Bibliography: leaves 50-54. / For many years psychodynamically oriented research into homosexuality has been a topic for controversy. The "gay" community as well as many more sociologically oriented researchers see any investigation of the psychodynamics of this orientation as implying pathology and therefore contributing to stigmatization of homosexuals. More recently, however, psychoanalytic writers have questioned traditional assumptions and pointed to a need to look at the diversity of homosexual adaptations. Of interest in a more recent perspective is Socarides' (1979) classification, distinguishing between pre-oedipal and oedipal types of homosexuals. This paper argues that while generalization about "homosexuals" is impossible, a psychodynamic approach is useful in looking at the meaning and adaptive function of the homosexual orientation in each individual client and thus understand it in relation to personality organization and behaviour. A brief summary of psychoanalytic theory of male homosexuality is given with an emphasis on Socarides' classification. Two case studies are presented in an attempt to illustrate the usefulness of a psychodynamic approach and of the oedipal - pre-oedipal distinction. It is suggested that this distinction be seen more as a continuum of varying levels of ego-functioning.

As the population of transgender individuals continues to grow and the utilization of hormone therapy becomes more common, it is becoming more important to completely understand the effects it has on the body. The current recommendations regarding administration of testosterone therapy stem from small studies with young cohorts that found little evidence of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the transgender male population. This is expected as CVD in populations younger than 50 are a relatively rare occurrence. Recent cross-sectional studies that include the whole transgender population have shown an association between being a transgender male and having a myocardial infarction (MI). Numerous studies have shown that testosterone therapy increases a multitude of risk factors for CVD, including increased hematocrit, cholesterol, blood pressure, and diminished endothelial function. Other risk factors are usually clustered in transgender populations including increased social stressors, substance abuse, poor socioeconomic status, and increased health disparities. This study will find the rate of CVD in an older population of transgender males, using transgender males who do not take testosterone therapy as a control, in order to find the true effect that testosterone therapy has on cardiovascular disease.

No description available.

This study sought to understand the perceptions of African American male students who are enrolled in developmental education programs. The researcher gathered information by interviewing students at 2 Mississippi community colleges and by reviewing information collected from the student’s demographic profile. This qualitative research allowed the researcher to learn directly from students, factors that contribute to African American male students developing a negative perception of developmental education programs. Participants were 20 African American male students enrolled in developmental education program in 2 Mississippi community colleges. Data collection occurred during the spring and fall 2016 semester. Each participant was asked 12 questions to determine his perspectives of developmental education programs and factors contributing to the student’s academic success. Moreover, the study provided solutions that can help dispel the negative perceptions of African American male students and suggested strategies for academic achievement. The factors included the following: support of community college leaders, supportive instructors, and peer support group. Data suggested that to support the academic success of African American male students, an understanding of their culture can benefit their advancement in the community college. The participants believe that if instructors would not give into the negative stereotypes and increase their willingness to go the extra mile to insure that African American male students become successful, the negative perception of developmental education program will change. Participants conveyed the need to feel cared for, understood, and supported by instructors and community college leaders. The findings from this study can assist community college leaders and instructors to develop educational interventions that will support African American male students. This research study is an attempt to provide information that will improve academic success of African American males enrolled in developmental educational programs in the community colleges.

A preliminary test was conducted evaluating the effect of digestible lysine (dLys) on broiler breeder (BB) male semen quality from forty-one to forty-nine wk of age. Five dietary treatments: corn-soybean meal diet with 1,000 mg dLys/rooser/day (Soy1,000), distillers dried grains with solubles diet with 1,000 (DDGS1,000), 850 (DDGS850), 700 (DDGS700), and 550 (DDGS550) mg dLys/rooster/day. Semen quality was similar except percentage dead sperm which was higher in DDGS550. A second trail was conducted using the same dietary treatments as the preliminary test during twenty to thirty-nine wk of age. Semen quality was similar except percentage dead sperm which was higher in Soy1,000. Soy1,000 exhibited higher body weight (BW), breast weight, and plasma testosterone. In conclusion dLys levels from 1,000 to 700 mg/rooster/day will not adversely affect semen quality of BB males. Attention should be given to BW in BB as it could lead to an increased percentage dead sperm.

No description available.

