Sleep Quality in Undergraduate Students: Examining the Role of Class Rank and Related Individual Differences

College students are likely to experience stress due to increased responsibilities, more demanding coursework, and maintaining a balance between academics and social life. Indeed, college students are at risk for experiencing clinically-significant depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as sleep disturbances, likely as a result of these challenges. Although the relationship between these affective variables and college stressors are well-documented, less attention has been given to the factors that may help promote better sleep, with the majority of research documenting the intrinsic bidirectional nature of mood and sleep (e.g., lack of sleep leads to worse mood which further exacerbates sleep quality). However, some emergent literature has pointed to individual differences (e.g., stress levels) and class rank as important variables. Thus, this thesis aimed to further delineate and explore relationships between sleep quality and affective variables in college students. There was a marginal association between class rank and sleep quality, such that as class rank increased (e.g., as an upperclassmen) the self-reported sleep quality became worse. Further, the relationships between perceived stress and loneliness with class rank and sleep quality respectively did not have a significant association. However, a positive association between depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality emerged, as well as a mediation relationship wherein social anxiety leads to perceived stress which in turn leads to poor sleep quality was supported

Control and dynamics of a flexible spacecraft during stationkeeping maneuvers

A case study of a spacecraft having flexible solar arrays is presented. A stationkeeping attitude control mode using both earth and rate gyro reference signals and a flexible vehicle dynamics modeling and implementation is discussed. The control system is designed to achieve both pointing accuracy and structural mode stability during stationkeeping maneuvers. Reduction of structural mode interactions over the entire mode duration is presented. The control mode using a discrete time observer structure is described to show the convergence of the spacecraft attitude transients during Delta-V thrusting maneuvers without preloading thrusting bias to the onboard control processor. The simulation performance using the three axis, body stabilized nonlinear dynamics is provided. The details of a five body dynamics model are discussed. The spacecraft is modeled as a central rigid body having cantilevered flexible antennas, a pair of flexible articulated solar arrays, and to gimballed momentum wheels. The vehicle is free to undergo unrestricted rotations and translations relative to inertial space. A direct implementation of the equations of motion is compared to an indirect implementation that uses a symbolic manipulation software to generate rigid body equations

Effective use of TNF antagonists

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are biologic response modifiers that have significantly improved functional outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a progressive disease in which structural joint damage can continue to develop even in the face of symptomatic relief. Before the introduction of biologic agents, the management of RA involved the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) early in the course of disease. This focus on early treatment, combined with the availability of the anti-TNF agents, has contributed to a shift in treatment paradigms favoring the early and timely use of DMARDs with biologic therapies. Improvement in symptom control does not always equate to a reduction in disease progression or disability. With the emergence of structure-related outcome measures as the primary means for assessing the effectiveness of antirheumatic agents, the regular use of X-rays is recommended for the continued monitoring and evaluation of patients. In addition to the control of symptoms and improvement in physical function, a reduction in erosions and joint-space narrowing should be considered among the goals of therapy, leading to a better quality of life. Adherence to therapy is an important element in optimizing outcomes. Durability of therapy with anti-TNF agents as reported from clinical trials can also be achieved in the clinical setting. Concomitant methotrexate therapy might be important in maintaining TNF antagonist therapy in the long term. Overall, the TNF antagonists have led to improvements in clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with RA, especially those who have failed to show a complete response to methotrexate

The Latex Journey: A Narrative Approach to Exploring Condom Use, Stigma, and Education from the Perspective of Women in Masxha

Although the South African National Department of Health (NDOH) is spending increasing amounts of money on improving their HIV programs (including the rollout of new, scented condoms for their condom distribution program), the rates of condom use at last sexual encounter are declining. This inquiry focused on young women in the neighborhood of Masxha, Cato Manor, and their opinions surrounding how condoms are being used or misused, as well as the gender norms that perpetrate this (mis)use. This inquiry demonstrated the narratives of these young women on factors such as condom acquisition, gendered stigma, and condom education, including the Life Orientation curriculum, ultimately leading to condom negotiation, a critical skill for condom use. This inquiry was grounded in a narrative methodology approach to gain authenticity of opinions and lived reality for these young women. Using the principle that content and form are intrinsically connected, this inquiry examined how the opinions and narratives of these individuals are connected to emotion and experience, which influence knowledge and opinion. I conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eight women in Masxha to hear these stories and opinions. These women described their opinions about several factors surrounding gendered condom use, and lived experiences shed light on these factors. Exploring condom use in this community ultimately led to perceiving the factors of condom use as an uphill journey for these young women. The gender and sexuality norms that perpetuate difficulties in condom use for these young women represent the gravel path these women hike on their trek. The stigma that these women face for condom acquisition and use embodies a flowing stream that intersects the pebbled path of gender norms. Condom preference, such as brand preference, is the large, scattered boulders that follow the path up the hill. Education signifies a form of refuge for these women, offering solace and positive perceptions of condom users, aiding these women in the final stretch of their journey. Finally, condom negotiation represents the summit—the peak of the expedition—where the factors the women experienced throughout the climb culminates into a decision for or against condom use

Biomechanical Evaluations of Bilateral and Unilateral TKR Patients During Level Walking and Stair Negotiation

