STRATA

: The Commodification of Food & Its Impacts on Food Security and Strategies for Change; Food insecurity is a problem that affects nearly a billion people around the world. This problem takes different form depending on economic, regional, and political factors. In developing regions of the world, it can take on the form of mass famine, undernourishment, and chronic hunger resulting death. In developed regions of the world, food insecurity appears as a lack of access to nutritious foods for certain populations, which often results in obesity, diabetes, and many other health problems. Although the problem of food insecurity is complex, this problem can ultimately be traced back to the commodification of food. The commodification of food has created an industry of selling food for profit, rather than viewing food as a human right which all populations should be granted equal access. This food system and worldview has not only affected food security for many people, but also the organizations, governments, and strategies which work toward eliminating food insecurity. The strategies for eliminating food insecurity are often limited to direct and emergency intervention for communities, rather than working toward systematic changes that would promote community food security. In La Plata County there are numerous organizations who provide food assistance to food insecure families and individuals. These organizations employ a variety of services and strategies to provide emergency food assistance and to improve food security in La Plata County. Despite their efforts, in La Plata County and elsewhere, food insecurity is still a chronic problem and the strategies for reforming our current food system are limited. For sustainable change to take place, it is imperative that we begin to treat food as a human right, rather than a commodity for profit.

: The Connectedness to Nature Scale and the Allo-Inclusive Identity Scale: Measuring Individuals' Motives for Seeking Nature; The purpose of this study was to find the motivations behind people seeking out natural environments and to relate those reasons to the two scales measuring people's connection to nature: the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS) and the Allo-inclusive Identity scale. We hypothesized that participants who seek out nature for interconnectedness and positive affect reasons will score higher on the CNS scale and Allo-inclusive Identity scale than those who seek out nature for recreational reasons. Past studies indicate that the CNS is positively correlated with individuals' biospheric concerns (plants, trees, and wildlife) which suggests a desire to have a kinship with all living organisms that make up the natural world (Mayer and Frantz, 2004). These studies also suggest that connectedness to nature is related to an affective sense of oneness with nature. The Allo-inclusive Identity nature subscale associated scores with an internal state awareness which includes attention to one's inner states and experiences (Leary, Tipsord & Tate, 2008). People who score high in natural world are more attentive to their inner states and are more sensitive to one's feelings of connection, appreciation to animals, and nature. The results of this study suggest that people who seek out nature for connection and/or positive affect reasons score higher on the CNS and the Allo-inclusive Identity scale than people who seek out nature for primarily recreation reasons.

: The Correlation Between Physical Training for Adventure Experiences and Self-Efficacy; "Previous research has suggested that physical training or exercise improves the development of self-efficacy. Additionally, separate research has suggested that engaging in adventure experiences such as a whitewater rafting, rock-climbing, and mountaineering may also improve the development of self-efficacy. However, there is no existing research that measured the effectiveness of both physical training in conjunction with an adventure experience in respects to self-efficacy. The aim of the research was to measure the cumulative development of self-efficacy in participants who physically trained for an adventure experience then participated in that adventure experience versus those who did not physically train for that adventure experience. Twenty-one adventure education students (n=21) who volunteered for the study (ages 18-37) were surveyed prior to and after their adventure experience. The adventure experience consisted of either a weekend long winter expedition or one day of backcountry telemark skiing. The survey questions were based on the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Bandura, A., 2006) and responses were measured on a Likert scale (1-5). Participants were also asked about their physical training regime leading up to the adventure experience. Slightly over half of all the participants (n=11 of 21) self-reported some form of physical training such as general exercise for 1-3 months prior to the experience. A t-test was used to analyze the gains of both groups after each adventure experience. Results of the study showed modest gains in self-efficacy in both groups after the adventure experience with the physically trained group demonstrating higher gains than the non-physically trained. However, the statistical analysis proved that gains in both groups were statistically insignificant, the physically trained group (p=0.088), the non-physically trained group (p=0.139). Though the data proved to be statistically insignificant, restructuring the sample demographic may yield more definitive results in future studies. "

: The Design of a Helmet Impact Tester; Using a helmet during high-risk activities is one way to prevent traumatic brain injuries. Because helmets play such a vital role in protection, it is important that their quality is improved where possible. The purpose of this project is to design an apparatus that is capable of testing helmets to aid in the research of helmet design. This apparatus will simulate impact conditions to which different kinds of helmets are exposed. It will also record the reaction of the helmet to these different conditions. This helmet impact tester uses energy from gravity to initiate an impact. The helmet is fastened to a head-form the same way it would be attached to a human head. This head form is attached to a carriage arm that has its drop guided by two linear high precision bearings that slide down two rods. The helmet, head-form, and block carriage arm's drop is guided to an impact surface at the base of the tester. This impact surface is interchangeable and impact speed is variable to simulate different types of impacts. By testing helmets and simulating different types of impacts, a greater understanding of how they fail can be gained. With knowledge of the way these helmets fail, suggestions to how to improve them can be made including different geometries and materials.

