This study examines middle school students’ perceptions of the relationship between key influencers on student attendance, student behavior, student engagement, and academic achievement. Three hundred (300) survey participants were used in this mixed methods design, which consisted of an analysis of the independent variables affecting overall student motivation operationalized as Student Attendance, Student Behavior, Student Engagement, and Academic Achievement of eighth grade students. The survey participants were composed of two urban middle schools in a large public school system and a private middle school in the same county. African-American male students were isolated to analyze correlation relationships among variables. Findings of the study indicated that among other outcomes, African-American male students have definite perspectives about teacher quality and the impact of parental involvement.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:13:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucelia Tessaro.pdf: 2574631 bytes, checksum: ca57438c0aba9b691b6d844030fa8eb8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / It was studied the effect of the different digestible energy levels (DE) on reproductive and animal performance and gonads and livers histological aspects of silver catfish broodstocks (Rhamdia quelen). The treatments were digestible energy levels of 2.850, 3.100, 3.350, 3.600 e 3.850 kcal.kg feed, in diets containing 30% digestible protein (DP. The animals were stocked in tanks of 16m2 under conditions of light and temperature natural. The temperature water of the tanks was monitored daily. pH and oxygen dissolved were measured biweekly. The fish were feed during 210 days and were evaluated, initial and final, length, weight, weight gain and condition factor, separately to males and females. For the reproductive parameters, from October 2009 to February 2010 the males were induce, monthly, by carp pituitary extract (2,5mg.kg male) for collect milt samples. In the reproductive session, the females were induced by carp pituitary extract (5,5mg.kg female) for evaluation to number of spawn females (%) and absolute and relative fecundity. In the same period, six males and six females in each treatment were killed to obtained, visceral, gonad and hepatossomatic index, and to histological characterization of maturation stages and hepatic aspects. The water quality remained in the levels recommended for the species. Animal performances to males and females were not affected by feed. In relation to the hepatic aspects, were observed cytoplasmic vacuolation and steatosis in females. For the males this hepatic alteration were not observed. For the reproductive parameters, males and females were not influenced. The Monthly variations on seminal parameters were observed and indicated a reproductive pike in the spring. The feds containing 30% of digestible protein and energy levels from 2,850 to 3,850 kcal.kg were not affect reproductive parameters to males or females, however, females feed on 3,100 to 3,600kcal.kg showed cytoplasmic vacuolation in hepatocytes. / O estudo avaliou diferentes níveis de energia digestível (ED) sobre o desempenho zootécnico, reprodutivo e aspectos histológicos do tecido hepático e gonadal de machos e fêmeas de jundiá (Rhamdia quelen). As rações testadas foram isoproteicas contendo 30% proteína digestível (PD) e 2.850, 3.100, 3.350, 3.600 e 3.850 kcal de energia digestível (ED) (kcal.kg ração-1) Os peixes foram alojados em tanques escavados sob condições de fotoperíodo e temperatura natural. A água dos tanques foi monitorada diariamente quanto a temperatura e quinzenalmente quanto pH e oxigênio dissolvido. Os animais foram acompanhados durante 210 dias e foram avaliados, separadamente por sexo, ao início e ao término do experimento, quanto ao comprimento padrão, peso médio, ganho de peso e fator de condição, este último apenas para os machos. Para os parâmetros reprodutivos, entre os meses de outubro a fevereiro, os machos mensalmente foram submetidos às análises seminais e espermáticas. Para tanto, os machos foram submetidos ao protocolo de indução hormonal empregando extrato pituitário de carpa em dose única de 2,5 mg.kg-1. Dentro do período reprodutivo, as fêmeas foram induzidas hormonalmente com protocolo semelhante, contudo utilizando 5,5 mg.kg-1. Após a indução foram avaliados o percentual de fêmeas desovantes e as fecundidades absoluta e relativa. No mesmo período em que as fêmeas foram submetidas a reprodução artificial, foram selecionados aleatoriamente e abatidos seis machos e seis fêmeas de cada tratamento. Os reprodutores foram dissecados para mensuração dos índices víscerossomático, hepatossomático e gonadossomático, bem como para caracterização histológica do estágio de maturação gonadal e do tecido hepático. A qualidade da água permaneceu dentro dos níveis recomendados para a espécie. Não foi verificado efeito (p>0,05) das rações para os parâmetros zootécnicos seja para machos ou fêmeas. Quanto aos aspectos hepáticos, foi verificada a ocorrência de vacúolos citoplasmáticos e esteatose nas fêmeas. O mesmo não foi observado nos machos. Para os aspectos reprodutivos, machos e fêmeas não foram influenciados pelos níveis energéticos testados (p>0,05). Os machos apresentaram, ao longo dos meses, características seminais e espermáticas que sugerem a ocorrência de um pico reprodutivo no final da primavera. Rações contendo 30% de proteína digestível e níveis de energia entre 2.850 e 3.850 kcal.kg de ração-1 não afetam os parâmetros reprodutivos de machos e fêmeas de jundiá, contudo, em fêmeas, rações contendo entre 3.100 e 3.600 kcal causam vacuolização nos hepatócitos, possivelmente pela deposição lipídica.

