Albion College

About: Albion College is a education organization based out in Albion, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Higher education. The organization has 485 authors who have published 754 publications receiving 20907 citations.

Mentoring: A Typology of Costs for Higher Education Faculty.

Abstract: In this theoretical paper, we apply a social exchange framework to understand mentors’ negative experiences. We propose a typology of costs, categorized according to psychosocial and career mentoring functions. Our typology generates testable research propositions. Psychosocial costs of mentoring are burnout, anger, and grief or loss. Career costs of mentoring include diminished reputation, decrease in productivity, and risk of ethical transgressions. The typology focuses on faculty in higher education because of the prevalence and importance of mentoring in that work setting. However, the typology may be extended to career arenas such as law, medicine, and the military. The theory presents a framework for acknowledging negative experiences and the costs associated with mentorship.

“Boys Don’t Cry”—or Do They? Adult Attitudes Toward and Beliefs About Transgender Youth

Abstract: The present survey study examined the attitudes of U.S. adults toward transgender children and adolescents, as well as their behavioral intentions, in two hypothetical scenarios involving gender variant youth. Participants recruited online (N = 281) reported generally favorable attitudes toward transgender minors, but expressed some hesitation to allow a transgender child to use the restroom aligned with their gender as opposed to their birth sex or to share a room with same gender peers on a school trip, possibly due to conflating gender identity with sexual orientation in these situations. Attitudes were less positive in respondents who reported a religious affiliation, conservative social political views, and stronger conformity to certain traditional gender norms—particularly in men. Even after controlling for these factors, stronger belief in environmental versus biological causes of transgender identity was linked to more negative attitudes. Participants’ behavioral intentions were driven partly by their attitudes and causal attributions, but also by their age and, at least for women, personal connections to the transgender community. We discuss implications for the discourse surrounding transgender youth and the need for educating the public on the development of gender identity as well as the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation.

Consumption and Politics at Aztec Huexotla

Abstract: Les changements politiques survenus dans le petit royaume d'Huexotla, dans la vallee de Mexico, avec son integration a l'Empire azteque, vus a travers la transformation des biens consommes par les edites locales. Les biens de l'elite sont le signe de leur statut social et l'empire azteque a utilise son tribut pour faire circuler une grande quantite de biens de prestige afin d'asseoir sa domination

Deep Learning/Artificial Intelligence and Blood-Based DNA Epigenomic Prediction of Cerebral Palsy

Abstract: The etiology of cerebral palsy (CP) is complex and remains inadequately understood. Early detection of CP is an important clinical objective as this improves long term outcomes. We performed genome-wide DNA methylation analysis to identify epigenomic predictors of CP in newborns and to investigate disease pathogenesis. Methylation analysis of newborn blood DNA using an Illumina HumanMethylation450K array was performed in 23 CP cases and 21 unaffected controls. There were 230 significantly differentially-methylated CpG loci in 258 genes. Each locus had at least 2.0-fold change in methylation in CP versus controls with a FDR p-value ≤ 0.05. Methylation level for each CpG locus had an area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) ≥ 0.75 for CP detection. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms/Machine Learning (ML) analysis, CpG methylation levels in a combination of 230 significantly differentially-methylated CpG loci in 258 genes had a 95% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity for newborn prediction of CP. Using pathway analysis, multiple canonical pathways plausibly linked to neuronal function were over-represented. Altered biological processes and functions included: neuromotor damage, malformation of major brain structures, brain growth, neuroprotection, neuronal development and de-differentiation, and cranial sensory neuron development. In conclusion, blood leucocyte epigenetic changes analyzed using AI/ML techniques appeared to accurately predict CP and provided plausible mechanistic information on CP pathogenesis.

Life history phenology differences between southern and northern populations of the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella

Abstract: The textbook version of sympatric host race formation in Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae) features an ancestral hawthorn-infesting race and a derived apple race differing in life-history timing and response to host fruit odor. However, previous research has focused largely on northeastern North America. To investigate life-history timing in poorly studied southeastern North American populations with very diverse hosts, we performed common garden experiments on emergence time on six southern R. pomonella populations and four other R. pomonella species-group populations. Findings were: (1) the diverse adult emergence times of southern populations resulted largely from genetic differences; (2) some southern populations had bimodal emergence curves; (3) correlations of allozyme markers and emergence times were uncommon in southern populations; and (4) mean emergence times from common garden rearings and dates of field collection of the populations were strongly correlated.