: The Divine Love Story: Suicide Bombings and After-Life Love; In recent years much has been said about suicide bombers and what compels them into action. Political causes are aired over the radio and TV daily, proclaiming that some recent suicide attack was committed in the name of a group or an ideal. There must be more at work than simple politics and national strife. Perhaps the enticement lies not in this world at all, or in this life for that matter, but somewhere outside our sphere of understanding. Somehow the person committing this devastating act has been largely ignored. I think the real root for these attacks lies in isolation and loneliness. As Hammarskjold suggests, isolation can pilot us toward things so grand, that we will die for them.

: The Effect of Exposure on Perceptions of Adolescent Self Harm; A large number of adolescents struggle with self harm, and due to the sensitive nature of the topic it is often overlooked. Although, this is a major problem it is largely misunderstood and many adolescents won’t seek help for the behavior due to the fear of judgment from misconceptions. In response to this, the study examined the effects exposure to self harm has on perceptions of self harm. Contrary to the hypothesis, there was not a significant difference between those who were exposed to self harm, and those who weren’t; however, the findings still implied that participants agreed with about half of the misconceptions. This shows this is still a negative connotation and stigma surrounding the behavior. This could lead to increased judgment.

: The Effect of Gender and Age on Hamstrings to Quadriceps Ratios and Core Strength Among Youth Soccer Players; Muscle strength has been defined as the capacity of a muscle to produce the tension necessary to maintain posture, as well as the initiation and control of movement. The hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio is important in injury prevention, and there has been controversy about the appropriate ratio to use. It has been documented that the quadriceps are greater in strength than the hamstrings although there is no particular ratio that is appropriate for all categories of people in a population. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gender and age on the strength ratios of hamstring to quadriceps muscles in youth soccer athletes. The correlation of the muscle ratios and core strength was also assessed. The participants were volunteers from Durango Youth Soccer Association who varied in age from 10 to 18 year olds. There were 19 girls and 22 boys who participated. It was assumed that the athletes ages 13 and younger were prepubescent (M=11.64, +SD=0.19) and the athletes aged 14-18 were post pubescent (M=14.88, + SD=0.38). Subjects performed a series of leg exercises along with core strength testing at a designated soccer practice. The testing procedure was made up of two dynamic strength tests including hamstring leg curls and leg extensions where the subjects performed maximum repetitions at an individually determined weight. The number of repetitions performed was used to predict the one repetition maximum for each exercise. Core strength was also assessed. The results were analyzed using a Two-Way ANOVA. The Tukey's Post Hoc Analysis indicated that there was a significant difference between pre and post pubescent groups and between genders. The results also indicate that there was a low correlation between the ratios and core strength. The data showed the H/Q ratio means were greatest before puberty in girls and after puberty in boys, even though puberty was not assessed. These results demonstrate that there is a relationship between age, gender, and H/Q ratios in adolescent athletes.

: The Effect of Instruction and Demonstration on the Illinois Agility Test; Every year during athletic participation, athletes sustain a number of lower extremity injuries. Athletic trainers and other health care professionals use a series of lower extremity functional tests, including the Illinois Agility Test, to objectively determine if the athlete is ready to return to play. Unfortunately, the Illinois Agility Test only comes with generic written instructions to read aloud to the athlete, but no standard for test administration. Without a consistent standard for test administration, inter-tester reliability makes it difficult to determine if the Illinois Agility Test is actually testing the true functionality of the athlete's previous injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of instruction and demonstration on soccer player's performance on the Illinois Agility Test. The hypothesis stated that instruction and demonstration would decrease the time it takes soccer players to complete the Illinois Agility Test. Twenty male varsity and club soccer players were pre-tested on an agility course after receiving generic verbal instructions. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups; a control group (CS) and a treatment group (TS). The TS received a live demonstration prior to their post-test, as well as instruction and feedback throughout their trials on how to improve their technique and decrease their time. Participants in the CS received the same verbal instructions as the pre-test and no additional instruction or demonstrations. The averages of the pre- and post-tests scores were compared between the two groups. The results of this study revealed that there was a significant (P < 0.05) effect when comparing the pre- and post-test scores of the CS to the pre- and post-test scores of the TS (P = 0.00). Furthermore, significance (P = 0.00) was found between the pre- and post-test scores among the TS group. Lastly, significance (P = 0.009) was also found between the pre-test results of the CS compared to the TS. The hypothesis for this study was accepted as instruction and demonstration decreased the time it takes soccer players to complete the Illinois Agility Test. Thus, a national standard for test administration should be implemented to make the results more reliable and valid. The national standard for test administration should include instruction, demonstration and feedback to assure that the athlete's functionality is truly being tested. Athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and health care professionals across the nation will benefit from this standard because if functionality is indeed tested, it can be assured that the athlete is safely returning to play after a lower extremity injury.

