The Impact of the Transgenerational Cycle of Prison on Attachment Among Black Individuals

This empirical study assessed the impact of incarceration on an individual’s attachment style and explored protective factors that moderate these overall outcomes. The study sought to answer the following questions: (a) Are there differences related to the gender of Black participants and the gender of their incarcerated parent? and (b) Will affective expression and/or sense of community serve as protective factors and mediate the attachment style of Black individuals who have been incarcerated? The sample consisted of 98 adults (45 of whom indicated being a part of the transgenerational cycle of prison) ranging from 18 to 68 years old. Participants were instructed to complete the Sense of Community Index, Affective Style Questionnaire, and Hazan and Shaver’s (1987) three- category Attachment Measure. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results found relationships between gender and attachment style, age and attachment style, and particular affective expression styles and gender, but overall results did not support the hypotheses. It is believed, in the future, with a larger sample size, results may potentially show more statistical significance. Implications for these results, as well as possible future directions, are discussed

Early-Emerging Behavioral Inhibition: Contextual and Sex Differences in Linkages with Anxiety Vulnerability

The current study was designed to examine behavioral inhibition (BI) as a risk factor for anxiety disorders and to investigate whether contextual and sex differences moderate the association between BI and anxiety risk. Childhood BI was assessed in a sample of 409 3-year-old children (200 boys, Mage = 3.43, SD = .30) using standardized laboratory observations. Parental history of anxiety was assessed using semi-structured clinical interviews. In multivariate models, childhood BI was associated with a maternal history of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Gender was found to moderate the association between BI and maternal history of SAD, as boys’, but not girls’, BI increased with a maternal SAD history. This relationship was found only when BI was assessed in the context of nonsocial stimuli

Impact of a Professional Development Experience Focused on Extension Educators as Change Agents

Extension educators should think of themselves as change agents, yet many act as information dispensers. Accordingly, we sought to determine whether we could change perceptions of county Extension educators in Oklahoma regarding their function as change agents. Educators participated in a two-part (two-treatment) professional development experience involving a workshop and a computer simulation. The experience was grounded in Rogers\u27s diffusion of innovations theory and addressed nine established Extension educator change-agent roles. Participants ranked the importance of the roles prior to the experience and again following each treatment. Their perceptions changed regarding only the Alternative Delivery Systems role. We explore the imperative to improve Extension agents\u27 understanding of how to be change agents

Effect of Two Different Professional Development Methods on Oklahoma Extension Educators' Perception of Their Role as Agents of Change

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of two professional development delivery methods, a workshop and a computer simulation activity, on how Extension educators see themselves as change agents and the possibility of moving Extension educators from reactive to proactive programming. To assess the effectiveness of the professional development delivery methods, the study explored Extension educators� perceptions of Extension educator roles and work responsibilities. All Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service county Extension educators (N = 178) employed as of January 14, 2016, comprised the target population for this study. The study utilized an experimental pre-post-post-test two-group comparison design. The instrument consisted of ranking nine Extension educator roles in order of importance, and rating 12 work related responsibilities on a 6-point Likert-type scale in terms of what is the best use of an Extension educator�s time. Data collection was conducted during the 2016 Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service biennial conference. All county Extension educators in attendance were invited to participate in a two-part professional development session titled Making an Impact as a Change Agent. Rogers� (2003) Diffusion of Innovations Theory served as the basis for the content for the session because of its agricultural roots and its applicability to the mission of the Cooperative Extension Service. Of the Extension educators participating in the session, 77 fully completed all three instrument administrations (Pre-Test, Post-Test I, Post-Test II). Participants perceived Teach Problem Solving Skills as the most important role and Access Resources of Total University as the least important role. Both findings are consistent with Smalley�s (1985) study of the perceptions of Minnesota Extension educators. The treatment administered during the two-part professional development session caused participants to perceive all 12 of the work responsibilities as a better use of an Extension educator�s time.Agricultural Educatio

Characterization of the biofilm forming ability of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from dogs

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an opportunistic pathogen of dogs and has emerged as a leading cause of skin, wound and surgical site infections worldwide. Methicillin resistance is common and clinical infections as a result of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) pose a clinical challenge. In other staphylococci, biofilm formation has been shown to be a virulence factor for infection, however, it has received little attention in S. pseudintermedius. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the biofilm forming ability of clinical isolates of S. pseudintermedius obtained from dogs using phenotypic and genotypic techniques. RESULTS: 96% (136/140) of S. pseudintermedius isolates were classified as strong or moderate biofilm producers, with the majority of isolates being able to produce biofilm. There was no difference in biofilm formation between MRSP and MSSP (p=0.8), amongst isolates from clinical infections compared with isolates obtained from colonized dogs (p=0.08), and between isolates from sequence type (ST) 71 and ST 68 (P=0.09). icaA was detected in 77.9% (109/140) of isolates and icaD was detected in 75.7% (106/140) of isolates. Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of S. pseudintermedius biofilm production revealed aggregates of cocci and irregularly produced extracellular polymeric matrix. CONCLUSION: The majority of S. pseudintermedius isolates evaluated in this study were able to produce biofilm and this may be an important virulence factor in the rapid emergence of this bacterium in veterinary hospitals worldwide. Further study into the mechanisms of biofilm formation by S. pseudintermedius is warranted

