Showing papers by "Bridgewater State University published in 2021"

The conservation status of the world’s freshwater molluscs

Abstract: With the biodiversity crisis continuing unchecked, we need to establish levels and drivers of extinction risk, and reassessments over time, to effectively allocate conservation resources and track progress towards global conservation targets. Given that threat appears particularly high in freshwaters, we assessed the extinction risk of 1428 randomly selected freshwater molluscs using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, as part of the Sampled Red List Index project. We show that close to one-third of species in our sample are estimated to be threatened with extinction, with highest levels of threat in the Nearctic, Palearctic and Australasia and among gastropods. Threat levels were higher in lotic than lentic systems. Pollution (chemical and physical) and the modification of natural systems (e.g. through damming and water abstraction) were the most frequently reported threats to freshwater molluscs, with some regional variation. Given that we found little spatial congruence between species richness patterns of freshwater molluscs and other freshwater taxa, apart from crayfish, new additional conservation priority areas emerged from our study. We discuss the implications of our findings for freshwater mollusc conservation, the adequacy of a sampled approach and important next steps to estimate trends in freshwater mollusc extinction risk over time.

SNAPSHOT USA 2019: a coordinated national camera trap survey of the United States

Abstract: With the accelerating pace of global change, it is imperative that we obtain rapid inventories of the status and distribution of wildlife for ecological inferences and conservation planning. To address this challenge, we launched the SNAPSHOT USA project, a collaborative survey of terrestrial wildlife populations using camera traps across the United States. For our first annual survey, we compiled data across all 50 states during a 14‐week period (17 August–24 November of 2019). We sampled wildlife at 1,509 camera trap sites from 110 camera trap arrays covering 12 different ecoregions across four development zones. This effort resulted in 166,036 unique detections of 83 species of mammals and 17 species of birds. All images were processed through the Smithsonian’s eMammal camera trap data repository and included an expert review phase to ensure taxonomic accuracy of data, resulting in each picture being reviewed at least twice. The results represent a timely and standardized camera trap survey of the United States. All of the 2019 survey data are made available herein. We are currently repeating surveys in fall 2020, opening up the opportunity to other institutions and cooperators to expand coverage of all the urban–wild gradients and ecophysiographic regions of the country. Future data will be available as the database is updated at eMammal.si.edu/snapshot‐usa, as will future data paper submissions. These data will be useful for local and macroecological research including the examination of community assembly, effects of environmental and anthropogenic landscape variables, effects of fragmentation and extinction debt dynamics, as well as species‐specific population dynamics and conservation action plans. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this paper when using the data for publication.

Sustainability and air freight transportation: Lessons from the global pandemic

Abstract: The COVID-19 crisis has transformed the delivery of services and goods by public, private, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), with one of the largest impacts being in air transport systems. This paper focuses on related opportunities and challenges within air freight transport management, exploring sustainability in light of recent, heavy human and economic costs across the world. There is, in the resulting process of recovery, the potential to create changes in the airline industry and across a number of private and public partnerships that will improve long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability and stability. This paper also describes the impact of the current environment on air cargo operations to include the role of significantly reduced airline schedules on overall air cargo capacity. It considers the potential role of government in providing the infrastructure for collaboration between sectors, addressing the goals of sustainability, efficiency, effectiveness, and citizen responsiveness. NGOs provide a voice for community groups in ways that governments and corporations may not. Efficient markets link producers at various stages to consumers through global and local supply chains. Integrating key concepts from sustainable development and logistics, this paper explores short-run and long-run planning required by each of the three sectors to tackle the immediate shortfalls in global transportation by air. It then investigates urgent but longer-term environmental issues tied to air transport, such as global climate change, air pollution, and the nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels. Many of the infrastructural changes in the airline industry may offer solutions across public administration. With the tremendous impact of air transport on a number of other goods and services, carefully constructed solutions may have sustainability benefits across industries. As the tragedies of COVID-19 inevitably shake the foundations of organizational systems in all three sectors, this paper offers recommendations for advancing opportunities for a more efficient freight supply industry that minimize negative impacts through sustainable development.

