An Exploratory Approach to College Student Counterproductivity

Although counterproductivity (e.g., shirking responsibilities or lying to supervisors) is a focal topic for many industrial/organizational psychologists, the broader social psychology literature has historically focused on more serious and uncommon forms of individual-level deviance, often in terms of its relation to criminal activity or psychopathology. Additionally, sociologists study intentional harmful behaviors that individuals engage in but use the term deviance in lieu of counterproductivity. Regarding students, there has been some work that addresses the more common phenomenon of counterproductivity at school, such as lying to teachers and cheating on tests. Nevertheless, each of these domains, in criminal justice, social psychology, clinical psychology, sociology, etc. has largely taken a siloed approach with little cross-pollination. This paper adds to the sparse literature on student counterproductivity by identifying important contemporary forms of counterproductive student behavior (CSB) and developing a scale. Results indicated that CSB is multidimensional and reflective of four forms: cheating, dishonesty, lack of focus/participation, and poor quality work. The implications of such findings include a more psychometrically-sound instrument to assess student counterproductivity, thereby aiding scientists, but also a more nuanced understanding of how potential interventions could be crafted to help students engage in adaptive problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies

The Importance of Educating Adolescent Mothers in the Postpartum Period

Due to the lack of policy or procedure for individualized education for adolescent mothers, we concluded that a educational checklist in the charting system would be the most effective way to properly educate young mothers during this confusing stage in their life. Specific education helps to improve perceived quality of care, safety/wellbeing in the young mother and newborn, and reducing the risks of complications such as postpartum depression or issues with pregnancy later on. In summary, ensuring that teenage mothers are fully educated before discharge will provide for better mother and baby outcomes

Retinal vascular dysfunction in the Mthfr(677C\u3eT) mouse model of cerebrovascular disease

INTRODUCTION: Investigations of retinal biomarkers for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) and AD and related dementias (ADRD), has increased significantly. We examine retinal vascular health in a mouse containing the ADRD risk variant Mthfr METHODS: Morphology and function of retinal vasculature and neurons were assessed using in vivo imaging, immunohistochemistry, and pattern electroretinography. RNAscope and proteomics were employed to determine Mthfr gene expression and differential protein expression in mice carrying Mthfr RESULTS: Mice show age- and sex-dependent retinal vascular deficits, displaying similarities to previously published brain data. Mthfr is widely expressed and co-localizes with vascular cell markers. Proteomics identified common molecular signatures across the brain and retina. DISCUSSION: Results demonstrate that Mthfr-dependent vascular phenotypes occur in brain and retina similarly. These data suggest that assessing age and genetic-driven changes within retinal vasculature represents a minimally invasive method to predict AD-related cerebrovascular damage. HIGHLIGHTS: Mthf

The Role of Soy in Vegetarian Diets

Soyfoods have long been prized among vegetarians for both their high protein content and versatility. Soybeans differ markedly in macronutrient content from other legumes, being much higher in fat and protein, and lower in carbohydrate. In recent years however, soyfoods and specific soybean constituents, especially isoflavones, have been the subject of an impressive amount of research. Nearly 2,000 soy-related papers are published annually. This research has focused primarily on the benefits that soyfoods may provide independent of their nutrient content. There is particular interest in the role that soyfoods have in reducing risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and certain forms of cancer. However, the estrogen-like effects of isoflavones observed in animal studies have also raised concerns about potential harmful effects of soyfood consumption. This review addresses questions related to soy and chronic disease risk, provides recommendations for optimal intakes, and discusses potential contraindications. As reviewed, the evidence indicates that, with the exception of those individuals allergic to soy protein, soyfoods can play a beneficial role in the diets of vegetarians. Concerns about adverse effects are not supported by the clinical or epidemiologic literature. Based on the soy intake associated with health benefits in the epidemiologic studies and the benefits noted in clinical trials, optimal adult soy intake would appear to be between two and four servings per day

