Previous research has indicated that teaching is a high stress profession and that social supports may help to mediate teacher job stress. Ecological maps have been used in both research and other fields in order to study individuals social networks. Using a sample of ten Pre-K teachers, this study aims to answers two questions of inquiry: 1) Is the amount of reported social supports for Pre-K teachers negatively associated with reported stress?, and 2) What information does the eco-map interview give us about teachers social supports and stress? A multi-methods approach of both qualitative and quantitative techniques was used in order to study the research questions. There were null findings for research question one. For research question two, the eco-maps gave more information about the kinds of supports that were more and least common for teachers to report. Also, four qualitative themes emerged from the interviews: 1) multiple roles, multiple responsibilities, 2) profession of circumstance, 3) other educators as supports, and 4) students progress as a means of enthusiasm through stressors. This research has implications for future research of the relationship between stress and social supports for teachers of young children as well as for implications for practice.

This quasi-experimental study examined the impact of a fruit and vegetable (FV) tasting program on third and fifth grade childrens preferences and psychosocial factors associated with FV intake. Four public schools in southeastern Louisiana participated. Two schools served as the intervention group where children were given a taste of four fruits or four vegetables on a rotating schedule for eight weeks followed by two weeks of tasting four months post- intervention (follow-up). Two control schools did not participate in tasting but received brightly colored FV posters which were posted in the cafeteria each week. A questionnaire administered at baseline, post-intervention, and after follow-up tastings assessed 38 FV preferences, self-efficacy, social norms, and outcome expectations for FV consumption. 161 children (52% third graders) who tasted fruit at least eight times and vegetables at least 20 times during the 8-week tasting program were included in the analysis. Significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups toward preferences for less common (p=0.03) and common fruits (p=0.02). In the intervention group, preference for less common fruits such as apricots, avocados, cantaloupe, kiwi, mangos and papaya increased from baseline to post-intervention (p=0.04) and from baseline to follow-up (p=0.01). Children demonstrated greater self-efficacy to consume FV from baseline to follow-up (p=0.01) in the intervention group but no changes were observed in the control group. These findings suggest that a FV tasting program positively impacts fruit preferences and self-efficacy to consume FV.

The purpose of this study was to determine the mean duration of child attention to a self-selected toy and to determine the longest duration under which teaching condition children attend to toy play (child choice, adult choice, or adult presentation). Forty preschool-aged children were observed under each teaching condition and data were collected on the childs duration of child attention. Results indicate that childrens sustained attention is significantly different across the three teaching conditions, and it was found that children attended for the longest duration of time during the child choice condition. It was also found that children attended for a longer period of time during the adult choice teaching condition as compared to the adult presentation condition. An ANOVA was used to compare the means across the three teaching conditions. Post-hoc comparisons show that the child-choice teaching condition is statistically significant from the adult presentation teaching condition.

Research indicates that narcissism may increase antisocial tendencies in children as young as preschool. In this quasi-experimental study, manners lessons on selfless, prosocial behavior were used as an intervention to decrease narcissism and antisocial behavior within second and third grade classrooms. Manners lessons provided children with opportunities to demonstrate prosocial attitudes toward others and thus were expected to decrease narcissism, increase empathy, decrease conduct problems and peer problems, and increase prosocial behavior. The present intervention positively influenced the external behavior of children as indicated by a decrease in conduct problems and peer problems and an increase in prosocial behavior for intervention group participants. The allotted treatment time did not produce a significant change in attitudes of narcissism or empathy, however. Additional, longitudinal studies are needed to further examine the influence of intervention on internal attitudes of narcissism and empathy.

Previous research has shown that prompting can increase child compliance to adult directives (Tarbox, Wallace, Penrod, & Tarbox, 2007; Wilder & Atwell, 2006; Wilder, Atwell, & Wine, 2006). The purpose of this study was to train teachers to use prompting to increase child compliance to teacher directives. This study builds on the current literature by using least-to-most prompting (Horner & Keilitz, 1975) within the naturally occurring context of the preschool classroom. The participants consisted of 3 preschool teachers who interacted with a target child in an early childhood classroom. Child compliance was measured during free choice center time. Results were consistent with previous research (Tarbox, Wallace, Penrod, & Tarbox, 2007; Wilder & Atwell, 2006; Wilder, Atwell, & Wine, 2006) by showing that the implementation of the least-to-most prompting intervention was correlated with an increase in child compliance.