Populist Psychology: Economics, Culture, and Emotions

Abstract: Historical trends seem to show that populism, defined here as movements that self-identify as representatives of a unified good people confronting a corrupted or malevolent elite, tends to co-occur...

Reduced Sensory Habituation in Autism and Its Correlation with Behavioral Measures

Abstract: Autism is strongly associated with sensory processing difficulties. We investigate sensory habituation, given its relevance for understanding important phenotypic traits like hyper- and hypo-sensitivities. We collected electroencephalography data from 22 neuro-typical(NT) and 13 autistic(ASD) children during the presentation of visual and auditory sequences of repeated stimuli. Our data show that the ASD children have significantly reduced habituation relative to the NT children for both auditory and visual stimuli. These results point to impaired habituation as a modality-general phenomenon in ASD. Additionally, the rates of habituation are correlated with several clinical scores associated with competence along diverse phenotypic dimensions. These data suggest that the sensory difficulties in autism are likely to be associated with reduced habituation and are related to clinical symptomology.

Assuming the worst: Hostile attribution bias in vulnerable narcissists

Abstract: Past research suggests that grandiose narcissists expect admiration from others and are punitive against transgressors, but vulnerable narcissists are not nearly so socially confident. Instead, vul...

Identifying the Coronal Source Regions of Solar Wind Streams from Total Solar Eclipse Observations and in situ Measurements Extending over a Solar Cycle

Abstract: This Letter capitalizes on a unique set of total solar eclipse observations, acquired between 2006 and 2020, in white light, Fe XI 789.2 nm ($\rm T_{fexi}$ = $1.2 \pm 0.1$ MK) and Fe XIV 530.3 nm ($\rm T_{fexiv}$ = $ 1.8 \pm 0.1$ MK) emission, complemented by in situ Fe charge state and proton speed measurements from ACE/SWEPAM-SWICS, to identify the source regions of different solar wind streams. The eclipse observations reveal the ubiquity of open structures, invariably associated with Fe XI emission from $\rm Fe^{10+}$, hence a constant electron temperature, $\rm T_{c}$ = $\rm T_{fexi}$, in the expanding corona. The in situ Fe charge states are found to cluster around $\rm Fe^{10+}$, independently of the 300 to 700 km $\rm s^{-1}$ stream speeds, referred to as the continual solar wind. $\rm Fe^{10+}$ thus yields the fiducial link between the continual solar wind and its $\rm T_{fexi}$ sources at the Sun. While the spatial distribution of Fe XIV emission, from $\rm Fe^{13+}$, associated with streamers, changes throughout the solar cycle, the sporadic appearance of charge states $> \rm Fe^{11+}$, in situ, exhibits no cycle dependence regardless of speed. These latter streams are conjectured to be released from hot coronal plasmas at temperatures $\ge \rm T_{fexiv}$ within the bulge of streamers and from active regions, driven by the dynamic behavior of prominences magnetically linked to them. The discovery of continual streams of slow, intermediate and fast solar wind, characterized by the same $\rm T_{fexi}$ in the expanding corona, places new constraints on the physical processes shaping the solar wind.

“We’re Powerful Too, You Know?” A Narrative Inquiry Into Elementary School Counselors’ Experiences of the RAMP Process:

Abstract: This study utilized a qualitative narrative inquiry to explore the experiences of eight elementary school counselors who successfully applied for and received Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) d...

“Where My Gays At?” The Status of LGBTQ People and Queer Theory in Nonprofit Research:

Abstract: This article critically examines academic scholarship in the field of nonprofit studies that pertains to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people and issues. We introduce the k...

Everything is fine! Using “The Good Place” to teach administrative ethics

Abstract: Creating an engaging and educational experience in an ethics class can be difficult. But media, such as TV and movies, can supplement ethics education in public administration. For this study, I us...

Measuring Simultaneous Emotions: Existing Problems and a New Way Forward

Abstract: Studies on discrete emotions typically work to evoke one emotion at a time. Yet many political phenomena cause multiple emotions. Threats, for example, cause, anger, and fear, have diametrically opposing behavioral consequences. As a result, the effect of experimental treatments can be masked by the countervailing influence of emotions with similar affect. This issue is exacerbated by existing measures of negative emotions, such as the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). We show that the PANAS is contaminated by systematic measurement error, as negative affect produced by one emotion influences responses on the other. To overcome this, we develop an alternative version of the PANAS that allows respondents to select which emotions they are feeling, then rate the severity. This technique accurately captures respondent’s emotional reactions, reducing measurement error and thus decreasing the correlation between fear and anger. The tactics we developed have broad relevance for experimental researchers analyzing emotional responses to politics.

Bullying, Cyberbullying, Anxiety, and Depression in a Sample of Youth during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Abstract: While we know that the pandemic and its social isolation, loss of school experiences, increased screen use, and financial stress have likely had a psychological impact upon children and teens, little research has been done directly with youth to assess social and emotional factors during the pandemic and in its immediate aftermath. In this study, a sample of 240 youth reported on their experiences with bullying, fighting, sexting, cyberbullying, anxiety, and depression during the period from March 2020 to April 2021. The results indicated that bullying, cyberbullying, sexting, and fighting showed only small or no increases, but anxiety and depression were dramatically increased relative to before the pandemic. Female and LGBTQ youth were particularly vulnerable during the months since March 2020. The results suggest that youth will need positive social experiences and, in some cases, psychological interventions and treatment to restore emotional equilibrium in the months ahead.

Autonomic and Electrophysiological Evidence for Reduced Auditory Habituation in Autism.

Abstract: It is estimated that nearly 90% of children on the autism spectrum exhibit sensory atypicalities. What aspects of sensory processing are affected in autism? Although sensory processing can be studied along multiple dimensions, two of the most basic ones involve examining instantaneous sensory responses and how the responses change over time. These correspond to the dimensions of 'sensitivity' and 'habituation'. Results thus far have indicated that autistic individuals do not differ systematically from controls in sensory acuity/sensitivity. However, data from studies of habituation have been equivocal. We have studied habituation in autism using two measures: galvanic skin response (GSR) and magneto-encephalography (MEG). We report data from two independent studies. The first study, was conducted with 13 autistic and 13 age-matched neurotypical young adults and used GSR to assess response to an extended metronomic sequence. The second study involved 24 participants (12 with an ASD diagnosis), different from those in study 1, spanning the pre-adolescent to young adult age range, and used MEG. Both studies reveal consistent patterns of reduced habituation in autistic participants. These results suggest that autism, through mechanisms that are yet to be elucidated, compromises a fundamental aspect of sensory processing, at least in the auditory domain. We discuss the implications for understanding sensory hypersensitivities, a hallmark phenotypic feature of autism, recently proposed theoretical accounts, and potential relevance for early detection of risk for autism.

Interrelationship between Bitcoin, Ransomware, and Terrorist Activities: Criminal Opportunity Assessment via Cyber-Routine Activities Theoretical Framework

Abstract: In recent years, a new form of cyber-extortion called ransomware is baffling the world with the speculation of connection to terrorist activities. Since cybercriminals usually demand their ransom u...

What’s in a Name? Symbolic Racism, Public Opinion, and the Controversy over the NFL’s Washington Football Team Name

Abstract: According to Daniel Snyder, owner of the National Football League Team formerly known as the Washington “Redskins,” “the name really means honor and respect.” For decades, Snyder pointed to polls that suggest majoritarian support among the American public to justify the continued use of the racially contested team moniker. However, Indigenous activists and their allies have long argued that the term “Redskins” is a racial slur. Using data from the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES), this paper investigates the role of racial attitudes—specifically symbolic racism directed at Native Americans—in shaping public opinion about the name change during a period of heightened public attention to the debate over the team’s name. Our findings indicate that support for the continued use of the team’s name, though admittedly widespread among the American public, is in part influenced by negative racial attitudes directed at Native Americans. By engaging the literature on the politics of symbolic racism we demonstrate that, rather than “honoring” American Indians, those supportive of Native American mascots and symbols in professional football are significantly likely to begrudge them.

Transnational Political Engagement and the Civic Incorporation of Mexican Immigrants in the United States

Abstract: Many migrants to the U.S. are engaged in public affairs in their country of origin. Whether such engagement impedes or encourages engagement in American politics remains an open question. Drawing from a unique two-wave panel survey of Mexican immigrants conducted in 2006, with surveys waves fielded to correspond to national elections in Mexico and the United States, we examine the relationship between transnational political engagement and attentiveness to American politics. The findings indicate that remote political engagement in Mexican politics is not a barrier to incorporation in the U.S. context. On the contrary, engagement in Mexican campaigns can stimulate interest and participation in U.S. elections.

Color stability of individually stained monolithic zirconia following occlusal adjustment.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To meet esthetic requirements, monolithic zirconia can be stained by color-infiltration However, adjustments of occlusal surfaces are often necessary, leading to demasking effects if too much of the color-infiltrated layer is removed The effect of subsequent material removal on color stability of individually stained zirconia is analyzed here MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-six white zirconia disks were divided into three groups Standardized staining strategies for tooth colors VITA A2, A35, and A4 were developed and applied to the disks Samples were grinded in nine successive steps from 20 to 500 μm A spectroradiometer was used to measure the color differences after each step Regression analyses were performed for color differences from baseline as a function of depth of material removal Depth of material removal resulting in color changes surpassing the acceptability threshold of ΔE00 = 18 was estimated using inverse prediction RESULTS Up to 500 μm material removal, color difference ΔE00 changes linearly with the depth of material removal (P < 005) Regression analyses showed coefficients of determination (R2 ) of 097 (VITA A2), 087 (VITA A35), and 096 (VITA A4) Acceptability threshold was surpassed at 62, 87, and 92 μm, respectively CONCLUSIONS Discolorations occur within clinically relevant occlusal adjustments of <100 μm The effect is more severe with lighter, less saturated tooth colors CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Staining that is resistant to occlusal adjustments and abrasion is only possible if the staining solution infiltrates sufficiently deep into the ceramic structure This study provides for the first time in the literature numerical values that describe the thresholds of acceptability of color differences in zirconia ceramics These values are essential because they determine the extent of possible occlusal adjustments, and thus the color stability Further research is necessary to improve the infiltration depth of staining solutions

Understanding Conflict in Multisite Nonprofit Organizations

Abstract: Due to distance, Multisite Nonprofit Organizations (MNOs) experience conflicts that differentiate them from organizations with only a single site. Through a qualitative analysis of interviews with 25 professionals and volunteers in a national disease-specific nonprofit, in this study I explore the conflicts that arise between headquarters and affiliate offices in MNOs. The findings reveal that some conflicts are likely unique to this particular type of nonprofit. However, other conflicts are likely representative of those experienced in MNOs more broadly. I, therefore, propose strategies for managing these conflicts.

Practical Strategies for Improving Men's Health: Maximizing the Patient-Provider Encounter

Abstract: Inconsistent access to a healthcare provider (HCP), which can lead to advanced morbidity, is an oft-cited barrier to advancing health. Extensive review of the literature consistently suggests men are far less likely to engage within the healthcare system. This is particularly problematic pertaining to preventive services. As many health conditions are preventable and/or treatable in earlier stages, delay in screening and treatment often leads to long-term negative health outcomes. Lack of early and frequent preventive healthcare (e.g. primordial, primary, and secondary prevention) may even be perceived as “normative” where poorer health outcomes in males are expected.1 In fact, some evidence demonstrates a clear connection that seeking help via healthcare runs contrary to masculinity and dominant masculine principles, such as being strong/sturdy, working through pain, avoiding weakness or anything perceived as feminine, among other psychosocial phenomena.2,3 Changing healthcare “culture” concerning the care of men (i.e. gender-sensitive care) may provide a salient avenue to encourage more consistent and preventive contact or “touch points” in the patient-provider dynamic. There is a need to understand how social norms and practices in healthcare and medical settings can be effectively leveraged to address life-long male health outcomes versus focusing on late(r)-stage palliative care. The purpose of this article is to advance dialogue concerning practical considerations, such as resources (e.g. time, money) and methods (e.g. practitioners considering whether men respond best to immediate efforts to establish rapport versus a traditional power-based dynamic during the medical interaction) so as to inform gender-sensitive touchpoints in the healthcare of men. Location and types of facilities where men are willing to seek care (preventative or palliative) also need to be considered in a holistic, gender-sensitive patient-provider model of healthcare. Implications, policies, and evidence-based practical strategies for leveraging medical education, prevention programming, proper and improper recognition and management, and long-term treatment are presented and discussed with the practitioner in mind.

