The relationship between travel and won/loss records and performance measures in Major League Baseball

A home advantage in sports has been well documented. However, little research has been conducted to determine exactly why this home advantage exists. This study will attempt to examine the relationship between travel (i.e. number of miles traveled, number of time zones crossed, direction of travel, and game number at home or on the road) and the performance of professional baseball teams (i.e. won/loss, runs scored, hits, errors committed, double plays executed, and runs allowed). Stepwise multiple regression analyses will be used to determine the amount of explained variance in each performance variable attributable to the effects of the travel variables. The implications of these results will be discussed along with possible suggestions for future research in the effects of travel and the home advantage

Changing sociolinguistic identities of young, middle-class 'Coloured' people in post-apartheid Cape Town

This study set out to examine the sociolinguistics of social change amongst a group ofyoung, middle-class coloured people who were educated in a predominantly white school environment. The demise of the apartheid system in the early 1990s led to a situation in which racial mixing in government-run schools was permitted for the first time. I conducted sociolinguistic interviews with 20 self-identified 'coloured' Cape Town residents, who attended schools that were formerly open only to white children. . I analysed the data on two levels. Firstly, an analysis of accent, focusing on three salient phonetic markers of South African English, namely the GOOSE, BA TH and PRICE lexical sets (Wells 1982). Acoustic analysis of these vowels was done using a computer software programme, Praat, to record a total of 4410 tokens for the 20 speakers. The second level of analysis investigated how the informants constructed social identities in those unprecedented educational circumstances. I used three theories of identity to do this: Speech Accommodation Theory (Giles 1973), Social Identity Theory (Tajfel 1972) and the Linguistic Market (Bourdieu and Boltanski 1975). Comparing the results of the phonetic and sociological analyses, I found that the two levels of analysis supported the same conclusion: the young, coloured people in the sample subscribe to a coloured social identity, but have clear links with the white community. This suggests that they occupy an intermediate space between the two race groups, which is not surprising given the significant contact they had with members of both communities. There is some evidence of a separation between the coloured community and the typical 'coloured' accent, however, suggesting that one does not need to sound 'typically coloured' in order to be part of the coloured community. It is likely that we are witnessing the formation of an upper middle-class within the coloured middle-class community

MODULATION OF THE HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE BY THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

The immune system is critical for the maintenance of homeostasis. Due to the fact that a coordinated effort between organ systems is required for internal stability, it has been postulated that the immune system interacts with the neuroendocrine system. Clinical, anatomical, and receptor studies have provided evidence for a bi-directional communication between the nervous and immune systems. The goal of the present studies was to determine the potential influence of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) on the primary antibody forming cell (AFC) response. The adrenergic neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), has been utilized extensively by researchers to explore the possible relationship between SNS and the antibody response. However, the literature describing the humoral effects observed following 6-OHDA treatment is irresolute. In an attempt to provide insight into these apparent discrepancies, studies were conducted comparing the effects of 6-OHDA and its non-neurotoxic congener, 5-hydroxydopamine (5-OHDA). Both chemicals, when added directly into cultures containing naive splenocytes, suppressed the in vitro AFC response. Analysis following in vivo treatment with 6-OHDA or 5-OHDA revealed that while both chemical treatments resulted in suppression of the AFC response following in viva sensitization, only the splenocytes from 6-OHDA treated mice were suppressed when subsequently sensitized in vitro. Pretreatment with desmethylimipramine (DMI) blocked the observed 6-OHDA- and 5-OHDA-induced immunosuppression displayed in vivo, indicating that the uptake of the chemicals into adrenergic neurons was required. As an alternative method for removing the sympathetic influence in the spleen, studies were conducted with chlorisondamine, a non-competitive ganglionic blocker. While direct addition of chlorisondamine was without effect in the in vitro-in vitro AFC response, the in viva AFC response following chlorisondamine treatment was significantly suppressed. In addition to the suppression of the primary AFC response, 6-OHDA and chlorisondamine treatment resulted in a time dependent increase in the level of DNA fragmentation in the thymus. Analysis of serum corticosterone levels in 6-OHDA- and chlorisondamine-treated mice revealed that both treatments elevated levels of serum corticosterone. Given the potential role of corticosterone in the 6-OHDA- and chlorisondamine-induced immunosuppression, studies were conducted to determine if the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU-486, was able to block the DNA fragmentation in the thymus and the suppression of the AFC response demonstrated after 6-OHDA or chlorisondamine treatment. While RU-486 was effective at blocking the 6-OHDA- and chlorisondamine-induced thymic effects, it was unable to block the suppression of the primary AFC response. Collectively, these studies reveal that removal of the peripheral SNS by either sympathectomy with 6-OHDA or ganglionic blockade with chlorisondamine can result in 1) thymic alterations which are mediated by increased levels of corticosterone and 2) suppression of the primary AFC response which is independent of the elevated corticosterone levels. Importantly, these results provide evidence for positive modulation of the humoral immune response by the sympathetic nervous system

