Interpersonal Goals, Motivation, and Health-promotion Behaviors

This thesis placed third for health-promotion in the 25th Annual Denman ForumResearch shows that people's behaviors, and specifically their lack of health engagement behaviors, contributes to about 50% of all illness (Ryan 2009). Why are individuals not engaging in these health behaviors that could prevent serious illness? From the social psychological perspective, motivation is shown to be more predictive of health outcomes compared to beliefs, support, or self-efficacy (Kelly et al., 1991). Building upon the egosystem-ecosystem theory of social motivation (Crocker et al., 2017), the current research examines the association among interpersonal goals, health motivations, and health-promotion behaviors. Study 1 utilized Amazon Mechanical Turk in order to outsource surveys to 309 participants ages 22 to 70 (M = 37.78 years old). Participants completed surveys measuring interpersonal goals, health motivations, and health behaviors. Results show positive associations between both compassionate and self-image goals with motivation on health-promotion behaviors. Study 2 was an experimental design utilizing 207 participants from the student research pool at a large university (M = 19.32 years old). This study used a manipulation of compassionate and self-image goals, in which participants were assigned to either a control condition or a condition of statements designed to increase one's self-image goals or compassionate goals. The manipulation preceded the same questions from Study 1 as well as measures relating to the participant's future willingness to engage in health-promotion behaviors. The results of Study 2 replicated the correlational results from Study 1, but regression analysis showed positive associations only between compassionate goals and motivation on health-promotion behavior. The current research suggests that interpersonal motivations affect people's health behaviors and subsequent health outcomes. These results are relevant for the health field as it can aid in the understanding of how interpersonal relationships may motivate individuals to increase engagement in health-promotion behaviors.Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research ScholarshipNo embargoAcademic Major: Psycholog

SEASONAL BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF THE DOGWOOD BORER, SYNANTHEDON SCITULA (LEPIDOPTERA: SESIIDAE) ON CLONAL APPLE ROOTSTOCKS IN NEW YORK

The dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris), is a relatively new pest problem on apples. Larvae feed principally in burr knots on the above-ground portion of clonal rootstocks. According to a survey of 33 orchards on dwarf or semidwarf apple root-stocks, about 70% of the trees had burr knots. The tendency to develop burr knots was similar among the rootstocks examined in this survey. The proportion of trees infested with dogwood borer in an orchard ranged from 0 to 100% and averaged 30%. The dogwood borer overwinters in the larval stage (2nd to 6th instar) and pupates in the feeding tunnel. Emergence and pheromone-trap records indicate 1 generation a year. In western New York, adults begin to emerge in mid-June, peak in mid-July, and continue to emerge through September. In several tests conducted over a 3-year period, chlorpyrifos at 180 g/100 L provided the most consistent control. At this rate a single spray timed to first or peak egg hatch was as effective as 2 sprays. Latex paint applied by brush to the trunk at the beginning of the oviposition period also reduced the infestation. In established plantings, dogwood borer can also be controlled by berming with soil up to the graft union to prevent access to burr knots. Destroying burr knots chemically with naphthalene acetic acid will not eliminate an infestation and may invite other borer problem

Supersonic combustion engine testbed, heat lightning

The design of a supersonic combustion engine testbed (SCET) aircraft is presented. The hypersonic waverider will utilize both supersonic combustion ramjet (SCRAMjet) and turbofan-ramjet engines. The waverider concept, system integration, electrical power, weight analysis, cockpit, landing skids, and configuration modeling are addressed in the configuration considerations. The subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic aerodynamics are presented along with the aerodynamic stability and landing analysis of the aircraft. The propulsion design considerations include: engine selection, turbofan ramjet inlets, SCRAMjet inlets and the SCRAMjet diffuser. The cooling requirements and system are covered along with the topics of materials and the hydrogen fuel tanks and insulation system. A cost analysis is presented and the appendices include: information about the subsonic wind tunnel test, shock expansion calculations, and an aerodynamic heat flux program

Precision crop load management part 2.

