Responding to Disproportionate Skin Cancer Rates Affecting Adult Men Aged 18-60

Skin cancer is a deadly disease that kills significantly more men than women every year. At the same time, women are more than twice as likely to apply daily sun protection factor (SPF) than men. This research study explores how key stakeholders within the skin care industry have responded to the data showing increasing disparities between male and female skin cancer rates. To fulfill the objectives of this research study, qualitative data was collected from six semi-structured interviews with adult males between the ages of 18 and 60. The interviews were intentionally designed to engage with the American, adult male’s personal knowledge of skin cancer and elicit perceptions and experiences with skin care and skin protection. Findings indicated that most men were consciously unaware that skin cancer affected them at higher rates that it did women. The findings also demonstrated that men tended to perceive activities and products related to the skin as rooted in aspects of feminine beauty. Because societal standards for men do not historically center on beauty, they do not feel that engaging with skin care products, including skin protection products, is relevant to their everyday life. By increasing visibility of the issue, dismantling harmful gender stereotypes, and conducting further intersectional research, men will be more likely to understand the relevancy of good skin protection behaviors, and institute preventative measures to mitigate their overall risk of dying from skin cancer. Keywords: Skin cancer, skin care industry, skin protection, gender, masculinity, melanoma, preventative healt

The Impact the Amount of High School Physical Education Has on the Physical Activity Habits of Traditional College Freshmen

Many states have reduced or eliminated high school physical education classes due to budget cuts and the passage of No Child Left Behind. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the number of years of physical education students received in high school and the traditional college freshmen’s current level of physical activities. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and additional demographic questions were used electronically to collect cross-sectional PA data from traditional college freshmen at a private Christian liberal arts university in the Midwest. After cleaning and processing the collected data, the sample consisted of 155 participants. Correlational analysis included Pearson Chi Square, One-Way ANOVA, and Two-Way ANOVA statistical tests utilizing SPSS software. Results of the study found that students who received seven or eight semesters of high school physical education were the most physically active, and students who received no high school physical education were the least physically active. However, no significant relationships were found between the amount of high school physical education received and physical activity habits. Significant relationships were found between gender, race, and those who participated on an interscholastic varsity sport and those who did not. Significant relationships were not found between commuter and residential students and students who received an exemption and/or substitution from physical education and those who did not. Future studies should expand the scope of the existing study by examining nontraditional college students, individuals who entered the workforce right after high school, and attitudes towards physical activity

Passive amplitude-modulated microwave backscatter modulation system

Barcode technology is slowly being replaced with transponder tags that have many benefits over barcodes. Four issues with transponder tags are battery life, power requirement, range of communication, and physical size. Microwave backscatter modulation (MBM) is used throughout industry to reduce the power requirement and size on the transponder tags while compromising range. Researchers and designers of current transponder tags typically utilize a passive carrier-present carrier-absent (CPCA) reflection of the reader\u27s carrier wave, or their transponder design uses an active backscatter system with an amplifier and circular polarization modulation. This research project develops a communication system that mixes a reader\u27s carrier wave with an intermediate frequency (IF) at the active Probe in order to improve isolation of the data signal in a high-clutter environment. The design and testing of Probe and Reader concepts are discussed, and the advantages and weaknesses of each design are determined. The performance of the passive IF amplitude-modulated MBM system is analyzed. The passive-AM MBM system achieves better range than CPCA modulation, and does not require as many components and power as the active circular-polarization modulation system. With mid-level power usage and range, the proposed passive backscatter system is a compromise between the low-range passive CPCA system and the high-power high-range active circular-polarization modulation system

The Impact the Amount of High School Physical Education Has on the Physical Activity Habits of Traditional College Freshmen

Many states have reduced or eliminated high school physical education classes due to budget cuts and the passage of No Child Left Behind. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the number of years of physical education students received in high school and the traditional college freshmen’s current level of physical activities. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and additional demographic questions were used electronically to collect cross-sectional PA data from traditional college freshmen at a private Christian liberal arts university in the Midwest. After cleaning and processing the collected data, the sample consisted of 155 participants. Correlational analysis included Pearson Chi Square, One-Way ANOVA, and Two-Way ANOVA statistical tests utilizing SPSS software. Results of the study found that students who received seven or eight semesters of high school physical education were the most physically active, and students who received no high school physical education were the least physically active. However, no significant relationships were found between the amount of high school physical education received and physical activity habits. Significant relationships were found between gender, race, and those who participated on an interscholastic varsity sport and those who did not. Significant relationships were not found between commuter and residential students and students who received an exemption and/or substitution from physical education and those who did not. Future studies should expand the scope of the existing study by examining nontraditional college students, individuals who entered the workforce right after high school, and attitudes towards physical activity