An analysis of request-centered relational communication within behavioral consultation using a sample of practicing school psychologists

The Folger and Puck (1976) request-centered relational communication coding system was used to examine the relationship between measures of consultant and consultee control in behavioral consultation and (a) consultee satisfaction; (b) client behavior change; (c) perceived treatment integrity; and (d) perceptions of client behavior change. School psychologists from across Iowa served as consultants to one consultee each across three problem-solving interviews. The Problem Identification Interview was audiotaped and request-response transactions were coded. Requests were coded as either: dominant, dominant-affiliative, or submissive and served as measures of consultant and consultee control. Measures of consultant and consultee control and the outcome measures were correlated. The hypotheses regarding the relationship between consultant and consultee measures of control and consultation outcomes were not supported. Consultant and consultee total bids, which provide a measure of interview length, were significantly related to consultee satisfaction with consultation and treatment integrity. The longer the consultation interview the more dissatisfied the consultees were with consultation and the less likely they were to implement interventions with integrity. Consistent with previous research (e.g., Erchul, 1987; Erchul & Chewning, 1990; Erchul et al., 1995) a pattern of interaction where the consultant leads and the consultee follows during consultation was found. Further, consultation resulted in positive outcomes for clients. These results were not, however, adequately explained by the variables studied in this research. Several explanations were advanced for these nonsignificant findings

‘Bucking the trend’: exploring schools that exceed expectations

This thesis outlines an exploratory study which was undertaken to gain an understanding of the factors influencing good educational outcomes in areas of disadvantage. This empirical study adopts a mixed methods and staged approach in order to: firstly, identify schools located in areas of disadvantage which achieve better than expected outcomes for their students; and, secondly, conduct case study, ethnographic research in selected schools identified at stage one. The research is framed in the Scottish policy context where a key political aim is to raise attainment, with a particular focus on narrowing the poverty related attainment gap. Furthermore, the wider global and macro context of performativity and accountability procedures are noted, alongside a critique of school effectiveness research and the ‘what works’ debate. Next, the theoretical underpinnings of this research study are offered. This theoretical position draws upon the social-ecological model and the work of Pragmatist and Neo-Pragmatist thought, through the work of Mead (1932, 1934a, 1934b, 1938), Dewey (1916, 1938, 1939), and Joas (1996), to highlight the transactional nature of individuals with their environment. Subsequently, a comprehensive review of the themes emerging from academic, policy and theoretical literature are provided. In line with the theoretical position of this study, the ecological nature of schooling and education is a prominent theme. Subsequently, the innovative mixed method approach of the first stage of the research is discussed, alongside the findings from this first stage. Then, the multiple methods drawn upon in the second stage of the research study (in three case study schools) are outlined, with reference to case study and ethnographic intent (Wolcott, 1987) research, and methods drawing upon the mosaic approach (Clark and Moss, 2011). Through these three case studies, the findings detail: young people’s agency and their support systems; the value of positive relational and cultural resources; and, the adverse effects of ‘what works’ approaches and performativity and accountability measures. Key findings which emerge from this research study include: diversity in the understanding of what it is to be successful; the importance of school culture in promoting engagement, providing a sense of belonging and empowering young people, staff and local community; and, the perils of the global phenomenon of performativity for schools which need contextualised solutions to local problems. Possibilities for future research and possible directions to promote individual voices, such as young people and teachers, in the policy making process are then noted. However, as will be emphasised throughout this thesis, the key takeaway idea is the need to allow for more nuanced understandings of each school’s unique ecological context

