Peer relationships encompass an important developmental context for young girls’ understanding of normative social behavior and appearances. In early adolescence, concern for peer acceptance intensifies, as do the rigid standards peers regulate and command for physical appearance. Pressure to conform to group norms of attractiveness leaves girls vulnerable to reduced self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. Based on the life history narratives of 10 pre- and post-pubertal girls of diverse backgrounds, experiences with peers as they relate to pressures and resistances towards appearance conformity are documented through a prospective design. Results support the presence of two highly integrated domains of the peer environment which promote the pervasiveness of appearance-related pressure and body-consciousness for girls transitioning into adolescence: the evaluative external gaze and concerns for peer acceptance. Protective factors are discussed in the context of girls’ friendships and their ability to distance themselves from peer appearance pressure.

Peer relationships encompass an important developmental context for young girls’ understanding of normative social behavior and appearances. In early adolescence, concern for peer acceptance intensifies, as do the rigid standards peers regulate and command for physical appearance. Pressure to conform to group norms of attractiveness leaves girls vulnerable to reduced self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. Based on the life history narratives of 10 pre- and post-pubertal girls of diverse backgrounds, experiences with peers as they relate to pressures and resistances towards appearance conformity are documented through a prospective design. Results support the presence of two highly integrated domains of the peer environment which promote the pervasiveness of appearance-related pressure and body-consciousness for girls transitioning into adolescence: the evaluative external gaze and concerns for peer acceptance. Protective factors are discussed in the context of girls’ friendships and their ability to distance themselves from peer appearance pressure.

This thesis examines the relationship between human sexuality and “the mystical” in the work of Jeffrey J. Kripal. I claim that Kripal presents a nondualistic understanding of the relationship between human sexuality and “the mystical” that contests the conventional distinction between body and “soul.” In particular, Kripal’s two central concepts – “the erotic” and “the enlightenment of the body” – suggest that embodiment shapes our understanding of “the mystical.” By demonstrating the psychoanalytic, hermeneutical, and comparative significance of the relationship between human sexuality and “the mystical,” Kripal’s model calls attention to the crucial role that body, gender, and sexual orientation play in both the historical and contemporary study of mysticism. The point of my research is to show that Kripal’s approach signals a new way of studying “the mystical” in terms of “mystical humanism,” which draws on both Eastern and Western philosophies to construct a critical, non-reductive appreciation for the transformative and ultimately emancipatory potential of certain mystical states of consciousness.

The estimation of body fluids is a useful and common practice in the status assessment of diseasemechanisms and treatments. Electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy (EBIS) methods are non-invasive,inexpensive, and efficient alternatives for the estimation of body fluids. However, these methods areindirect, and their robustness and validity are unclear.Regarding the recording of measurements, a controversy developed regarding a spectrum deviationin the impedance plane, which is caused by capacitive leakage. This deviation is frequentlycompensated for by the extended Cole model, which lacks a theoretical basis; however, there is nomethod published to estimate the parameters. In this thesis, a simplified model to correct thedeviation was proposed and tested. The model consists of an equivalent capacitance in parallel withthe load.Subsequently, two other measurement artefacts were considered. Both artefacts were frequentlydisregarded with regard to total body and segmental EBIS measurements as their influence isinsignificant with suitable skin-electrode contact. However, this case is not always valid, particularlyfrom a textile-enabled measurement system perspective. In the estimation of body fluids, EBIS dataare fitted to a model to obtain resistances at low and high frequencies. These resistances can berelated to body fluid volumes. In order to minimise the influence of all three artefacts on theestimation of body fluids and improve the robustness and suitability of the model fitting the differentdomains of immittance were used and tested. The conductance in a reduced frequency spectrum wasproposed as the most robust domain against the artefacts considered.The robustness and accuracy of the method did not increase, even though resistances at low and highfrequencies can be robustly estimated against measurement artefacts. Thus, there is likely error in therelation between the resistances and volumes. Based on a theoretical analysis, state of the artmethods were reviewed and their limitations were identified. New methods were also proposed. Allmethods were tested using a clinical database of patients involved in growth hormone replacementtherapy. The results indicated EBIS are accurate methods to estimate body fluids, however they haverobustness limits. It is hypothesized that those limits in extra-cellular fluid are primarily due toanisotropy, in total body fluid they are primarily due to the uncertainty ρi, and errors in intra-cellularfluid are primarily due to the addition of errors in extracellular and total body fluid. Currently, theseerrors cannot be prevented or minimised. Thus, the limitations for robustness must be predicted priorto applying EBIS to estimate body fluids. / <p>QC 20130917</p>