Cortical thickness and entheseal robusticity were used to measure the effects of activity and age in a group of 77 adult males from the site of Lisieux-Michelet in northern France. There was no known age at death for this population; age was determined using a series of osteological age estimation methods. Based on the currently available dates for this sample, the skeletal remains were primarily from the Late Roman Period (3rd-7th century AD).The adults were divided into three age categories based on these estimation results. Trends in cortical and entheseal development were measured within and between age categories. Results showed that entheses increased with age while cortical thickness decreased. However, low correlation between these two factors suggests that while entheseal robusticity responds to age, it is highly influenced by physical activity. Activity levels also affect cortical thickness which causes variation within age groups. A comparison of the Lisieux-Michelet entheseal and cortical measurements to both modern and archaeological populations indicated that these males engaged in physically demanding occupations. The degree of activity experienced by these individuals decreased during the middle adult years likely due to a shift to less physically demanding occupations. However, cortical and entheseal data suggest that the old adults from Lisieux-Michelet were not particularly frail and continued to be active even after the decrease in activity during the middle years. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The performance of a group of twenty brain-injured boys (mean IQ 117.4; mean chronological age 120.6 months) was compared with that of a control group of non-brain-injured boys (mean IQ 118.2; mean chronological age 128.6 months) on a battery of tests designed to measure perceptual processes underlying conceptual thinking. The experimental group was selected from the out-patient files of the Seizure Unit at Ohildrens Medical Center in Boston. The control group was drawn from a large elementary school in the greater Boston area. All children in both groups were enrolled in regular classrooms and groups were matched on the variable• ot WISC Full Scale IQ, chronological age, sex and socio-economic level. The battery of tests consisting of the WISC, the Grahm-Kendall Memory for Design, the Wisconsin Card sorting Teat, the Porteua Mazes and the Gilmore Sentence Completion Test was administered to each child in his own home. [TRUNCATED] / 2031-01-01

For many years, the role of testosterone has been perceived to play a role in the development of prostate cancer and certain cardiovascular diseases (Jones et al., 2013); with its general therapeutic roles being much overlooked. Much of this unprecedented assumption was based upon clinical observations showing the benefit of androgen deprivation in prostate cancer patients, and the perceived reports of higher cardiovascular death amongst people abusing steroid therapies (Jones et al., 2013; Basaria et al., 2010). However, there has been compelling evidence that suggests that testosterone administration within physiological ranges does not contribute to prostate cancer or the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (Morgentaler et al., 2009; Jones et al., 2013; Traish et al., 2009). Recent evidence actually suggests the protective role of androgens in the management of metabolic conditions, such as: obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type-2 diabetes mellitus, all of which are known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (Traish et al., 2009; Morgentaler et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2000). Erectile dysfunction, which is a type of endothelial dysfunction disorder, is defined as the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual performance, and it affects an estimated 30 million American men between the ages of 40 to 70 years old, and this prevalence increases with age (Nehra A, 2007; Barkin J, 2011; Guay A, 2007). The male human erection involves a multifactorial interplay between various mechanisms within the body; encompassing psychological, vascular, neural and endocrine factors (Dean et al., 2005; Castela et al, 2011). The human erection involves the increased inflow of blood into the penile arteries, and the subsequent veno-occlusion, all of which occurs at a perfectly orchestrated hormonal environment (Bivalacqua et al, 1998; Castela et al., 2011). Nitric oxide is released from the endothelium, which dilates penile arteries and relaxes the penile smooth muscles, causing the corpora cavernosa of the penis to fill with blood; the ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles then compress the veins, which restricts the egress of blood (Bivalacqua et al, 1998; Castela et al., 2011). Nitric oxide increases cGMP, which decreases intracellular calcium uptake, and increases K+ efflux; these all cause a smooth muscle cell relaxation. The decreased venous outflow from the penis helps maintain erection. In addition to nitric oxide, several other mechanisms are involved in the erectile response. The endothelium, which regulates vascular tone and blood flow, is responsible for the cholinergic smooth muscle relaxation observed by the addition of acetylcholine (Furchgott et al., 1983). Chamness et al. (1995) have shown that androgen differentially affects nitric oxide synthase activity in the male reproductive tract endothelium. Thus, the role of androgens, namely testosterone, is of importance in maintaining erectile function. In addition to affecting nitric oxide synthase activity, testosterone is also shown to affect erectile physiology in many more ways, including its role in activating K+ channels to increase the efflux or inhibit calcium channels via hyperpolarization (Yildiz et al., 2009), and even increasing arterial blood flow to the penis (Aversa et al., 2000). Interestingly, testosterone also modulates endothelial function. Endothelial progenitor cells are responsible for the regeneration of the endothelium. The area of study of these progenitor cells is relatively new, thus, it is important to evaluate how they affect endothelial function. Since erectile dysfunction is a form of endothelial dysfunction, it has been found that patients with erectile dysfunction had significantly lower levels of circulating progenitor cells than patients with a normal erectile function (Baumhäkel et al., 2006). Endothelial cells in the penile arteries play a critical role in regulating the physiological function of the erectile response in humans. Modulation of the endothelium in the penis by androgens, thus, is a critical area of research that must be further addressed.

No description available.