A Study on Residential Construction Energy Code Compliance in Nebraska

Energy codes are easy to implement, but how effectively are they being followed? To determine energy code compliance of residential construction in Nebraska, a study was conducted in which seven key areas having the most effect on energy savings were analyzed. The study examined both urban and rural areas of the state and compared Nebraska to other states’ energy code compliance studies. The study found an eighty-eight percent average compliance in the key areas. Urban areas tended to be more compliant than rural areas. Nebraska is comparative in energy code compliance to other states. Yet, the state of Nebraska, code jurisdictions and builders still have room for improvement. Advisor: Avery Schwe

Field evaluation of aerial applications of hydramethylnon and metaflumizone to control the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Buren) and related ant species (Hymenoptera: formicidae)

The red imported fire ant (RIFA) was introduced to the United States from South America over 75 years ago, and has become a pest in wildlife settings. Hydramethylnon fire ant bait has been the industry standard for controlling the red imported fire ant. It can be compared to novel baits, and used to evaluate different aerial application techniques, such as the "skip swath" method. Two baits, hydramethylnon and metaflumizone, and a skipped-swath method were evaluated through observations of the activity levels of RIFA mounds and abundance. The effects of RIFA on other ant species were determined by eliminating RIFA with insecticides, and then sampling for all remaining ant species. Measurements of RIFA mound activity was done by recording their response to the vibration of wire flags located in active mounds. This method indicated control of RIFA with hydramethylnon and metaflumizone from 61 to 180 d post-treatment. Additional monitoring for RIFA activity, in the same plots, was done with baited vials. These results indicated that complete control of RIFA was never achieved with either hydramethylnon or metaflumizone within 180 d post-treatment; however, there were significant reductions in RIFA population as a result of both chemical baits from 3-92 d post-treatment. A reduction of RIFA populations occurred with both baits, as determined through scheduled sampling of all ant species using baited vials. Native ants, such as Dorymyrmex spp., were found in higher numbers once RIFA populations were reduced, indicating that the two ant species compete for resources such as food and space. Dorymyrmex spp. numbers were suppressed by RIFA populations, while other ants, such as Paratrechina spp. were unaffected

The Poetry of a New Generation: An Investigation of the Potential Use of Hip-Hop and Modern Spoken Word in the Classroom

AARON L. THOMPSON: The Poetry of a New Generation: An Investigation of the Potential Use of Hip-Hop and Modem Spoken Word in the Classroom (Under the direction of Adam Gussow) This work will explore the connections between African American Literature and hip-hop culture. It will examine hip-hop music and modem spoken word performance as the newest forms of African American literature. Meanwhile, this thesis will emphasize issues such as the controversy surrounding the possibility of accepting hip-hop and urban spoken word performance as valuable forms of literature. Chapter One will delve into the origins of both hip-hop music and modem spoken word performance, examining the necessity of the African American community to develop and adapt such art forms into methods of escape and enlightenment to a larger society. Chapter Two will examine the specific works of some noteworthy hip-hop and spoken word artists. It will focus on the major themes and poetic techniques used by these artists, highlighting their ability to use effectively such mechanisms. Chapter Three will place hip-hop and modem spoken word performance in the classroom, ascertaining the benefits and consequences of adding them to the curriculum. As a whole, this thesis will investigate the background, quality, and potential use of hip-hop and spoken word as forms of poetry. Through discussion of the positive and negative characteristics, it will promote the use of these art forms in the classroom

Mental health fieldwork education

Final, peer-reviewed manuscript.Includes bibliographical references (pages 17-19).Fieldwork is essential for training future mental health practitioners. In this study, the authors identified factors predicting the number of students engaged in mental health fieldwork education. Proactive efforts (e.g., setting up structured fieldwork programs), such as offering both Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences, and perceiving no challenge to accepting Level II fieldwork students, predicted greater numbers of students participating in fieldwork. Clinicians who had set up structured fieldwork programs were more likely to have guest lectured in an occupational therapy education program and met with interested students. This is the first study to identify factors that predict participation in mental health fieldwork