Women, men and power :gender relations in Montserrat

PhD ThesisThis thesis draws on and informs feminist theory and Caribbean studies and is concerned with investigating the particular form of gender relations in Montserrat. Gender relations are conceptualised as power relations between men and women. This argument is derived from an exploration of the possibilities and limitations of a range of feminist literature: marxist feminism, socialist feminism, women's studies, feminist geography, radical feminism and the studies of women and development. The gender relations in Montserrat are explored in four areas of social organisation: the household, the workplace, union patterns and heterosexual behaviour. They are seen as universal features of women's lives and, potentially, the main sites of gender relations. Montserratian gender relations were found to be patriarchal, but varied in strength within the four social areas. The household per se was not a site of patriarchal gender relations unless shared with a male partner. The workplace did not exhibit patriarchal gender relations. Gender relations in marriage and cohabiting unions were strongly patriarchal; those in visiting unions were either egalitarian or weakly patriarchal. Heterosexual behaviour, involving sexuality and biological reproduction, was identified as the main site of the maintenance and reproduction of patriarchal gender relations in Montserrat. Montserratian gender relations are shown to be broadly similar to those of the Caribbean generally; but there are exceptions. Very low levels of marriage and cohabitation mean that household gender relations are less patriarchal than in other islands. In comparison with other Caribbean islands, where MNCs, law wages, strict gender segregation and a lack of employment legislation prevail, Montserratian women experience higher wages, job security and greater employment opportunities. The Montserratian workplace, therefore, cannot be seen as a site of patriarchal gender relations. However, as is commonplace throughout the Caribbean, union patterns, specifically marriage and cohabitation, and heterosexual behaviour are sites of patriarchal gender relations.Economic and Social Research Council

Sociophonetics and class differentiation: A study of working- and middle- class English in Cape Town's coloured community

Includes bibliographical references.This thesis provides a detailed acoustic description of the phonetic variation and changes evident in the monophthongal vowel system of Coloured South African English in Cape Town. The changes are largely a result of South Africa's post-apartheid socio-educational reform. A detailed acoustic description highlights the most salient changes (compared with earlier reports of the variety), indicating the extent of the change amongst working-class and middle-class speakers. The fieldwork conducted for this study consists of sociolinguistic interviews, conducted with a total of 40 Coloured speakers (half male, half female) from both working-class and middle-class backgrounds. All speakers were young adults, born between 1983 and 1993, thus raised and schooled in a period of transition from apartheid to democracy. Each of the middle-class speakers had some experience of attending formerly exclusively White schools, giving them significant contact with White peers and teachers, while the educational careers of the working-class speakers exposed them almost solely to Coloured peers and educators. The acoustic data were processed using methods of Forced Alignment and automatic formant extraction – methods applied for the first time to any variety of South African English. The results of the analysis were found generally to support the findings of scholars who have documented this variety previously, with some notable exceptions amongst middle-class speakers. The changes are attributable to socio-educational change in the post-apartheid setting and the directionality of the changes approximate trends amongst White South African English speakers. The TRAP, GOOSE and FOOT lexical sets show most change: TRAP is lowering, while GOOSE and FOOT are fronting. Although the changes approximate the vowel quality used by White speakers, middle-class Coloured speakers use an intermediate value between White speakers and working-class Coloured speakers i.e. they have not fully adopted White norms for any of the vowel classes. Working-class speakers were found to have maintained the monophthongal vowel system traditionally used by Coloured speakers

