The Effect of Training with NMES on Elbow Flexion Strength

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may be used to prevent atrophy and strength loss associated with postsurgical immobilization. A number of studies have tested the effectiveness of NMES using primarily knee extensors. The purpose of this investigation is to test the effectiveness NMES when training the elbow flexors by comparing NMES to voluntary training. Twenty-four university students were assigned with a counter-balanced design to one of three groups: NMES training, voluntary training, or a control group that did not train. Testing and training sessions were completed using a Biodex™ dynamometer. After a standard warm-up, subjects were positioned on the Biodex™ with the shoulder in the anatomical neutral position, elbow flexed to 90° and forearm supinated. Subjects performed three maximum isometric muscle actions of five-second duration with one minute of recovery between repetitions. Average peak torque during three repetitions was used in the analysis. Subjects then trained on three days per week for four weeks. Each training session included 15 maximum isometric muscle actions of ten second duration with 50-second recovery between repetitions. NMES was provided by a Forte™400 Combo (Chattanooga Group, Inc., Hixon, TN). Russian current was delivered via two carbon rubber electrodes placed over the proximal and distal ends of the left biceps brachii. A maximum tolerable ramped intensity was delivered with a frequency of 90 burst per second and a duty cycle of 10:50. After four weeks of training, subjects were post-tested in a manner identical to the pretest. Mean normalized strength data were analyzed using a 3 (Group) x 2 (Test) analysis of variance with repeated measures on the last factor. The analysis revealed a significant main effect for Test [F(I,21)=15.14), p0.2)]. The Group x Test interaction was significant [F(2,21)=4.62), p\u3c0.02)]. Post-hoc analyses revealed that the voluntary training group had a significantly greater increase than the other two groups, which did not vary significantly from one another. The lack of significant strength gains with NMES was likely due to the low average training intensity, which was only 20.4 % of the MVIC. Based on the results of this study, NMES training under these conditions may not be an effective alternative to voluntary training

The Radical Evolution of the Communist Educator: Doxey A. Wilkerson

Abstract This study illuminates the life, practice, and sociopolitical ideology of Communist Educator, Doxey A. Wilkerson. Wilkerson, a former member of the Communist Party of the United States of America, facilitated the development and execution of the Party’s educational programs during the mid-twentieth century. Contextually, narratives grounded in Black liberation, educational equity, and the sociopolitical inclusion of African-Americans have been dominated by the most visible members within the Black intelligentsia, such as renowned historian and scholar, W.E.B Du Bois. The research and narrative constructed within this work provides a unique and sound contribution to liberatory themes within educational frameworks and awakens the muted voice of radical activism within a political guise. The research conducted will capture Wilkerson’s evolving sociopolitical and sociocultural ideology to fully conceptualize the possibilities of radical educational, societal, and economic reform

Representations of Black History as Intentional Worlds of Oppression and Liberation

The present research applies the cultural psychology concept of intentional worlds (Shweder, 1990) to collective representations of Black History and their relationship with perceptions of racism in contemporary US society. Across 3 studies, I utilize quantitative and qualitative research approaches to explore the dynamic resonance between cultural context and psychological experience. In study 1 (N=47), I consider how representations implicit in mainstream American artifacts--specifically, Black History Month displays from predominately White American settings--reflect the preferences and understandings of White Americans (community-reflecting hypothesis). To test this hypothesis, White participants rated 12 Black History Month displays from high schools where White American students are in the majority (84-92%; Mainstream representations) and in the minority (2-28%; Minority representations). As anticipated, participants indicated that Mainstream displays were more preferable and recognizable than Minority displays. In studies 2 and 3, I consider whether apparently neutral mainstream representations lead people to understate the role of racism in US society (community-reproducing hypothesis). Study 2 (N=123) examines the consequences of exposure to the "preferred" Mainstream displays from study 1. Consistent with the hypothesis, the Mainstream displays were not as effective at promoting racism perception as the Minority displays. In study 3 (N=37), I randomly assign White American participants to one of three historical representation conditions: sanitized representations of Black achievements, critical representations of historical barriers, and a control condition. Consistent with community-reproducing hypotheses, sanitized Black History representations were not as effective at the task of promoting racism perception as the critical Black History representations. Together, these studies suggest that depending on their source, representations of Black History constitute "intentional worlds" that can promote liberation or oppression

From Overt Contentment to Hidden Space: Examining the Portrayal of Gender Fluidity in Naylor\u27s Bailey\u27s Café and Walker\u27s The Color Purple

I am examining the portrayal of gender fluidity in Gloria Naylor\u27s \u27Bailey\u27s Café (1992) and Alice Walker\u27s \u27The Color Purple\u27 (1992). Both authors show how a break from gender assumptions makes the lives of their doubly marginalized characters easier. My thesis redefines the notion of gender fluidity by examining it through the lens of intersectionality. By looking at how numerous factors such as race and gender work together, I introduce a new concept known as Black gender fluidity, a form of gender fluidity that many African Americans use to fight oppression. Black gender fluidity, unlike gender fluidity occurs because a lot of African Americans were unable to conform to gender assumptions due to racial oppression. Unfortunately, there is numerous criticism against members of the African Americans who defy gender norms. This thesis shows how Naylor and Walker celebrate the Black gender fluid actions of their main characters, who are predominately African American women, by reclaiming negative stereotypes against African American women such as the Jezebel and the Sapphire