Eating, weight, and shape concerns (EWS) are prevalent among college women, and women with EWS concerns tend to experience difficulties in the domain of interpersonal functioning. For a young woman, romantic relationships represent one of the most important aspects of her interpersonal world; thus, an exploration of the romantic relationships of women with EWS concerns may potentially impact the risk assessment, prevention, and treatment of these women. This study used a longitudinal design to examine the relations between EWS concerns and romantic relationships in 88 college women and their heterosexual partners. Participants completed questionnaires at two time points spaced approximately two months apart. Results revealed that women’s relationship outcomes did not predict changes in their EWS concerns over the subsequent two months, but relationship negative events for men predicted a worsening of women’s EWS concerns. This finding contradicts the common hypothesis that the influence between women’s EWS concerns and romantic relationship outcomes is bi-directional. Men’s desired change in their partners’ bodies predicted women’s EWS concerns cross-sectionally and longitudinally; however, once controlling for Body Mass Index, most results were no longer significant. Thus, it seems that a woman’s actual body weight may be driving both her partner’s satisfaction with her body and her own EWS concerns. Results for analyses determining whether women’s EWS concerns predicted subsequent changes in relationship outcomes indicated that women’s body image during physical intimacy was the only EWS variable that significantly or marginally predicted a worsening of all relationship outcomes for both men and women. This finding provides further support for previous research suggesting that women’s body image problems may lead to avoidance or uneasiness with physical intimacy, which in turn may impact relationship functioning. Finally, men’s desired change in their partner’s bodies predicted only men’s own relationship outcomes cross-sectionally, and only women’s relationship outcomes longitudinally. Overall, this study highlights the importance of longitudinal research and of assessing both partners when exploring the relations between women’s EWS concerns and romantic relationship outcomes.

An increase in time to ovulation following parturition could result in economic loss if the mare cannot successfully conceive within a short time after foaling. To evaluate if a difference exists in reproductive efficiency of fat- (body condition score of 7 to 8) versus moderately-conditioned (body condition score of 5 to 6), 24 mares were allotted to and maintained in their respective group from late gestation until pregnancy was confirmed following breeding on the second post-partum estrus. Days to ovulation, interovulatory intervals, conception rates, and endocrine profiles were analyzed. Serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and leptin were assayed in order to characterize normal circulating blood concentrations. There were no differences (P>0.05) in mean interval from parturition to first ovulation (14.41 ± 1.07 and 16.18 ± 1.06 d), first to second postpartum ovulation (22.91 ± 1.07 and 24.33 ± 0.93 d), or in conception rates (91.67% and 83.33%) between the 2 groups. However, mares in moderate conditioning did lose a greater percentage of body fat upon foaling as compared to fleshier mares (0.82% versus 0.35%). Leptin concentrations were not different between the groups (P>0.05). Nevertheless, serum concentrations of T4 were higher (P<0.01) and IGF-1 concentrations lower (P<0.01) in moderate- as compared to fat-conditioned mares during times of ovulation and the interovulatory period. Results indicate that mares maintained in a fleshy body condition are not prone to reproductive dysfunction or lowered levels of fertility. The significance of the current results is important as it reassures the breeder that mares in a fatter body condition score (BCS of 7-8) should not demonstrate sub-fertility related to level of body fat. Additionally, results indicate that mares may need to be kept in a BCS of 6 in order to avoid losing enough weight upon parturition and early lactation to bring the BCS below 5. It suggests that varying amounts of circulating T4 and IGF-1 do not affect reproductive capabilities of mares in a BCS of greater than 5 following parturition.

The current study examined the psychological consequences of trait and state self objectification. This study had three main objectives: to examine the relation between trait self objectification and various eating pathologies; to examine the degree of state self objectification (induced by three different conditions) and the impact of condition on affect and sense of self; and finally, to examine the effect of condition on interactions with the opposite sex. The pilot study was used to select thin, thin sexually objectifying and average/plus size non-sexually objectifying images. Using a quasi-experimental research design with an elaborate cover story, the main study exposed one hundred seventy women to one of three conditions (thin non sexually objectifying, thin sexually objectifying or plus size non-sexually objectifying images) and measured negative affect and body image. Following viewing images, participants interacted with a male confederate for five minutes and their reported comfort level and flirting with the confederate were assessed. Results indicated that trait self objectification was associated with disordered eating symptomatology. However, the manipulation check revealed that the experimental condition did not produce varying degrees of sexual objectification. Nonetheless, results indicate an effect of condition on body dissatisfaction, in which individuals who viewed thin images reported more body dissatisfaction than participants in the above average/plus size group. In regards to the social interaction, individuals in the non-sexually objectified group reported more flirting than individuals in the sexually objectified group. Implications for clinical work and future research are discussed.