Motivations, Expectations, Ideal Outcomes, and Satisfaction in Friends With Benefits Relationships Among Rural Youth

Characterized by repeated sexual contact with a known partner without the expectation of commitment, friends with benefits relationships (FWBRs) are increasing among youth. Yet, less is known about the motivations for, or satisfaction in, FWBRs especially among youth from rural areas. Youth from rural communities reported on their experiences in FWBRs. Findings indicated that youths’ major motivation for FWBRs was sexual satisfaction, although gender differences emerged. Sexual motivation was associated with relationship satisfaction. The majority of youth wanted to maintain their friendship following the FWBR, and most described the experience as satisfying. Implications and future directions are discussed

Boundaries: A Boundary Setting and Social Competence Program for Parents and Youth

Learning to set age-appropriate boundaries is an integral element of positive youth development. Both parents and youth need guidance in rule-rsetting and negotiating boundaries. North Dakota State University Extension created Boundaries, a program using parent-youth relationships to teach the importance of setting and following rules or boundaries in various environments. Boundaries was written for 7th- through 12th-grade youth and their parents. This study provides an overview of the program’s objectives and curriculum and shares findings from evaluation efforts conducted with over 60 youth and adults during the program’s pilot phase. In six pilot sessions, respondents completed single-session retrospective questionnaires and answered open-ended questions, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and thematic review. Adults reported higher satisfaction than youth with program content and instruction. Both youth and adults increased their knowledge of program-specific content related to boundaries and relationships. Open-ended responses offered positive feedback and suggestions for program improvement. Results suggested the program was perceived positively and increased youth and adult knowledge of boundary setting and social competence in family life and other settings. Key recommendations include increased rigorous evaluation to measure program impacts and focus on effective implementation strategies for the program

Analytic gradients for state-averaged multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory

Analytic gradients are important for efficient calculations of stationary points on potential energy surfaces, for interpreting spectroscopic observations, and for efficient direct dynamics simulations. For excited electronic states, as are involved in UV–Vis spectroscopy and photochemistry, analytic gradients are readily available and often affordable for calculations using a state-averaged complete active space self-consistent-field (SA-CASSCF) wave function. However, in most cases, a post-SA-CASSCF step is necessary for quantitative accuracy, and such calculations are often too expensive if carried out by perturbation theory or configuration interaction. In this work, we present the analytic gradients for multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory based on SA-CASSCF wave functions, which is a more affordable alternative. A test set of molecules has been studied with this method, and the stationary geometries and energetics are compared to values in the literature as obtained by other methods. Excited-state geometries computed with state-averaged pair-density functional theory have similar accuracy to those from complete active space perturbation theory at the second-order

Implementation of respondent driven sampling in Nairobi, Kenya, for tracking key family planning indicators among adolescents and youth: lessons learnt

Objective: Adolescents and youth constitute a significant proportion of the population in developing nations. Conventional survey methods risk missing adolescents/youth because their family planning/contraception (FP/C) behavior is hidden. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS), a modified chain-referral recruitment sampling approach, was used to reach unmarried adolescents/youth aged 15–24 in Nairobi, Kenya to measure key FP/C indicators. Seeds were selected and issued with three coupons which they used to invite their peers, male or female, to participate in the study. Referred participants were also given coupons to invite others till sample size was achieved. We report on key implementation parameters following standard RDS reporting recommendations. Results: A total of 1674 coupons were issued to generate a sample size of 1354. Coupon return rate was 82.7%. Study participants self-administered most survey questions and missing data was low. Differential enrolment by gender was seen with 56.0% of females recruiting females while 44.0% of males recruited males. In about two months, it was possible to reach the desired sample size using RDS methodology. Implementation challenges included presentation of expired coupons, recruitment of ineligible participants and difficulty recruiting seeds and recruits from affluent neighborhoods. Challenges were consistent with RDS implementation in other settings and populations. RDS can complement standard surveillance/survey approaches, particularly for mobile populations like adolescents/youth