Binge Watching: Exploring the Relationship of Binge Watched Television Genres and Colleges at Clemson University

This study explores the relationship between students’ area of study at Clemson University and their choice in binge watched programming. This article focuses on the uses and gratifications theory to explain that individuals have different motivations for viewing particular media, such as television genres. This article examines how area of study and gender can influence individuals’ preferences of binged watched television content. In addition, this article discusses how the combination of online-streaming options and viewers personal television consumption preferences have resulted in an increase in overall binge watching habits. The study was conducted through an online survey using convenience sampling. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to test the significance of differences. The ANOVA reported the difference in gender for preference of binge watching fantasy genres was (F (1,38) = 4.431, p =. 042), therefore the results were statistically significant at the p\u3c. 05 level. In regards to the College of Engineering and Sciences the correlation resulted with Drama (F (4,35) = 2.228, p =. 086) and Fantasy (F (4,35) = 1.821, p = .147) both approaching significance. Specifically, the results suggest that the correlation between genre and biological sex is more significant than the correlation between genre and college

86 Maryland Avenue historic structure report

Masters final project submitted to the Faculty of the Historic Preservation Program, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Historic Preservation. HISP 710/711 final project, 2014.The purpose of this historic structure report is to provide a set of customized treatment recommendations for 86 Maryland Avenue, in the city of Annapolis, Maryland owned by the American Institute of Architects - Maryland Chapter. This building is a prime example of the dynamic development of Annapolis, and the additive nature of buildings, because the property was created from subdividing a once large, prominent eighteenth-century Annapolis estate into smaller parcels for residential use, and then the building was expanded to provide commercial space. The recommendations are based on a rehabilitation treatment approach, and were determined after thoroughly researching the building’s history, investigating and documenting the existing building conditions, and determining the character-defining elements. They will help guide future projects on the building, and ensure its preservation

Mind Over Morals: Character Morality and Viewer Need for Cognition as Predictors of Anticipated Enjoyment of a Television Show

Using affective disposition theory (ADT) as a theoretical framework, this study examined the role of need for cognition (NFC) in a potential viewer’s desire to consume media content featuring a morally ambiguous character. According to ADT, enjoyment is driven by a viewer’s moral evaluations of characters (Zillmann & Cantor, 1972). Another body of research, which examines media consumption through the lens of uses and gratifications theory, emphasizes individual differences in a viewer’s desire to enjoy and select media content (Katz, Blumler, Gurevitch, 1973). One such individual difference that has emerged as a predictor of media selection is need for cognition (NFC); defined as an individual’s desire to engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive endeavors (Cacioppo, Petty, & Kao, 1984). A great deal of previous media entertainment research has focused on either morality or individual differences, but rarely on both. This thesis sought to contribute to recent research that has begun to fill that gap. Specifically, the objective of this thesis was to investigate the effects of both the morality of a main television character and the potential viewer’s NFC, a specific individual difference, on anticipated enjoyment and selection of a fictitious television show and on affective dispositions toward the main character. The study was conducted using an experiment with a 3 (moral vs. ambiguous vs. immoral) X 2 (high NFC vs. low NFC) factorial design. Three versions of an original television plot synopses were created, each featuring a moral, morally ambiguous, or immoral main character. The show, titled Southern Justice focused on Harrison Brooks, a seasoned detective accused of murder. Brooks’ actions and the resulting outcomes were manipulated to create the three conditions (moral, morally ambiguous, and immoral). After reading the plot synopsis to which they had been randomly assigned, participants reported their anticipated enjoyment and selection of the show and to what extent they liked the main character, Brooks. Results revealed that the morality of the main character and NFC respectively had consistent effects. Specifically, the results showed that participants liked and were more likely to select a television show that focused on a moral, rather than an immoral or morally ambiguous, character. Moreover, participants with a high level of NFC were more likely to anticipate enjoying and selecting the show than were participants with low NFC, regardless of the morality of the show’s main character. However, contrary to expectations, no interaction effects between a participants’ NFC and the morality of the main character were found for any dependent variable. These results indicate the utility of NFC in predicting individual television preferences but suggest moral complexity does not influence its role. In all, this research has implications for television producers and target niche audiences. Future research should aim to further explore NFC’s role in a viewer’s media enjoyment and selection

Preventing Teen Pregnancy Among Latinos: Recommendations from Research, Evaluation, and Practitioner Experience

Despite recent and dramatic declines in the rate of childbearing among Latino adolescents, that rate is still the highest among the major racial and ethnic groups in the United States. This fact underscores the need for effective interventions designed specifically to reduce teen pregnancy in this population. Child Trends examined the determinants of early childbearing among Latinos from multiple perspectives to develop a research-based pregnancy prevention approach for Latino adolescents. Specifically, we drew from research studies, program evaluations, and practitioner insights to identify,develop, or adapt promising program models for a Latino population.This brief highlights ways that adolescents' individual attitudes and behaviors, as well as family and parents, peers, and romantic partners, can help or hinder their desires to avoid teen pregnancy. Further, the brief addresses the need for programs and policy makers torecognize these influences and respond accordingly. Based on the findings outlined in this brief, Child Trends developed eight key recommendations for consideration in future intervention efforts

