Make Your Mark!

Welcome! Kristin Chenoweth’s song “I was here” speaks volumes when it comes to our theme for the 2016 Women’s Summit – Make Your Mark! The words struck a chord with me, especially, “You will notice me. I’ll be leaving my mark like initials carved in an old oak tree. Just wait and see. I want to do something that matters, say something different, something that sets the whole world on its ear.” Last year, our opening keynote speaker, Sallie Krawcheck, told us that women want to engage in work that allows them to find meaning and purpose in their professional lives. They are more likely to seek employment from a company if the work is meaningful and gives them a purpose for going to work every day, she noted. I find meaning and purpose in my work at Bryant University, which includes creating the Women’s Summit for the past 19 years. I believe in the Women’s Summit mission: to empower those who attend to be professionally, personally, and financially successful. The Women’s Summit Committee works hard to present nationally recognized keynote speakers and breakout sessions that are led by experts in their fields, enabling attendees to experience renewed enthusiasm and confidence that can inspire them at work and at home. The contributions you make to your profession, your family, and your community have great value. If you can help just one person, then you have made a difference in his or her life. Our goal is to provide encouragement and educationally enriching programs that motivate you to continue to succeed. Attending the conference also allows you to focus on your health and well-being by providing you with a day to step back, review your current situation, and set goals. In his book, The Road to Character, David Brooks writes: “When we think about making a difference or leading a life with purpose, we often think of achieving something external: performing some service that will have an impact on the world, creating a successful company, or doing something to benefit the community. These are not the only parameters that measure our success. We also have internal moral qualities of humility and learning that require us to confront our weaknesses,” according to Brooks. It is the combination of these qualities, plus being mindful about our health and well-being, which will help us all to make our mark! At this time I would like to thank the Women’s Summit Co-chairs and Women’s Summit Committee, as well as everyone at Bryant University who devote so much time and energy to the creation of another successful conference. The Women’s Summit would not be possible without the help of our generous sponsors who enable us to continue this educationally enriching conference each year. We appreciate their contributions and support in advancing women through their sponsorship. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – anne frank Sincerely, Kati Machtley Director, The Women’s Summit Bryant Universit

Ephedrine: An Herbal Toxicological Hazard

Many individuals are currently using herbal products that are toxicologically unsafe due to inaccurate dosages and/or addition of harmful substances of which the consumer is unaware. This is primarily because the health supplement industry has failed to supply adequate research and regulation on its products. This paper makes a brief review of the general field of toxicology, but ultimately narrows its scope to an in-depth consideration of ephedrine, an ancient Chinese medicinal herb capable of concerted stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Ephedrine use has resulted in negative reactions in a number of cases

The effects of professional development on the staff\u27s increased awareness of program changes at the Warren E. Sooy, Jr. Elementary School

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of professional development on elementary school teachers at the Warren E. Sooy, Jr. Elementary School. The study did not result in an increased awareness about program changes at the school in order to inform educators. The study\u27s findings were reported to the teachers, staff members, and administration. Before the study, staff members completed a Needs Assessment which recorded the attitudes of staff members concerning the most important areas of need referable to professional development. After the study, a final survey was utilized to determine if the school\u27s professional development opportunities provided teachers and staff with the assistance needed to become familiar with curriculum change. It was concluded that professional staff development was not effective. Data obtained from the Hammonton School District Professional Development Evaluation suggests that the staff\u27s perception of effective opportunities made available have not eased the transition of implementing curriculum changes

Cocaine Disrupts Pup-Induced Maternal Behavior in Juvenile and Adult Rats

Impaired onset of maternal behavior in first generation rat dams was previously correlated with rearing by cocaine-treated dams and prenatal cocaine exposure. Pup-induced maternal behavior in non-lactating rats has not been examined with regard to cocaine exposure and rearing conditions. First generation male and female juveniles and young adult males reared by cocaine-treated or control dams and prenatally exposed to either cocaine or control conditions were tested for pup-induced maternal behavior at postnatal days 28 and 60. We now report disruptions in pup-induced maternal behavior in both 28 and 60 day old first generation offspring attributable to rearing condition and prenatal cocaine exposure. Originally published Neurotoxicology and Teratology, Vol. 29, No. 6, Nov 200

Victimisation in the lives of lesbian-identified women in South Africa : implications for clinical assessment and treatment

Few clinical studies have examined victimisation in the lives of lesbian women in South Africa and whether there are distinct implications for psychological treatment. This paper presents the assessment and treatment of a lesbian-identified South African survivor of childhood sexual abuse who, as an adult, was raped and later gang raped. Her victimisation in adulthood represented ‘corrective rape’ motivated by the prejudiced assumption that the sexuality of lesbian women is pathological and should be ‘corrected’ through rape. This paper lends insights into the role of heterosexism in shaping vulnerability to victimisation and the process of recovery. It provides recommendations for work with sexual minority clients and highlights the implications when there is an absence of safety and support in the external environment

Chronic escitalopram treatment attenuated the accelerated rapid eye movement sleep transitions after selective rapid eye movement sleep deprivation: a model-based analysis using Markov chains

BackgroundShortened rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency and increased REM sleep amount are presumed biological markers of depression. These sleep alterations are also observable in several animal models of depression as well as during the rebound sleep after selective REM sleep deprivation (RD). Furthermore, REM sleep fragmentation is typically associated with stress procedures and anxiety. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants reduce REM sleep time and increase REM latency after acute dosing in normal condition and even during REM rebound following RD. However, their therapeutic outcome evolves only after weeks of treatment, and the effects of chronic treatment in REM-deprived animals have not been studied yet.ResultsChronic escitalopram- (10 mg/kg/day, osmotic minipump for 24 days) or vehicle-treated rats were subjected to a 3-day-long RD on day 21 using the flower pot procedure or kept in home cage. On day 24, fronto-parietal electroencephalogram, electromyogram and motility were recorded in the first 2 h of the passive phase. The observed sleep patterns were characterized applying standard sleep metrics, by modelling the transitions between sleep phases using Markov chains and by spectral analysis.Based on Markov chain analysis, chronic escitalopram treatment attenuated the REM sleep fragmentation [accelerated transition rates between REM and non-REM (NREM) stages, decreased REM sleep residence time between two transitions] during the rebound sleep. Additionally, the antidepressant avoided the frequent awakenings during the first 30 min of recovery period. The spectral analysis showed that the SSRI prevented the RD-caused elevation in theta (5 inverted question mark9 Hz) power during slow-wave sleep. Conversely, based on the aggregate sleep metrics, escitalopram had only moderate effects and it did not significantly attenuate the REM rebound after RD.ConclusionIn conclusion, chronic SSRI treatment is capable of reducing several effects on sleep which might be the consequence of the sub-chronic stress caused by the flower pot method. These data might support the antidepressant activity of SSRIs, and may allude that investigating the rebound period following the flower pot protocol could be useful to detect antidepressant drug response. Markov analysis is a suitable method to study the sleep pattern