Extensos dados na literatura têm assinalado a importância da serotonina (5-HT) na modulação de comportamentos de medo e ansiedade em roedores, a grande maioria utilizando ratos machos como sujeitos experimentais. No presente trabalho, foi analisada a influência da neurotransmissão 5-HT periférica e central sobre a expressão da resposta de medo condicionado e incondicionado de ratos machos e fêmeas, previamente selecionados pelo fenótipo como animais de baixa (BA) ou de alta (AA) reatividade emocional. Para este fim foi utilizado o teste do sobressalto potencializado pelo medo (SPM). A influência global e central de 5-HT foi avaliada pela utilização da administração sistêmica ou intraventricular aguda do inibidor irreversível da enzima triptofano hidroxilase PCPA (p-clorofenilalanina) nas doses de 200 mg/mL (i.p.) e 200 µg/5 µL (i.v.), ou através de infusões locais de 5-HT (10 nmol/0.2 µL) ou do agonista seletivo de receptores 5-HT1A 8-hidroxi-2-(di-n-propilamino)-tetralina (8-OH-DPAT) na dose de 0,3 µg/0.2 µL, diretamente em áreas encefálicas conhecidas por sua influência na modulação do medo e ansiedade a saber: o córtex pré-limbico (CPL), o núcleo basolateral da amígdala (BLA), e a substância cinzenta periaqueductal dorsal (SCPd) do mesencéfalo. As variáveis dependentes registradas foram a amplitude e a latência das respostas incondicionadas e condicionadas de sobressalto e a amplitude do SPM. / Extensive data in the literature have signaled the importance of serotonin (5-HT) on the modulation of fear and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. In the present study, we have analyzed the influence of peripheral and central 5-HT neurotransmission on the expression of the conditioned and unconditioned fear, and on the fear-potentiated startle in male and female rats previously selected as low- (LA) or high-anxiety (HA). For this purpose, we used the fear-potentiated startle (FPS) test. The global and central influence of 5-HT was evaluated by using the acute systemic or intraventricular administration of the irreversible tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor PCPA (p-chlorophenylalanine - 200 mg/mL i.p., or 200 µg/5 µL i.v.). Local effects were evaluated through local infusions of 5-HT itself (10 nmol/0.2 µL) or the selective 5-HT1A receptors agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT 0.3 µg/0.2 µL) in the prelimbic cortex (PrL), basolateral amygdala (BLA) or the dorsal periaqueductal gray (DPAG). These brain regions were chosen for the present study based on their great importance in the modulation and expression of conditioned and unconditioned fear. Dependent variables recorded were the amplitude and latency of unconditioned and conditioned fear, and fear-potentiated startle (FPS).

L’haplodiploïdie chez les hyménoptères leur confère une meilleure résistance aux effets délétères de la dépression de consanguinité. Cependant, certains hyménoptères ont un déterminisme du sexe particulier qui les rend sensibles à cette dépression. Chez ces espèces, le genre des individus dépend de la complémentarité des allèles à un locus donné, le single-locus Complementary Sex Determination (sl-CSD). Les oeufs non fécondés se développent en mâles haploïdes alors hémizygotes au locus de CSD. En revanche les oeufs fécondés donnent des femelles diploïdes s’ils sont hétérozygotes au locus du CSD mais deviennent des mâles diploïdes s’ils sont homozygotes pour ce même locus. Ces derniers sont d’autant plus fréquents dans les populations consanguines où le taux d’homozygotes est élevé. Or, les mâles diploïdes sont dans la majorité des cas non viables ou stériles. La production de tels mâles est de ce fait coûteuse pour les femelles. La faible viabilité des mâles diploïdes s’apparente alors à de la dépression de consanguinité. Par des approches liées à l’écologie comportementale et à l’écologie chimique le projet de thèse se concentre sur l’étude des coûts individuels générés par la production de mâles diploïdes et à l’évolution des comportements sélectionnés en réponse à ces coûts. Dans un premier temps, je me suis intéressée à la fitness des mâles diploïdes et aux répercussions de leur production sur les femelles de la population. Dans un second temps, j’ai étudié les comportements permettant de réduire les coûts de la production des mâles diploïdes. Les individus apparentés représentent les partenaires sexuels où le risque de produire des fils diploïdes est le plus élevé. De ce fait, les comportements d’évitement de la consanguinité devraient être sélectionnés dans ces populations / Haplodiploidy in hymenopterans offers a great resistance to the deleterious effect of inbreeding depression. However, some hymenopterans have a specific sex determination which drives them to this depression. Among those species, the sex of individuals depends on allele complementary at a particular locus; the single-locus Complementary Sex Determinatation (sl-CSD). Unfertilized eggs give birth to haploid males which are hemizygotes at the CSD locus. Conversely, fertilized eggs develop into females when heterozygote at the CSD locus but become diploid males when homozygote at the same locus. Diploid males are especially frequent in inbred populations with a high inbreeding rate. Yet diploid males are generally unviable or sterile. Production of such males is therefore costly for females. Reduced viability of diploid males is then similar to inbreeding depression. Linked with behavioural ecology and chemical ecology approaches, the PhD project starts by focusing on individual costs due to production of diploid males, and then on behaviours that have evolved in response to these costs. As a first step, the fitness of diploid males and its impact on females of the population have been measured. If they are unviable, their production is akin to female mortality. As a second step, we studied behaviours that reduce the cost of diploid male production. Related individuals are sexual partners that are most likely to father diploid sons. Therefore, behavioural inbreeding avoidance may be selected in such populations