Evidence of fibrinogen as a target of citrullination in IgM rheumatoid factor-positive polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies have noted the significance of measuring anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as an important indicator for destructive disease, as is the case in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While the role of anti-CCP antibodies in RA and JIA has become better understood, the identity of the target proteins of this modification has remained elusive. In this study, we evaluated serum from patients with various subtypes of JIA to investigate the presence of anti-deiminated (citrullinated) fibrinogen and anti-citrullinated α-enolase antibodies, and their association with RF and anti-CCP antibody isotypes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sera were obtained from 96 JIA patients, 19 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and 10 healthy children. All sera were measured for antibodies against citrullinated and native fibrinogen and α-enolase by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, all sera were assayed for anti-CCP antibody isotypes and rheumatoid factor (RF) isotypes by ELISA. The relationship between anti-citrullinated fibrinogen and anti-α-enolase antibodies and disease activity and joint damage were also investigated. All results were correlated with clinical and laboratory parameters using Spearman's rho correlation coefficient. Multiple logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify which variables were associated with joint erosions and diagnosis of JIA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-one JIA patients (32%) demonstrated reactivity to citrullinated fibrinogen and 9 (9%) to citrullinated α-enolase. Reactivity to citrullinated fibrinogen and α-enolase was predominantly found in IgM RF-positive polyarthritis patients. Fourteen JIA patients reacted with native α-enolase and a higher percentage of SLE patients reacted with citrullinated α-enolase when compared to JIA patients. Anti-citrullinated fibrinogen antibodies correlated with the presence of IgG anti-CCP antibodies and IgA and IgM RF. The presence of anti-citrullinated α-enolase antibodies correlated with IgA anti-CCP antibodies. IgG anti-CCP antibodies were significantly associated with joint damage and anti-citrullinated fibrinogen antibodies were strongly associated with JIA when compared to control groups. Anti-citrullinated fibrinogen antibodies demonstrated high sensitivity (81%) for IgM RF-positive polyarticular JIA. IgG anti-CCP antibodies had the highest specificity (95%) for JIA, with anti-citrullinated fibrinogen antibodies, IgA anti-CCP antibodies and IgA RF all following at 84%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>JIA patient sera exhibited strong reactivity to anti-citrullinated fibrinogen antibodies and demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for JIA, primarily in IgM RF-positive polyarthritis patients. Fibrinogen is one of several protein targets for citrullination in JIA.</p

Convergent evolution of pregnancy-specific glycoproteins in human and horse

Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs) are members of the carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM) family that are secreted by trophoblast cells. PSGs may modulate immune, angiogenic and platelet responses during pregnancy. Until now, PSGs are only found in species that have a highly invasive (hemochorial) placentation including humans, mice and rats. Surprisingly, analyzing the CEACAM gene family of the horse, which has a non-invasive epitheliochorial placenta, with the exception of the transient endometrial cups, we identified equine CEACAM family members that seem to be related to PSGs of rodents and primates. We identified seven genes that encode secreted PSG-like CEACAMs. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that they evolved independently from an equine CEACAM1-like ancestor rather than from a common PSG-like ancestor with rodents and primates. Significantly, expression of PSG-like genes (CEACAM44, CEACAM48, CEACAM49 and CEACAM55) was found in non-invasive as well as invasive trophoblast cells such as purified chorionic girdle cells and endometrial cup cells. Chorionic girdle cells are highly invasive trophoblast cells that invade the endometrium of the mare where they form endometrial cups and are in close contact with maternal immune cells. Therefore, the microenvironment of invasive equine trophoblast cells has striking similarities to the microenvironment of trophoblast cells in hemochorial placentas, suggesting that equine PSG-like CEACAMs and rodent and primate PSGs have undergone convergent evolution. This is supported by our finding that equine PSG-like CEACAM49 exhibits similar activity to certain rodent and human PSGs in a functional assay of platelet–fibrinogen binding. Our results have implications for understanding the evolution of PSGs and their functions in maternal–fetal interactions

Investigating the veracity of a sample of divergent published trial data in spinal pain

Evidence-based medicine is replete with studies assessing quality and bias, but few evaluating research integrity or trustworthiness. A recent Cochrane review of psychological interventions for chronic pain identified trials with a shared lead author with highly divergent results. We sought to systematically identify all similar trials from this author to explore their risk of bias, governance procedures, and trustworthiness. We searched OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and PEDro from 2010 to December 22, 2021 for trials. We contacted the authors requesting details of trial registration, ethical approval, protocol, and access to the trial data for verification. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth group's Trustworthiness Screening Tool to guide systematic exploration of trustworthiness. Ten trials were included: 9 compared cognitive behavioural therapy and physical exercise to usual care, exercise alone, or physiotherapy and 1 compared 2 brief cognitive behavioural therapy programmes. Eight trials reported results divergent from the evidence base. Assessment of risk of bias and participant characteristics identified no substantial concerns. Responses from the lead author did not satisfactorily explain this divergence. Trustworthiness screening identified concerns about research governance, data plausibility at baseline, the results, and apparent data duplication. We discuss the findings within the context of methods for establishing the trustworthiness of research findings generally. Important concerns regarding the trustworthiness of these trials reduce our confidence in them. They should probably not be used to inform the results and conclusions of systematic reviews, in clinical training, policy documents, or any relevant instruction regarding adult chronic pain management