Changing sociolinguistic identities of young, middle-class 'Coloured' people in post-apartheid Cape Town

This study set out to examine the sociolinguistics of social change amongst a group of young, middle-class coloured people who were educated in a predominantly white school environment. The demise of the apartheid system in the early 1990s led to a situation in which racial mixing in government-run schools was permitted for the first time. I conducted sociolinguistic interviews with 20 self-identified 'coloured' Cape Town residents, who attended schools that were formerly open only to white children. I analysed the data on two levels. Firstly, an analysis of accent, focusing on three salient phonetic markers of South African English, namely the GOOSE, BATH and PRICE lexical sets (Wells 1982). Acoustic analysis of these vowels was done using a computer software programme, Praat, to record a total of 4410 tokens for the 20 speakers. The second level of analysis investigated how the informants constructed social identities in those unprecedented educational circumstances. I used three theories of identity to do this: Speech Accommodation Theory (Giles 1973), Social Identity Theory (Taj fel 1972) and the Linguistic Market (Bourdieu and Boltanski 1975). Comparing the results of the phonetic and sociological analyses, I found that the two levels of analysis supported the same conclusion: the young coloured people in the sample subscribe to a coloured social identity, but have clear links with the white community. This suggests that they occupy an intermediate space between the two race groups, which is not surprising given the significant contact they had with members of both communities. There is some evidence of a separation between the coloured community and the typical 'coloured' accent, however, suggesting that one does not need to sound 'typically coloured' in order to be part of the coloured community. It is likely that we are witnessing the formation of an upper middle-class within the coloured middle-class community

An Initial Examination of the Role of Gender in Social Anxiety and Self-medication. Primary Psychiatry

Social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia) is a common, debilitating disorder. Social anxiety disorder is the fourth most prevalent disorder, with lifetime prevalence rates of 12.1% (Kessler et al., 2005). Socially anxious individuals have demonstrated impairments in academic, occupational, and social functioning (Stein, Torgrud, & Walker, 2000 ) Social anxiety and substance abuse appear to be related. •Substances may be used to reduce distress in social situations (e.g. Tran Haaga, & Chambless, 1997; Goodwin, Fergusson, & Horwood. 2004; Ham, Hope, White, & Rivers, 2002) •Kushner, Sher, and Erikson (1999) concluded that regardless of whether a substance use problem occurred first or an anxiety problem occurred they feed into each other reciprocally. Previous research has suggested that young adult women experience social anxiety to a greater extent than men, and that anxiety and substance use are more strongly linked for women than for men. In the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse survey, girls with alcohol use disorders had higher rates of anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders than boys (CASA, 2003). Although, there is research that examines alcohol use, social anxiety, and gender, most is either outdated or the studies have contrary findings. This study was designed to investigate the links between social anxiety (by fear of negative evaluation), substance use, and gender among emerging adults. As there is evidence to suggest that gender could serve as a moderator the relationshi

Trans-Resveratrol: From Phytonutrient Supplement, to Novel Nanotherapeutic Agent

Trans-resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) (RES) is a plant polyphenol that has been well documented for its anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. Moreover, compelling evidence presented in the abundance of pre-clinical studies using ligature-induced periodontitis models has positioned RES as a theoretically viable candidate for the reduction of the chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue destruction seen in periodontitis (PD). However, the instability of RES under physiological conditions, as well as its rapid hepatic clearance, has presented as a challenge to its ubiquitous application as an oral therapeutic in clinical practice. Fortunately, with the application of nanotechnology, the pharmacological profile of RES repositions the phytochemical from an herb-based supplement, useful as an adjunct therapy, to a stable and potent nanomedicine, demonstrating efficacy for the prevention and treatment of PD and its associated systemic diseases. This chapter explores the details of the potential for nano-RES as a viable therapeutic for PD