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

A Preliminary Investigation of Counterproductive Student Behaviors

Counterproductivity is broadly defined as intentional behaviors that are harmful to stakeholders (e.g., employer, coworkers, the self) and have long been studied by industrial/organizational psychologists, as well as by social psychologists who aim to understand numerous forms of individual-level deviance (e.g. criminal activity). Counterproductivity can be observed and examined in various settings among various populations including students in their school setting (e.g. lying to teachers and cheating on tests). While counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) have a substantial background of study by psychologists, there is very little research on counterproductive student behaviors (CSBs). In fact, the few studies examining CSBs focus on discrete behaviors (e.g., cheating) or apply measures developed in the CWB literature, thereby potentially limiting the scope and utility of their findings. Provided these limitations and the dearth of extant literature on CSBs, the current study aims to establish a more exhaustive and contemporary measure of student counterproductivity that is specific to the student population in their natural school setting. The study’s sample included 288 students from the University of South Carolina Upstate of varying genders, racial identities, academic standings, and enrollment statuses, each of which were given an anonymous online survey asking the frequency in which they engaged in counterproductive behaviors. Findings indicated that the most frequently reported behaviors were cheating, dishonesty, cyberloafing, and lack of effort. As this is the first attempt, to the authors’ knowledge, of creating a student-specific CSB measure, we believe that our findings may be used to a) inform decision-makers of general frequencies in which these behaviors occur, and b) develop of a psychometrically-sound instrument that could advance future research into the structure and relationships between various CSBs. Keywords: counterproductivity; counterproductive student behavior; academic dishonesty; devianc

Examination and Assessment of Large Forged Structural Components for the Precompression Structure of the ITER Central Solenoid

Large structural forgings of complex shape are required for several components of the precompression structure of the ITER Central Solenoid, consisting of a stack of six electrically independent modules and featuring a total height of 18 m and a diameter of over 4 m. The precompression structure allows the vertical tensile loads to be reacted and adequate preload to be maintained, in order to insure the contact between the modules during plasma operation. Several components of the precompression structure such as tie plates, lower and upper key blocks, lower and upper components are machined from open die forgings of an unprecedented combination of complex shape and large size. The selected material is FXM-19, a high strength nitrogen bearing austenitic stainless steel. A specific manufacturing schedule including redundant multidirectional forging is applied in order to achieve the required properties and microstructure of the final parts. The paper summarises the lessons learned from the series production of the components. The achievement of a fine and homogeneous microstructure, which is of paramount importance for final inspectability of the parts and to obtain the mechanical properties, is particularly challenging taking into account their large size. It requires a perfect mastering of the whole manufacturing process, from the steelmaking route, based in some cases on sequential remelting of electrodes from different master heats to create large Electroslag Remelted (ESR) ingots, to the sequence of the thermomechanical steps, from the initial upsetting of the ingots to the final solution annealing of the as-forged parts. Non-Destructive Examinations are based on stringent acceptance criteria. A fine microstructure is indispensable to allow full volumetric inspection with sufficient lateral resolution. Indeed, inspectability of the full thickness of the parts by Ultrasonic Testing, compatible with the criteria imposed by the technical specification and the structural requirements of the single components, is only possible in absence of unrecrystallised areas or excessive grain growth

Metallurgical assessment of large size tensioning components for the precompression structure of the ITER central solenoid

• An adapted fabrication and processing route including vacuum induction melting (VIM) and electroslag remelting (ESR) or vacuum arc remelting (VAR), combined with hot transformation steps involving where applicable redundant multidirectional forging, was successfully applied to the production of inconel 718 large size tensioning components for the precompression structure of the ITER central solenoid. • Material production involved a wide variety of gauges and product shapes, whose final properties are very consistent thanks to a repeatable and well mastered production process. • The material of tensioning components is submitted to a tight specification. Products feature an outstanding cleanliness, fineness and homogeneity of the microstructure, as confirmed by extensive macro and microscopic observations, which enable final properties to meet or exceed specification requirements