: The Effect of Insulin and Estrogen on IRS-1 Phosphorylation in Undifferentiated Muscle Cells.; Due to close interactions in intracellular signaling, breast cancer and glucose regulation by insulin are linked. In our research we focused on the effects of insulin and estrogen on IRS-1 phosphorylation in L6 myoblasts. Because downstream signaling interactions may be additive, our hypothesis was that there would be an increase in serine 307 phosphorylation in the IRS-1 when undifferentiated cells were treated with both insulin and estrogen. Our research included a series of methods: 1) cell culture, 2) cell treatments of ethanol (control), insulin, estrogen or insulin and estrogen, 3) Immunoprecipitation, 4) PAGE gel, 5) Western blot, and 6) Band analysis. Our results indicated that when Ser307 phosphorylation was normalized to the total IRS-1 in each group, there were no significant differences between the control and treatment groups, or among any of the treatment groups. The larger implications of our results are that when estrogen and insulin are combined in treatment, there is no effect on Ser307 phosphorylation.

: The Effect of Mortality Salience on Life Goals: Do Bucket Lists Change?; This study explored the effect that mortality salience, both death and imminent death, had on life goals. Sixty undergraduates from a small liberal arts college wrote about their feelings associated with either death, imminent death, or dental pain, then completed a survey containing a list of various accomplishments that they rated on a scale of one to ten on how strongly they wanted each item on their list of things to do during their life (i.e., the Bucket List). Results indicate that females show significant increase in legacy items on their bucket lists (e.g., family, relationships, material success, and religion) when reminded of their eventual death versus their imminent death and more so than males. In addition, religious participants show significant increase in legacy (family, relationships, material success, and religion) overall (all conditions combined) in a linear fashion. Finally, participants endorsed more self-related items (e.g., travel, skills, individual achievements) when primed with imminent death as opposed to those primed with death. Findings have important implications for predicting human behavior given that the thought of imminent death leads people to invest more in themselves and that more religious people and those reminded of their eventual death have increased desire to leave a legacy.

: The Effect of Mortality Salience on Political Attitudes: The Influence of Positive Psychology; Terror management theory (TMT) suggests that death is a unique human fear unlike any other pain or distress. After death reminders, people are more inclined to be culturally invested to find meaning in their life as a way to buffer the anxiety stemming from the idea of their own death. Political orientation is affected by TMT such that the default response to death reminder is a conservative shift—an increase in conservatism and associated political attitudes. However, self-esteem boosts (such as those generated by positive psychology activities) have been shown to buffer defensive reactions to death reminders. We thus set out to determine whether positive psychology practice could buffer the conservative shift typically caused by death reminders. We predicted that a positive psychology self-esteem boost would eliminate the conservative shift following a death reminder. Results showed that the death prime alone did not affect liberalism; however, participants who also received positive psychology practice ("write about a good memory") showed a liberal shift. Bonferonni post-hoc tests showed that the "death + memory" group scored significantly HIGHER on liberalism compared to the no-death control group (p = .021). Overall, elderly adults had significantly higher self-esteem on the Rosenberg scale than college students (p = .01). However, there were no differences between college students and aging adults on their defensiveness following a death reminder. Implications of these results will be discussed

: The Effect of Quotes from Authority on Victim Blaming Attitudes in Cases of Sexual Assault; This study investigated how quotes from authority sources impacted college students' attribution of responsibility in sexual assault scenarios. Undergraduate students (N = 97) from a small liberal arts college in the Southwest read one of three quotes related to victim blaming: one that blames the victim for the situation, one against blaming the victim, and a neutral, unrelated quote. Next they read a scenario leading up to a sexual assault. Levels of victim blaming were measured using a modified version of the Attitudes toward Rape Victims Scale (Ward, 1988). The results indicated that authority quotes did not significantly affect participants' victim blaming attitudes. However, males reported higher victim blaming perceptions than females, which supported a secondary hypothesis about gender differences in victim blaming. The data shows that while some results were significant, authority sources may not be the best avenue to elicit differences in victim blaming attitudes. Future research should explore how rape myth education affects victim blaming attitudes and examine how to best reduce male perceptions of victim blaming.

Main menu

Pages

Pages

Main menu

You are here

User login

STRATA

Pages

Pages