Promoting Diversity in Higher Education

Many institutions are working on ways in which they can promote diversity. Within a diverse society, there are so many different cultures. Faculty, staff, and administrators have been working hard to implement strategies that will assist in diversifying their institution of higher education. As we continue to advance through the millennium, institutions of higher education are making changes in their programs of study in order to have a more diversified learning environment. This paper discusses diversity in higher education and how the university community can work together to make the institution a more welcoming environment for everyone

Organizational Change in the Workplace during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Failed change initiatives continuously plagued organizations throughout time, mainly because of the complexities involving the response to change. Researchers studied to understand the cause and effect of failed change efforts. The type of change often notes as a precursor to the kind of response, while the resistance to change was a catalyst to the 70% rate of failed change initiatives (Burnes & Jackson, 2011; Maheshwari & Vohra, 2015). Organizational change initiatives become further complicated, involving a crisis. This qualitative multiple case study included the phenomenon of unsuccessful change proposals during a crisis, its implications on job satisfaction and employee resistance, and the human resources sector’s culpability in this matter. COVID-19, a recent global pandemic, was the crisis in this study. Disruptions in the food services sector were the industry of choice studied. The participants were 16 employees and managers of fast food and casual dining establishments in California, Virginia, and North Carolina who experienced the changes brought on by COVID-19. Data came from structured in-person and telephone interviews and field studies. The findings revealed multiple themes, including (a) fear-driven compliance, (b) change generates opportunities, exposes deficiencies, and alters the workplace, (c) people, stress, and communication impacts job satisfaction, (d) employee resistance, and (e) human resources management ambiguity. A key recommendation implored the human resource sector to increase its visibility and manage its involvement with change initiatives, especially during a crisis. The recommendation is further studies that include interviewing human resources personnel and exploring different business sectors impacted by COVID-19

On the Intentionality of Cultural Products: Representations of Black History As Psychological Affordances

A cultural-psychological analysis emphasizes the intentionality of everyday worlds: the idea that material products not only bear psychological traces of culturally constituted beliefs and desires, but also subsequently afford and promote culturally consistent understandings and actions. We applied this conceptual framework of mutual constitution in a research project using quantitative and qualitative approaches to understand the dynamic resonance between sociocultural variance in Black History Month (BHM) representations and the reproduction of racial inequality in the U.S. In studies 1 and 2, we considered whether mainstream BHM artifacts reflect the preferences and understandings of White Americans (i.e., psychological constitution of cultural worlds). Consistent with the psychological constitution hypothesis, White American participants reported more positive affect, better recognition, and greater liking for BHM representations from the schools where White Americans were the majority than BHM representations from the schools where Black students and other students of color were the majority. Moreover, as an indication of the identity relevance of BHM representations, White identification was more positively associated with judgments of positive affect and preference in response to BHM representations from White schools than BHM representations from the schools where Black students were in the majority. In studies 3 and 4, we considered whether BHM representations from different settings differentially afford support or opposition to anti-racism policies (i.e., cultural constitution of psychological experience). In support of the cultural constitution hypothesis, BHM representations typical of schools where Black students were in the majority were more effective at promoting support for anti-racism policies compared to BHM representations typical of predominately White schools and a control condition. This effect was mediated by the effect of (different) BHM representations on perception of racism. Together, these studies suggest that representations of Black History constitute cultural affordances that, depending on their source, can promote (or impede) perception of racism and anti-racism efforts. This research contributes to an emerging body of work examining the bidirectional, psychological importance of cultural products. We discuss implications for theorizing collective manifestations of mind

The Role of Problem Behaviors in the Pathway from Abuse to Prostitution

Research has suggested that behaviors beginning in childhood or adolescence may play a mediating role in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and involvement in prostitution. It is currently unknown how poor self-concept and low self-efficacy play a mediating relationship in this association. The primary purpose of this correlational study was to evaluate early youth problem behaviors such as poor self-concept and reduced self-efficacy as possible mediators in the association between childhood abuse/neglect and participation in prostitution during young adulthood. The central research questions explored the association between childhood maltreatment and involvement in prostitution, as well as how self-concept and self-efficacy mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and engagement in prostitution in young adulthood. The Eco-developmental theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Data consisted of 4,882 adolescents in Grades 7-12 in the United States during the 1994-1995 school year from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, 61 of whom self-reported activity in prostitution. Results from Pearson correlations and Structural Equation Models indicated a relationship between childhood maltreatment and prostitution during young adulthood; self-efficacy and self-concept did not mediate this relationship. Childhood abuse was not a significant predictor of self-efficacy and self-efficacy was not significantly related to prostitution. Childhood maltreatment was a significant, negative predictor of positive self-concept. By demonstrating that childhood maltreatment is linked to prostitution in young adulthood, this research can foster positive social change, by showing the value of creating intervention programs that target childhood abuse in order to reduce involvement in prostitution in young adulthood

PERCEPTION OF RACISM IN AMBIGUOUS EVENTS: A CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY ANALYSIS

Previous research indicates that Black Americans are more likely than White Americans to think that racism still plays a role in current events. Mainstream accounts often explain these differences as the product of something about Black Americans that leads them to over-perceive racism. This paper applies a cultural psychology analysis to this phenomenon and suggests a more neutral account of the differences. This study examined whether engagement with history knowledge and various identity constructions (national and racial identity) were related to racism perceptions among White (n = 85) and Black (n = 65) undergraduates. As hypothesized, the present research replicated group differences in perception and found a positive relationship between historical knowledge and perceptions of racism in Hurricane Katrina-related events. The present research suggests that there are representations of American history that reconcile these racial differences in perception and allows all Americans, regardless of their identity, to find common ground