This thesis research was conducted to test the hypothesis that the survival and growth of both neonatal and postweaning piglets can be improved by nutritional modulations. Two experiments were carried out to 1) evaluate effects of birth weight on mortality, growth performance, and efficiency of sow-reared piglets; and 2) determine the effects of a phytochemical (Yucca schidigera) on growth performance of postweaning pigs. In the first experiment, piglets (n=160) from 18 multiparous sows (Landrace X Large White) were used. Body weight of all piglets were recorded immediately after birth, d 7, d 14, d 21 and d 35 of their age. Individual milk consumption of piglets was estimated using the weigh-suckle-weigh method. Average daily gain and mortality were recorded. To analyze the effects of birth weight on future BW and growth, piglets were classified based on their birth weight into four categories of A: 0.7-1.09 kg, B: 1.10-1.49 kg, C: 1.50-1.89 kg and D: >1.90. Data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Results indicated that low birth weight of pigs not only increased (P < 0.05) their incidence of mortality but also negatively impacted (P < 0.05) their whole-body growth. Interestingly, surviving low-birth-weight piglets had a higher (P < 0.05) rate of efficiency to utilize milk nutrients for growth than larger littermates. In the second experiment, two 21-day trials using 21-d-old postweaning piglets (n=111) were performed (d 21 to 42 of age). In the first trial, pigs were assigned to one of the three groups fed diets supplemented with 0 (control), 120 ppm or 180 ppm of Yucca powder (BIOPOWDER). The second trial was conducted as the first trial except that the basal diet contained 0.2 percent L-citrulline (an effective precursor of arginine). Body weight, average daily gain and feed intake of all pigs were measured weekly in both trials. At the last day of experiment, 2 h after the last meal, jugular blood samples were taken from all pigs in both trials for amino acid analysis. One-way ANOVA was used to statistically analyze the data. When the basal diet did not contain citrulline, dietary supplementation with BIOPOWDER did not affect (P > 0.05) any of the measured variables related to growth performance. However, supplementing an appropriate dose of this yucca extract (120 ppm) to a citrulline-fortified diet increased growth performance and feed efficiency in these animals. Adequate availability of arginine is required for BIOPOWDER to exert its anabolic effect on piglet growth and its regulatory action on improving the efficiency of nutrient utilization in young pigs. These findings have important implications for nutritionally modulating the growth of neonatal pigs and, therefore, the swine industry worldwide.

The current study examined affective reactivity to oneself in an upward socialcomparison manipulation using autonomic physiological responses. Study I was conducted to select images of thin and average size models used to elicit a social comparison process for Study II. For Study II, thirty-two female undergraduate students had their startle reflex and skin conductance responses recorded while viewing images of themselves presented adjacent to thin or average size models. Participants also viewed positive, negative, and neutral affect images to test our experimental manipulation of Peter Lang’s startle paradigm. Following the visual presentation, participants used the SAM scale to rate each image along the dimensions of valence, arousal, dominance, body satisfaction, and attractiveness. Analyses revealed that participants reacted to thin and average size models and self with similar levels of body image satisfaction, valence, and arousal, even though thin models were perceived as highly more attractive. Positive affect images were rated higher on valence and arousal among all the picture types. With regards to the psychophysiological data, there were differences in startle reactivity among the three model-to-self comparison images, with images of Thin-to-Self Comparison eliciting more of an inhibited startle response and Thin-to-Average Comparison images eliciting more of a potentiated startle response. In terms of arousal, positive affect images were perceived as more arousing among all the picture types. Contrary to what was expected, there were no significant differences in skin conductance responsiveness between the three model-to self comparison images. The results are discussed from a social-comparison perspective with regard to affective reactivity to body image. Future research directions are proposed.

Four research experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of dietary enzyme inclusion (phytase and NSPase) on broiler performance parameters, processing yields, and bone mineralization. In Experiment 1, a 35-day grow out trial was conducted to investigate the effect of three commercially available phytase enzymes on growth performance and bone mineralization in phosphorus deficient corn/soy based diets. Increasing the level of available phosphorus (aP) in the control diets resulted in improved bird performance and bone ash data. The presence of dietary phytase in phosphorus deficient diets resulted in improvements in growth parameters and bone mineralization. Regression analysis confirmed that phytase supplementation can potentially increase the bioavailability of phosphorus in broiler diets up to 0.15 to 0.20 percent, however, the responses varied according to the enzyme used and inclusion level. In Experiment 2, a 42-day grow out trial was conducted to analyze the effects of NSPase inclusion on broiler performance and processing parameters when supplemented in diets with varying protein and energy concentrations. Reduced protein and energy levels reduced bird performance throughout the trial. The inclusion of both NSPase enzymes resulted in improvements in feed conversion throughout the starter and grower periods (day 26 of age). The results from this trial showed that NSPase inclusion can improve broiler performance and processing parameters. In Experiments 3 and 4, a battery trial and a floor trial were conducted to determine the effects of phytase and NSPase enzyme co-administration on growth and bone ash in low phosphorus diets. Increasing the level of available phosphorus resulted in increased bird performance and bone ash. The inclusion of phytase enhanced bird performance and bone mineralization. NSPase inclusion in diets containing low levels of phytase had improvements in bird performance during early stages of growth. The enhanced effects associated with dual administration of phytase and NSPase were not observed in a full grow out trial during later stages of growth. These four experiments indicate that phytase and NSPase enzyme inclusion in broiler diets have the ability to enhance bird performance, processing yield, and bone mineralization.