Many total knee replacement (TKR) patients will need to have a contralateral knee replacement. Biomechanical differences between 1st and 2nd replaced limbs of bilateral TKR have not been examined during level walking or stair negotiation. Further, it is unknown if hip and ankle biomechanics of bilateral patients are altered, compared to the replaced and non-replaced limbs of unilateral patients during level walking and stair negotiation. Study one and two compared hip, knee, and ankle biomechanics of the 1st and 2nd replaced limbs of bilateral patients and both replaced and non-replaced limbs of unilateral patients during level walking and stair negotiation, respectively. Study three compared knee joint waveforms of the 1st replaced limbs of bilateral patients, replaced limbs of unilateral patients, and randomly selected limbs of asymptomatic controls during level walking. Study one found that 2nd replaced limbs exhibited lower peak loading-response knee extension moments than the first replaced limbs. Bilateral patients exhibited lower loading-response knee extension moments, knee abduction moments, and dorsiflexion moments, compared to unilateral patients. Bilateral patients also exhibited lower push-off peak hip flexion moments and vertical GRF. Study two found during ascent, bilateral patients exhibited decreased peak loading-response knee extension (KEM) and push-off plantarflexion moments. Unilateral replaced limbs KEM was lower than non-replaced. During descent, bilateral patients descended significantly slower, had lower peak loading-response vertical GRF and KEM, and push-off KEM. Bilateral patients had higher peak loading-response hip extension and push-off plantarflexion moments, and increased knee adduction ROM. Study three found TKR patients exhibited more flexed and abducted knees throughout stance, decreased sagittal knee ROM, increased early-stance adduction ROM, decreased LR knee extension and PO knee flexion moments, decreased LR and PO KAbM, increased KAbM at midstance, increased midstance vertical GRF, as well as decreased LR and PO vertical GRF. Additionally, bilateral patients exhibited reduced sagittal knee ROM, increased adduction ROM, decreased sagittal knee moments throughout stance, decreased KAbM throughout stance, an earlier LR peak vertical GRF, and a decreased PO vertical GRF, compared to unilateral patients

Sublimation Of Laboratory Ices Millimeter/submillimeter Experiment (sublime): Identification And Quantification Of Organic Species From A Uv Photolyzed Methanol Ice

Millimeter/submillimeter spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique for identifying the components of complex gas mixtures. In this work, millimeter/submillimeter spectroscopy has been utilized to detect and quantify organic species sublimated from a UV photolyzed methanol ice. Eleven species were uniquely identified by their structure-specific pure rotational transitions, and the integrated intensities of their rotational transitions were used to determine their rotational temperatures and gas densities by a rotation diagram analysis. This talk will outline the experimental design and the latest results with SubLIME. The abundance ratios of detected organic species will also be compared to those detected in star-forming regions and cometary comae

Crossing Lines/Weaving Lives: Storytelling as a Means of Building Bridges across the Progressive/Conservative Divide

Christians in the United States have been divided against each other since before the Pilgrims touched dry land and Plymouth Rock. These divisions have created disaster in their wake, ranging from literal witch hunts in the early Massachusetts colony, to religiously fueled engagements in World War I, through to the continuing battles over sexuality, civil rights, and the American Christian exceptionalism that exist today. While the divisions are not new, our contemporary context suggests that these divisions themselves, even more than the subjects over which Christians are divided, are creating mortal danger to the body of Christ as a whole. The bitterness of these battles between the Progressive/Liberal/Mainline (PLM) churches and the Conservative Christian (CC) churches taints the flavor of the Gospel itself, making the experience of Church as a whole less palatable, less powerful, and less relevant. This bitterness, coupled with our increasing ability to tailor our newsfeeds in ways that align with our own preconceived notions, means that all of us, inside the Church and out, are more easily able to silence and ignore the voice of the Other thus narrowing our circles of information and impact. Overcoming the divides between the PLM and CC churches will require many different approaches, but this dissertation suggests that storytelling offers an effective, low-barrier means of bridging those divides and braiding relationships. Storytelling serves as the most basic technology of our Christian faith, and my hope is that storytelling can lead us back toward each other through the Master Storyteller himself, Jesus

Electronic portfolios : tools for authenic formative assessment

The culture of students is ever changing. Teachers are struggling to find ways to meet the needs of different learning styles and levels. Assessment for learning is the current buzz statement in education. This review examines using electronic portfolios as tools for assessing learning. This paper examines how electronic portfolios can be used as an assessment for learning tool that engages students in their own learning. The review found that electronic portfolios can be used as an assessment-for-learning tool, but more evidence is needed to determine whether it should be the sole means of learning assessment

Water solubility structure activity relationship of chalcones for aqueous applications

Chalcones are a group of synthetic and naturally occurring small molecules containing two aromatic rings separated by an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety. Chalcones are a versatile motif for organic synthesis, noted for their ability to act as Michael acceptors. They are a starting place for drug development, photodynamic therapy, and for the creation of organic materials. An issue relevant to all these fields is water solubility. Therefore, this study presents a small library of hydroxymethyl chalcones appended with a variety of solubilizing groups, and the effect of those groups on water solubility of the resulting chalcones. This series of novel chalcones represents a set of new building blocks which may be useful on the road to making more specially tailored, aqueous soluble compounds for a variety of applications

Preliminary evaluation of dimethyl anthranilate as a bird repellent

Call number: LD2668 .R4 HORT 1987 Y62Master of ScienceHorticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resource