Recent research has revealed that high religiosity is associated with positive life outcomes in adolescents and emerging adults. However, the mechanisms and processes that underscore faith development, which is crucial to experiencing these outcomes, are not well understood. Furthermore, most research on faith development in adolescents and emerging adults is based on quantitative data and fails to examine the influence of developmental contexts on faith development. To address this, a racially diverse New England sample of 30 highly religious Christian, Jewish, New World faiths, and Muslim families were interviewed regarding their faith and family life. Focusing specifically on the faith development of the adolescents and emerging adults (age 12-25; N = 43) in this sample, qualitative coding and analysis revealed three key themes: (a) contexts, (b) personal beliefs, and (c) personal practices. Qualitative data is provided to explain each theme. Implications for religious institutions, families, and social service organizations are discussed.

Current treatment strategies for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) include a range of anti-diabetic drugs, supplemented by lifestyle modifications to reduce dietary fat intake and body fat. However, for their anti-diabetic action, most drugs recruit insulin signaling pathways, which are already impaired in T2DM. Also, compliance and success in achieving sustained improvements in diet or obesity over the long term is marginal. Therefore, an agent that improves diabetes independent of insulin signaling or lifestyle changes may be highly useful. Human adenovirus Ad36 offers such a model. Ad36 improves glycemic control in chow-fed mice or rats and attenuates diabetes and hepatic steatosis in high fat(HF)-fed mice, despite the HF intake and without reducing adiposity. In human adults, natural Ad36 infection predicts better glycemic control and lower hepatic lipid stores. Ex-vivo cell signaling studies suggest that in mice, Ad36 activates Ras-mediated phosphatidyl- inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway (Ras/PI3K) to up-regulate glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipose, and suppresses glucose output from the liver. This study determined if the anti-diabetic properties of Ad36 could be creatively harnessed. Objective 1 determined that Ad36 seropositivity was associated with improved glycemic control and lower hepatic lipids in Caucasian, Hispanic, and African American children and adolescents. Objective 2 determined which of the conventional contributors of insulin sensitivity are modulated by Ad36. In vitro, Ad36 increased preadipocyte differentiation, de-novo lipogenesis, and fat oxidation. Ad36 increased the proportion of small adipocytes in mice on a chow diet, whereas in HF-fed mice, Ad36 increased the proportion of large adipocytes. Adipose tissue macrophage infiltration and angiogenesis were not affected by Ad36. Objective 3 determined the E4orf1 protein of Ad36 mediates its anti-hyperglycemic property. E4orf1 is sufficient and necessary to improve glucose uptake. Mirroring the actions of Ad36, in vitro, E4orf1 also up-regulates the Ras/PI3K pathway, and adiponectin an insulin sensitizing adipokine, and down-regulates inflammatory cytokine expression. E4orf1 increases glucose uptake in, preadipocytes and adipocytes. In hepatocytes, E4orf1 reduces glucose output and the metabolic studies indicate it favors less hepatic lipid storage. Overall, this study offers a broad foundation to further determine the potential of E4orf1 as an anti-diabetic agent.

