DISORDERED EATING AMONG NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS

Research on influences of eating disorders have informed diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders, particularly for White cisgender women. A Perfect Biopsychosocial Storm is a theory of influences of disordered eating development: sociocultural influences of rigid body shape and size ideals, high rates of trauma and violence, experiences of objectification and sexualization, and biological changes (Maine & Bunnell, 2010). For transgender individuals, recent findings suggest disparities and negative mental health outcomes such as elevated prevalence of disordered eating, body image concerns, and self-reported disordered eating. For transgender men and women, researchers found that disordered eating may be related to attempts to masculinize/feminize the body, through effects like suppression of weight and secondary sex characteristics. For nonbinary individuals, motivations are unclear regarding masculinization/feminization. Further, while previous research has implicated experiences of marginalization in reduced body appreciation, impact on disordered eating behaviors in nonbinary individuals have yet to be explored. This study addressed gaps in research regarding experiences of nonbinary individuals with disordered eating. Through Grounded Theory qualitative analysis, I developed a framework to understand disordered eating among nonbinary individuals. Disordered eating was the surface-level manifestations of experiences such as trauma, distress surrounding bodily changes in puberty, and marginalization. Repeated marginalization, like misgendering and identity erasure, created conditions of shame to be associated with identity and self. Shame is a universal emotion that occurs when one does something they perceive as social transgressive and, thus, prevents connection. Shame motivates individuals to reduce socially transgressive behavior to increase connection with others. When one experiences marginalization and repeated shame surrounding identity, identity and self then can be experienced as a social transgression that prevents belonging. For example, participants described feelings of shame in comparison to the stereotypical image of a nonbinary person (White, masculine-leaning/androgynous, thin, tall). Disordered eating facilitated emotional coping, and, for some participants, helped achievement of gender presentation. Disordered eating also was associated with consequences of further shame around eating behaviors, and feelings of lack of control. Recovery and healing was supported through combating shame and disempowerment: being seen and empowerment through choice

Hegemonic Masculinity and Transphobia

Transphobia research has focused on predictors and correlations of prejudice toward transgender people. Consistently, male participants have higher transphobic attitudes compared to female participants in various studies. Further, males are overrepresented in crimes against transgender people. However, these studies were correlational and causation cannot be determined. Masculinity researchers outside of psychology have discussed maintenance of masculine privilege as a motivator for oppressive beliefs and actions. Thus, the goal of this study was to provide an experimental study of causes for increased transphobic attitudes in men, based on sociological and gender studies’ research on hegemonic masculinity. To test this, participants were given false feedback that masculinity score was either “feminine” (the experimental group) or “similar to their age group” (the control group). Results of the present study indicated participants in the experimental group reported nearly statistically significantly greater transphobia than those in the control group, p = .047. Although the findings were not significant, further research is needed to validate these findings. The study provides implications for future research on causes of transphobic attitudes and behaviors through sociological frameworks of power and privilege in the context of gender

Object Augmentation for the Visually Impaired Using RP

We demonstrate the application of rapid prototyping technology to augment every-day objects for the visually impaired. A freeform fabricator was used to print a tactile alphabet on multiple surfaces including paper, plastic, and metal. We have identified and experimented with multiple non-toxic materials and analyzed the dimensional tolerance, repeatability, and adhesion characteristics on multiple surfaces. Printing time for 1x1cm embossed letters varied from 14 to 52 seconds. More broadly, these experiments open the door to RP applications that involve custom product adaptation to address disabilities.Mechanical Engineerin

Nestin depletion induces melanoma matrix metalloproteinases and invasion

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key biological mediators of processes as diverse as wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer progression. Although MMPs may be induced through multiple signaling pathways, the precise mechanisms for their regulation in cancer are incompletely understood. Because cytoskeletal changes are known to accompany MMP expression, we sought to examine the potential role of the poorly understood cytoskeletal protein, nestin, in modulating melanoma MMPs. Nestin knockdown (KD) upregulated expression of specific MMPs and MMP-dependent invasion both through extracellular matrix barriers in vitro and in peritumoral connective tissue of xenografts in vivo. Development of 3-dimensionsal melanospheres that in vitro partially recapitulate non-invasive tumorigenic melanoma growth was inhibited by nestin KD, although ECM invasion by aberrant melanospheres that did form was enhanced. Mechanistically, nestin KD-dependent melanoma invasion was associated with intracellular redistribution of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (pFAK) and increased melanoma cell responsiveness to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), both implicated in pathways of melanoma invasion. The results suggest that the heretofore poorly understood intermediate filament, nestin, may serve as a novel mediator of MMPs critical to melanoma virulence

Unsteady numerical simulation of double diffusive convection heat transfer in a pulsating horizontal heating annulus

A numerical study is conducted on time-dependent double-diffusive natural convection heat transfer in a horizontal annulus. The inner cylinder is heated with sinusoidally-varying temperature while the outer cylinder is maintained at a cold constant temperature. The numerical procedure used in the present work is based on the Galerkin weighted residual method of finite-element formulation by incorporating a non-uniform mesh size. Comparisons with previous studies are performed and the results show excellent agreement. In addition, the effects of pertinent dimensionless parameters such as the thermal Rayleigh number, Buoyancy ratio, Lewis number, and the amplitude of the thermal forcing on the flow and heat transfer characteristics are considered in the present study. Furthermore, the amplitude and frequency of the heated inner cylinder is found to cause significant augmentation in heat transfer rate. The predictions of the temporal variation of Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are obtained and discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45860/1/231_2005_Article_64.pd

Patterns and universals of mate poaching across 53 nations : the effects of sex, culture, and personality on romantically attracting another person’s partner

As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, 16,954 participants from 53 nations were administered an anonymous survey about experiences with romantic attraction. Mate poaching--romantically attracting someone who is already in a relationship--was most common in Southern Europe, South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe and was relatively infrequent in Africa, South/Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Evolutionary and social-role hypotheses received empirical support. Men were more likely than women to report having made and succumbed to short-term poaching across all regions, but differences between men and women were often smaller in more gender-egalitarian regions. People who try to steal another's mate possess similar personality traits across all regions, as do those who frequently receive and succumb to the poaching attempts by others. The authors conclude that human mate-poaching experiences are universally linked to sex, culture, and the robust influence of personal dispositions.peer-reviewe

Are men universally more dismissing than women? Gender differences in romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions

The authors thank Susan Sprecher (USA), Del Paulhus (Canada), Glenn D. Wilson (England), Qazi Rahman (England), Alois Angleitner (Germany), Angelika Hofhansl (Austria), Tamio Imagawa (Japan), Minoru Wada (Japan), Junichi Taniguchi (Japan), and Yuji Kanemasa (Japan) for helping with data collection and contributing significantly to the samples used in this study.Gender differences in the dismissing form of adult romantic attachment were investigated as part of the International Sexuality Description Project—a survey study of 17,804 people from 62 cultural regions. Contrary to research findings previously reported in Western cultures, we found that men were not significantly more dismissing than women across all cultural regions. Gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment were evident in most cultures, but were typically only small to moderate in magnitude. Looking across cultures, the degree of gender differentiation in dismissing romantic attachment was predictably associated with sociocultural indicators. Generally, these associations supported evolutionary theories of romantic attachment, with smaller gender differences evident in cultures with high–stress and high–fertility reproductive environments. Social role theories of human sexuality received less support in that more progressive sex–role ideologies and national gender equity indexes were not cross–culturally linked as expected to smaller gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment.peer-reviewe

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe