UIC Dissertations and Theses

The Effect of School Rape-Supportive Norms on Rape Proclivity

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

The Effect of School Rape-Supportive Norms on Rape Proclivity Rape prevention programs have recently begun using social norms interventions in addition to, or in lieu of, individual-level interventions. These programs assume that rape-supportive social norms influence the likelihood of rape. The current study tests that assumption by analyzing how school-level aggregates of men‘s rape myth acceptance (RMA) and hostile masculinity affect rape proclivity. Data for this study come from 1326 male students in 11 high schools throughout Illinois. At the individual level, risk and protective factors were similar to past studies: higher RMA and hostile masculinity were associated with increases in rape proclivity. Conversely, believing men have a responsibility to prevent rape, that they would personally intervene to prevent assault, and that there are negative consequences for perpetrating rape were all associated with decreased rape proclivity. After controlling for these individual factors, results indicate that higher school social norms for hostile masculinity increase the odds of reporting some likelihood of sexual assault. Against hypotheses, school social norms for RMA did not have a direct negative effect on proclivity; however, these results were partially qualified by interactions. School social norms for RMA appear to affect students differently depending on their own RMA. Results support efforts to target both individual and community-level factors. Implications for prevention programs are discussed.

Validity and Feasibility of the Minicard Workplace Direct Observation Tool in a Single Training Program

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Validity and Feasibility of the Minicard Workplace Direct Observation Tool in a Single Training Program Purpose. To collect validity and feasibility evidence for use of the Minicard direct observation tool for assessment of competence of internal medicine residents. Method. Retrospective cohort analysis of validity evidence and feasibility of the Minicard from 2006-2011 in one institution, including content (settings, observation rates, independent raters), response process (scoring distributions), internal structure (factor analysis), relationships (to time in training, OSCE and medical knowledge exams) and consequences (qualitative analysis of action plans), as well as feasibility (time and financial costs). Results. 3715 direct observations were analyzed from 80 faculty observers rating 73 residents. Residents averaged 28 (SD 8.4) observations per year from 9 (SD 4.1) independent observers. Scoring distributions used the entire rating scale. Confirmatory factor analysis identified a three-factor fit representing medical knowledge, communication and professionalism (χ2(51)= 107, p<0.05; TLI = 0.97; CFI = 0.98; RMSEA = 0.025). Individual resident scores increased significantly each month. Minicard communication scores correlated weakly with overall OSCE communication Z-scores (r=.11, p<0.001), and Minicard applied medical knowledge average score correlated weakly with in-training exam Z-score of that year (r=.07, p=.02). Action plan reviews identified action-oriented feedback in 50%, observational feedback in 11%, minimal feedback in 9% and no recorded plan in 30%. Observation times averaged 15.6 (SD: 9.5) minutes. Conclusion. This study demonstrates validity and feasibility evidence for a direct observation system for residents that can produce a broad range of observations, a wide range of scores and substantial formative feedback.

Stormwater Treatment using In-ground Permeable Reactive Filter Systems: Batch Test Evaluation of Media

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Stormwater Treatment using In-ground Permeable Reactive Filter Systems: Batch Test Evaluation of Media Urban stormwater runoff has been identified as a major source of beach water pollution due to washing off contaminants from road surfaces, lawns, parks and parking lots. Heavy metals, nutrients, PAHs, and disease-causing microorganisms are typical types of contaminants found in urban stormwater runoff. Mitigation of stormwater runoff impact is essential for both public health and the environment. There have been several best management practices developed to mitigate runoff impacts, but many of these are based on volume control such as detention to separate suspended solids. However, in urban setting and in the close proximity of beaches, it is difficult to provide adequate area to meet the detention storage requirements. Therefore, the use of in-ground permeable reactive filter (PRF) system can be a proactive intervening approach for removal of a wide range of contaminants from urban stormwater runoff. Base on the comprehensive literature review and preliminary testing, four different filter media (calcite, zeolite, sand, and iron filings) have been selected. Chemical and physical characteristics of the filter media were determined. Both batch equilibrium and batch kinetic experiments with heavy metals, PAHs, and nutrients solutions were conducted to quantify each filter media adsorption capacity and removal rate for different kinds of contaminants. Practical application of the acquired experimental data in designing of the filter system was also investigated. The results demonstrated that the extent of adsorption and removal depend on the type and concentration of contaminant as well as induced pH changes caused by the filter media. For some contaminants and media combinations, adsorption reached maximum adsorption capacity; however, for some other cases filter media had much higher adsorptive capacity. Each media was effective in removal and adsorption of some particular contaminants; therefore, combination of different filter media is needed to effectively remove all of the contaminants present in typical stormwater run-off. Overall, this study demonstrated that each filter material is effective in removal of selected contaminants from urban stromwater and a combination of theses filter materials will be needed to effectively treat the multiple contaminants in the urban stormwater runoff.

Characterization of Bazooka and aPKC in Asymmetric Drosophila Cyst Stem Cell Division

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Characterization of Bazooka and aPKC in Asymmetric Drosophila Cyst Stem Cell Division Asymmetric stem cell division is important for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Some stem cells undergo asymmetric stem cell divisions when they reside in local microenvironments (i.e. stem cell niches), which provide essential signals to maintain stem cell identity. The intrinsic cellular machinery of asymmetric stem cell division remains, however, poorly understood. In this study, the importance of polarity proteins (i.e. Bazooka and aPKC) in regulating the asymmetric Drosophila cyst stem cell (CySC) division was discussed. First of all, the localization of Bazooka and aPKC was visualized by confocal microscopy, and the expression was quantified by a pixel intensity analysis program. Results showed Bazooka was almost evenly distributed along CySC cortex from interphase to metaphase, but illustrated higher expression level in the basal cortex during anaphase. Additionally, aPKC also displayed different localizations at different cell cycles. These results demonstrated dynamic localization of Bazooka and aPKC during asymmetric CySCs division. Time-lapse live-cell imaging provides a means to directly investigate the dynamic cellular processes, demonstrating the function of Bazooka and aPKC in regulating the asymmetric CySCs divisions. Either Bazooka or aPKC knockdown severely disrupted the anaphase spindle repositioning, leading to symmetric stem cell division. Spindle pole dynamics and mitosis duration analysis illustrated that both spindle pole dynamics were disrupted in Bazooka and aPKC knockdown. Meanwhile, the E-cadherin, which is highly localized to the hub- CySC interface for wildtype, was disrupted and distributed throughout the cell cortex in Bazooka and aPKC knockdown. These findings demonstrated the role of Bazooka and aPKC in establishing polarization in the CySCs. Moreover, this study may also lead to further investigation of mechanisms of the stem cell niche and the cellular machinery ensuring asymmetric stem cell divisions.