In previous studies, in has been observed that the addition of resistant starch (RS) in the diet of rodents, a non-digestible fermentable fiber, promotes increases in markers of fermentation and improvements in body weight and body fat analysis when incorporated into low to moderate fat diets. This study investigated whether the same beneficial effects observed with RS addition in these lower fat diets could be obtained in a high fat diet, and if the type of fatty acid consumed in the diet makes a difference in markers of fermentation and body fat. Sprague Dawley rats (n=96) were fed as weight of diets, RS (27%), and Hi-fat (20%) or low fat (7%), for 12 weeks. Fish oil (4%) was given to half of the groups in order to assess the effects of fatty acid composition. The results revealed that markers of fermentation (pH and SCFA) were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, in RS fed groups (p<0. 05), but the high fat diet partially interfered with these improvements by reducing the amount of fermentation when compared to low fat groups. Gut hormones glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) were also significantly increased (p<0.05), but high fat diet demonstrated partial interference with PYY levels by reducing the level of this hormone when compared to low fat fed groups. The results of the abdominal fat analysis also revealed that RS significantly reduced body fat in RS fed animals (p<0.05), but the reduction was reduced from 24% in low-fat fed animals to 9% in high fat fed animals. In conclusion, RS promotes benefits in fermentation and body fat reduction, but the fat content of the diet moderated the level of improvement observed.

Current research indicates paucity in studying the intersection between specific facets of religion and psychological functioning. The current study addresses symptoms commonly manifested in university students adjusting to new expectations. The study addresses the interface between religion and mental health, particularly depression, which is a complex and multifaceted issue. The foundation of the current research was the Dollahite and Marks (2009) model which identified religion as a meta-variable based on three identified dimensions: beliefs, practices, and faith community. The purpose of the current study is to explore the complex relationships between religion, stress, and depression. The hypotheses predict (1) an inverse relationship between religion and depression, (2) a direct relationship between stress and depression, and (3) a buffering effect of religion on the relationship between stress and depression. In light of the rising needs in research, these predictions were based on a look at specific facets of religion. The participants provided survey data comprised of 212 psychology students in a convenience sample. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that females show higher levels of depression than do males and that social support is negatively related to depression. The current research showed significant findings in (1) the negative relationship between spiritual beliefs and depression, (2) the positive relationship between stress and depression, (3) the buffering impact of religious practices and faith community involvement as these variables interact with stress in relation to depression. The findings contributed to the existing body of research in that the negative relationship between beliefs and depression supported the Marks (2006) research. The positive relationship between stress and depression supported the research of Lee (2007) and the meta-analysis of Liu and Alloy (2010). Finally, the buffering effects of religious practices and faith community involvement on the relationship between stress and depression contributed to the complex findings of the research of Strawbridge, Shema, Cohen, Roberts, & Kaplan (1998). Above all, this study showed the dire need for future studies on religion and pathology and well-being using groundwork models such as the Dollahite and Marks (2009) conceptual model.

Due to their impact on the environment, apparel companies have gradually begun to change manufacturing and production processes and provide consumers with environmentally responsible apparel product options. Among these consumers are Hispanics, a consumer group which research has shown to have a strong purchasing power and astounding population increase. Between 2000 and 2010, the total population in the United States increased by 23.7million people, with Hispanics accounting for over 50% of that total increase (Humes, Jones, & Ramirez, 2011). It is estimated that by 2125 Hispanics will account for 50% of the total U.S. population (Day, 1996). Additionally, between 1990 and 2006, Hispanic buying power had a 450% growth versus a 176% growth of the non-Hispanic population (Humphreys, 2008). It is expected that Hispanic buying power will increase to $1.2 trillion by the year 2012 (Humphreys, 2007). Specifically, females account for 80% of household buying decisions (Gogoi, 2005). With this substantial financial impact, it is imperative that retailers better understand this consumer group. Using the theory of planned behavior and acculturation theory, the purpose of this research was to study the effects environmental knowledge has on environmental attitude and the influence environmental attitude, subjective norms, and the perceived control have on behavioral intention to purchase environmentally responsible apparel products. An online survey of 548 female Hispanic university students in the southeast region of the United States was conducted to collect data in this empirical quantitative study. The study of 65 participants found significant relationships between: environmental knowledge and attitude; attitude and behavioral intent; subjective norms and behavioral intention; and perceived behavioral control and behavioral intent within the female Hispanic population. These results reflect the application of the Theory of Planned Behavior as a theoretical framework to aid in measuring the behavioral intention with respect to the purchase of environmentally responsible apparel products.