of the SPPF, this research uses two empirical studies to examine stereotypes, the use of innuendos, and various service outcomes on service encounters. The innuendo study confirms placement of four service provider types in the SPPF and examines how consumers\u27 perceptions of service providers change when subjects are provided incomplete information regarding only one dimension of the SPPF. The main study examines how consumers perceive service providers and the subsequent service encounter when the service provider is not what the consumer had expected to come into contact with. This research integrates cognitive social psychology with services marketing to advance the marketing discipline. Key findings increase knowledge of service provider perceptions as viewed by consumers and recommends methods to create prosperous relationships and improve existing relationships between the provider and the consumer utilizing characteristics associated to the type of service provider

Reversibility of Age-related Oxidized Free NADH Redox States in Alzheimer's Disease Neurons by Imposed External Cys/CySS Redox Shifts.

Redox systems including extracellular cysteine/cystine (Cys/CySS), intracellular glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced/oxidized forms (NADH/NAD+) are critical for maintaining redox homeostasis. Aging as a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with oxidative shifts, decreases in anti-oxidant protection and dysfunction of mitochondria. Here, we examined the flexibility of mitochondrial-specific free NADH in live neurons from non-transgenic (NTg) or triple transgenic AD-like mice (3xTg-AD) of different ages under an imposed extracellular Cys/CySS oxidative or reductive condition. We used phasor fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to distinguish free and bound NADH in mitochondria, nuclei and cytoplasm. Under an external oxidative stress, a lower capacity for maintaining mitochondrial free NADH levels was found in old compared to young neurons and a further decline with genetic load. Remarkably, an imposed Cys/CySS reductive state rejuvenated the mitochondrial free NADH levels of old NTg neurons by 71% and old 3xTg-AD neurons by 89% to levels corresponding to the young neurons. Using FLIM as a non-invasive approach, we were able to measure the reversibility of aging subcellular free NADH levels in live neurons. Our results suggest a potential reductive treatment to reverse the loss of free NADH in old and Alzheimer's neurons

Characterization testing of a 40 Ahr bipolar nickel hydrogen battery

In a continuing effort to develop NiH2 bipolar technology to a point where it can be used efficiently in space flight, testing of a second 40 Ahr, 10-cell bipolar battery has begun. This battery has undergone extensive characterization testing to determine the effects of such operating parameters as charge and discharge rates, temperature, and pressure. The fundamental design of this actively cooled bipolar battery is the same as the first battery. Most of the individual components, however, are from different manufacturers. Different testing procedures as well as certain unique battery characteristics make it difficult to directly compare the two sets of results. In general, the performance of this battery throughout characterization produced expected results. The main differences seen between the first and second batteries occurred during the high-rate discharge portion of the test matrix. The first battery also had poor high-rate discharge results, although better than those of the second battery. Minor changes were made to the battery frame design used for the first battery in an attempt to allow better gas access to the reaction sites for the second build and hopefully improve performance. The changes, however, did not improve the performance of the second battery and could have possibly contributed to the poorer performance that was observed. There are other component differences that could have contributed to the poorer performance of the second battery. The H2 electrode in the second battery was constructed with a Goretex backing which could have limited the high-rate current flow. The gas screen in the second battery had a larger mesh which again could have limited the high-rate current flow. Small scale 2 x 2 batteries are being tested to evaluate the effects of the component variations

Contemplating Mindfulness at Work: An Integrative Review

Mindfulness research activity is surging within organizational science. Emerging evidence across multiple fields suggests that mindfulness is fundamentally connected to many aspects of workplace functioning, but this knowledge base has not been systematically integrated to date. This review coalesces the burgeoning body of mindfulness scholarship into a framework to guide mainstream management research investigating a broad range of constructs. The framework identifies how mindfulness influences attention, with downstream effects on functional domains of cognition, emotion, behavior, and physiology. Ultimately, these domains impact key workplace outcomes, including performance, relationships, and well-being. Consideration of the evidence on mindfulness at work stimulates important questions and challenges key assumptions within management science, generating an agenda for future research

Development of a Health Promotion Program: Targeting Adolescent Behaviors and Attitudes Toward Prescription Opioids

The current opioid epidemic kills an estimated four people every day in Massachusetts and is considered one of the greatest health threats to adolescents. Massachusetts state data indicates opioid addiction is a public health crisis, which requires the development of a health promotion program for adolescents and legislative action. The innovative eight-week middle school-based program Promote Opioid Prevention Program 4 Youth (POPPY) is implemented during Health and Wellness classes. POPPY is based on the Social Cognitive Theory, focusing on environmental and health behaviors. The goals of this distinct program are to: reduce adolescents\u27 misuse of prescription opioid medication, increase adolescents\u27 self-efficacy to make healthy decisions regarding misuse of prescription opioid medication, and to foster an environment conducive to preventing misuse of prescription opioid medication, while building social and self-management skills. The POPPY health promotion program will provide education that leads to development of health-related decision-making skills. Ultimately, healthier decisions lead to a reduction in opioid misuse risk factors such as peer pressure, social influence, curiosity, and experimentation. Protecting youth from health risks is critical to preventing fatalities associated with chronic conditions such as drug addiction that can lead to the onset of other major illnesses later-on in adulthood