The current work extends upon the theories of female mate preference in a novel way by examining how the interaction of race and the masculinity of males affect preference in females. In Study 1, I manipulated the facial masculinity of photographs of White, Black, and Asian males. Female participants rated the faces on attractiveness, masculinity, and age. In Study 2, nine photographs were matched on masculinity and participants made judgments on dimensions relating to dateabiltity, attractiveness, resources, masculinity, and parenting behaviors. Asian males are often neglected as potential romantic partners. A major aim of the current work was to assess if racial bias against Asian males in romantic situations are lessened with increased facial masculinity. Asian males were evaluated highly across several dimensions if they possessed high masculine facial characteristics. Medium masculine White and Black males were evaluated as the most attractive and dateable in their respective racial groups. Additionally, low masculine White and Black males were evaluated as better choices for resource and family-related attributions in their respective racial groups.

According to current U.S. labor statistics, Black male executives are underrepresented in every major industry in the United States. Common impediments preventing Black males from occupying executive positions include workplace white supremacy, biculturalism, repressive structures, and disparate career development. Using critical race theory as a framework, this basic qualitative study investigated the experiences of eight male executives, five Black and three white, from various industries to understand their perceptions and perspectives on race and racism, and examined their workplace lived experiences to study why there are not more Black males in the e-suite. Moreover, strategies to increase Black male representation in executive leadership positions were explored. The results of this study indicated white supremacy and norms are ubiquitous and dominant in the workplace. Consequently, this prevailing workplace ideology determines an organization’s culture, policies and practices, and, altogether, trigger traumas for Black males. Black male participants associated many of their workplace experiences with traumas in the forms of white favoritism, marginalization, stereotyping, microinvalidation, and compulsive assimilation. As a coping mechanism, they found support and organizational belonging through social networking in peer relationships and affinity groups, but their white counterparts almost exclusively used networking for career advancement.5 An emergent strategy from this study to increase Black male representation in the e-suite was the notion of a designed relationship model between aspiring Black male executives and equity-minded white male executives. However, because scholarship concerning career barriers impeding Black males from executive leadership positions is limited, future research is required to better understand the relationship between their workplace traumas and their underrepresentation.

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California Community Colleges (CCC) are the largest post-secondary higher education systems in the nation, with an enrollment of over 2 million at a given year. They are also the most affordable and accessible for students after completing K-12 education. With California having the largest Latinx residents (39%), they overwhelmingly makeup 45% of the student population enrolled in CCC. Although Latinx students are pursuing higher education and enrolling in high numbers in CCC’s, they still fall short when it comes to student success outcomes, particularly transfer, when compared with their peers. Only 10 % of Latinx students transfer in two years, 16% in four years, and 32 % in six years. This number becomes more alarming when only analyzing the Latino male student transfer rate, which is less than four percent in two years, seven percent in four years and 16 % in six years. Aspects of literature attributes the Latinx attainment gap to both institutional and environmental determinants. Institutional determinants include: academic preparedness, the role of faculty, staff, and administration, and faculty diversity. Environmental determinants include: family influences, financial and socioeconomic status, as well as masculinity identity. Given what the literature has provided, this study will look at Latino male students who have indicated progress towards transfer using the Associates Degree for Transfer (ADT). The ADT was established in 2011 and it was meant to create a clearer path for students to navigate the transfer process and end up transferring to a California State University (CSU). This study employed Merriam’s (206) basic qualitative research methodology to understand the meaning that students have constructed through their college experience and interactions with peers, counselors, faculty, and administrators. A total of 10 participants, all Latino community college males, were part of this investigation. The data collection process included: semi-structured interviews, which were one hour in length, using thematic analysis as well as a color-coded method. The research data was viewed through Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth framework to capture the positive qualities that Latino male students bring to higher education. The results from this study indicated that Latino male students had a wide range of challenges steaming from environmental to academic challenges. Additionally, findings suggest that many Latino male students are disengaged from campus support services. This may be due to the COVID – 19 pandemic and the services being offered virtually. A third component from the findings suggest that Latino male students need a sense of belonging to the campus. This can be done by establishing a Latino center, male initiative program, greater mentorship, or and designated counselors that can invest as well as dedicate more time in their education. The researcher outlined several recommendations for action in the field of community college practice and for further research.

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