The Precision Crop Load management protocol, which was used by some growers in 2013, consisted of first defining the optimum fruit number/tree (target fruit number) and then pruning to reduce flower bud numbers to 1.5 times the target fruit number. Chemical thinning consists of applying sequential thinning sprays (with rates and timing guided by the carbohydrate balance model and the fruit growth rate model to assess thinning efficacy). The program was successful in guiding chemical thinning decisions in 2013

Radiation Shielding: The Astronomical Problem of Protecting Astronauts on Mars

Radiation is the biggest roadblock for NASA in sending astronauts to Mars and to explore other parts of the solar system. The moon is close enough to Earth that radiation was not a significant factor in the short-term Apollo missions, but any future missions that stray further from Earth or for longer periods of time will require new radiation shielding techniques. This review explains the different types of radiation that will affect astronauts, the current mitigation techniques, and the new research being done on radiation shielding. More work is needed to find a lightweight, durable material to protect astronauts as they explore increasingly distant parts of the solar system

Correlates among self-concept, anxiety, depression, anger, and disruptive behavior in vulnerable middle school youth

Session presented on Saturday, July 23, 2016: Purpose: Adolescents from urban and rural environments are viewed differently when considering their vulnerability to stressors and adaptive versus maladaptive coping. Understanding the differences and similarities in the baseline variables can assist in guiding interventions. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships among self-concept, anxiety, depression, anger, and disruptive behavior in middle school-aged students from two middle schools. At baseline, 45% of the urban middle school participants demonstrated elevated anxiety, 26% had depressive symptomatology, and 26% had below average self-concept. At baseline, 25% of the rural middle school participants demonstrated anxiety, 21% had depressive symptomatology, and 25% had below average self-concept. Methods: A descriptive correlation design was used for this study. Students from two middle schools in the Midwest were recruited to participate (N=53). Results: Correlations were examined at baseline among the study variables for each set of participants. Negative and significant correlations (p=.01) existed between the participants\u27 self-concept and depression, self-concept and anxiety, self-concept and anger, and self-concept and disruptive behavior. As the student\u27s self-concept decreased their anxiety, depressive symptoms, anger, and disruptive behavior increased. These same findings were found in the urban and rural student groups for the same variables. Additionally, positive and significant correlations existed between depression and anxiety, depression and anger, and anxiety and anger in both groups. This suggested that as the student\u27s depressive symptoms increased so does the student\u27s anxiety and anger. Furthermore, as the student\u27s anxiety increased so does the anger. Conclusion: The middle school years are often stressful for students, especially for youth who are from underserved areas and subject to health disparities. Understanding similarities in baseline correlations among students who are similar can guide behavior interventions to improve healthy lifestyle choices and healthy lifestyle behaviors in middle schoolers. This study underlines the similarities in vulnerable youth populations which appear dissimilar and supports the promising potential to improve mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation), improved self-concept and decreased maladaptive coping for anger and disruptive behavior through behavior interventions for youth in real-world school settings

Zn(II), Cu(II), Sn(II), and Ni(II) and other metal cations do not prevent the aggregation of hIAPP

The Zn(II) metal ion has been shown to interact with Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (IAPP), a protein implicated in the progression of Type II Diabetes Mellitus, in such a way as to prevent the protein from aggregating into toxic fibers. We set out to find whether other metal ions might similarly prevent IAPP aggregation. Using Thioflavin T (ThT) spectroscopic assays, which measure fluorescence of ThT upon binding to aggregated IAPP, we observed a decrease in aggregation when incubated with Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Sn(II). Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), which can visualize fibril formation, revealed that the metals were not inhibiting IAPP aggregation. Instead, the metals may have promoted fibril formation at the concentrations tested, which may be too high; it has been proposed that separate mechanisms exist at low and high metal concentrations inhibiting or promoting IAPP aggregation. Therefore, further research should optimize inhibitory concentration for the metals tested in this study

Accurate Intervention in Visceral Aneurysms

A 30 year old male presented to the ED with a one week history of fever, abdominal pain, and poor PO intake due to nausea and emesis. He was given a GI cocktail and sent home for a presumed diagnosis of gastritis. After having persistent pain the patient returned to the ER the following day and was admitted for further testing. The patient died 3 days later. This is an interesting case presentation, and was in no way straightforward