Enhancing SiN waveguide optical nonlinearity via hybrid GaS integration

Abstract: Gallium sulfide is a van der Waals material with strong optical nonlinearities, while silicon nitride has a small nonlinear index. Here, we demonstrate enhanced all optical Kerr modulation in hybrid silicon nitride/gallium sulfide microring resonators.

Effectiveness for the Dual Ramsey Theorem

Abstract: We analyze the dual Ramsey theorem for k partitions and l colors (DRTlk) in the context of reverse math, effective analysis, and strong reductions. Over RCA0, the dual Ramsey theorem stated for Baire colorings Baire-DRTlk is equivalent to the statement for clopen colorings ODRTlk and to a purely combinatorial theorem CDRTlk. When the theorem is stated for Borel colorings and k≥3, the resulting principles are essentially relativizations of CDRTlk. For each α, there is a computable Borel code for a Δα0-coloring such that any partition homogeneous for it computes ∅(α) or ∅(α−1) depending on whether α is infinite or finite. For k=2, we present partial results giving bounds on the effective content of the principle. A weaker version for Δn0-reduced colorings is equivalent to D2n over RCA0+IΣn−10 and in the sense of strong Weihrauch reductions.

Parasite Prevalence May Drive the Biotic Impoverishment of New England (USA) Bumble Bee Communities.

Abstract: Numerous studies have reported a diversity of stressors that may explain continental-scale declines in populations of native pollinators, particularly those in the genus Bombus. However, there has been little focus on the identification of the local-scale dynamics that may structure currently impoverished Bombus communities. For example, the historically diverse coastal-zone communities of New England (USA) now comprise only a few species and are primarily dominated by a single species, B. impatiens. To better understand the local-scale factors that might be influencing this change in community structure, we examined differences in the presence of parasites in different species of Bombus collected in coastal-zone communities. Our results indicate that Bombus species that are in decline in this region were more likely to harbor parasites than are B. impatiens populations, which were more likely to be parasite-free and to harbor fewer intense infections or co-infections. The contrasting parasite burden between co-occurring winners and losers in this community may impact the endgame of asymmetric contests among species competing for dwindling resources. We suggest that under changing climate and landscape conditions, increasing domination of communities by healthy, synanthropic Bombus species (such as B. impatiens) may be another factor hastening the further erosion of bumble bee diversity.

Crime trend perceptions, negative emotions, and public punitiveness: a survey experiment of information treatment

Abstract: Public punitiveness is closely related to the expansion of the US penal system. Prior studies have examined inaccurate crime trend perceptions and negative emotions as key predictors of punitive attitudes. However, the interconnections between crime trend perceptions, negative emotions, and punitive attitudes have not been explored. It is yet unknown if exposure to accurate crime trend information reduces negative emotions and public punitiveness. I analyzed data from a survey-based experiment with a nationwide sample (N = 441) using conditional process analysis. Perceptions of rising crime trends were related to punitiveness both directly and indirectly through anger about crime. Exposure to accurate crime information did not alleviate anger about or fear of crime, but, surprisingly, increased support for punitive criminal justice policies. The study highlights the importance of understanding the expressive and emotional elements of punishment and the possible positive effect of providing people with accurate crime information on punitiveness.

Digital Humanities in Professional and Technical Communication: Results of a Pedagogical Pilot Study

Abstract: This article examines pedagogical results from an IRB-approved study that used the Omeka platform in two sections of technical writing classes. The research question explored how a digital humaniti...

The Importance of Qualitative Methods in Mixed Methods Studies

Abstract: This article presents a thorough review of the literature dedicated to learning more about mixed methods research design. Explanatory sequential mixed methods studies and exploratory sequential mixed methods studies are the two types of mixed methods research design models that this article presents in detail. To contextualize different ideas related to research design, the author provides examples of research studies that exemplify different research designs falling within mixed methods. The main objective of this article is to highlight the important role that qualitative research design plays in mixed methods research. Such a presentation of the literature aims to argue that qualitative data substantiates quantitative data as a means to heighten the regard to which qualitative methodology receives.