Life Sciences Commons^™

Obesity Severity And Cancer Screening In Us Adults, Florina Corpodean, Michael Kachmar, Shengping Yang, Michael W. Cook, Philip R. Schauer, Vance L. Albaugh

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Impression Motivations And Mental Health In Collegiate Athletes And Musicians: The Benefits Of Promoting Virtues, Mary L. Inman, Olufemi A. Oluyedun, Erin Moran, Brendyn Mroz, Madison Mccreery

Faculty Publications

This study identifies two key impression-management motivations that arise in public settings: promoting virtues and preventing harm to one’s image. We explored their impact on mental health—specifically, socially-based perfectionism and depressive symptoms. Drawing from regulatory-focus theory, we predicted promotion motivations would predict strong mental health, prevention motivations would predict poor mental health, and promotion motivations would buffer against the negative effects of prevention motivations. Collegiate athletes and musicians (N = 262) completed validated measures of impression motivation, perfectionism, and depressive symptoms. Results revealed that athletes reported lower levels of perfectionism and depressive symptoms than did musicians. Across both groups, …

Table Of Contents September 2025 Vol11/1, Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

No abstract provided.

Self-Transcendent Experiences As Promoters Of Ecological Wellbeing? Exploration Of The Evidence And Hypotheses To Be Tested, Amy Isham

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

In recent years, much has been written on the role of different mental states and their potential to influence our way of thinking and, perhaps more importantly, the way we act. With the recent acceleration of environmental and mental health issues, alongside the limited effectiveness of existing interventions, an exploration of new approaches to deliver transformative change is required. We therefore explore the emerging potential of a type of mental state known as self-transcendent experiences (STEs) as a driver of ecological wellbeing. We focus on four types of STEs: those facilitated by experiences of flow, awe, and mindfulness, as well …

09.15.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• NIH Common Forms
• ORED Field Fest

Biophobia And Pet Ownership: Can Having A Pet Mitigate Our Fear And Aversion Towards Nature?, Alexia Barrable

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Biophobia, which we defined as fear, disgust, or aversion toward natural environments or organisms, has received little empirical attention when compared to biophilia, despite its implications for human and planetary wellbeing. This mixed-methods study explores the relationship between pet ownership, biophobia, and nature connectedness among 373 English- speaking adults. Quantitative findings reveal that (M = 26.4) exhibit significantly lower levels of biophobia than non-pet owners (M = 30.1; U = 5179, Z = -2.95, p = .002, R = 0.27), although no significant differences in nature connectedness were found across pet ownership (U = 7033, Z = 0.31, p = …

Book Review Matthew Pearl’S Save Our Souls: The True Story Of A Castaway Family, Treachery, And Murder (2025). Ny: Harpercollins, Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Like many works of the fiction genre Robinsonade (castaway drama and/or comedy on a deserted island or distant planet), Matthew Pearl’s well-researched narrative written in an authoritative archival prose, describes the actual fate of the Wandering Minstrel shipwreck and its survivors in 1887 in the Midway Atoll.

Editorial Vol11/1: "Eyes Wide Open", Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

No abstract provided.

In Memoriam: Holmes Rolston Iii, Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

No abstract provided.

Interview With Dr. James Paruk, Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Dr. Paruk is an associate professor in the Biology Department at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, in Standish, ME. He is a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Research Institute’s Loon Center for Conservation.

Postscript: A Historical Interlude, George Conesa

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Ravens fly in circles above our heads. Coyote peers from the hedge but dares not. Kachinas have not danced. The awelos tried but youth went their own way.

American Letters: H. L. Mencken, Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

American Letters: H. L. Mencken. From Prejudices (Fourth Series). 1924 NY: Alfred A Knopf XI. On The Nature of Man (1, pgs. 197, 198), The Animal That Thinks.

American Letters: Will Cuppy, Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

American Letters: Will Cuppy. From How to Become Extinct. 1941/1983 Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. How to Become Extinct (pgs. 102, 103) The Dodo

Bonding With Earth: Hyperbole, Metaphor, Or Fanciful Teleology?, George Conesa

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

At a mere glance, the notion that humans could (should strive for?) bond emotionally with an entire planet, Earth, sounds hyperbolic at best and psychologically unsound at worst. For although humans might be motivated to act in ways that pass for “bonding,” perhaps assisted by intentions and sentiments to care for a whole planet, the question remains: Which notion of Earth are they really investing all their emotions in? Important to psychologists would be to inquire whether incomplete, idealized, oversimplified, or fantastic notions of “Earth,” or bonding, turn out to be transference-love-like, platonic, overidealized forms of affect, which seldom develop …

Life Goes On, But Better, Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

" … During a solar flare* An exchange between two telegraph operators during the Carrington Event, the most intense solar flare recorded to date (September 2, 1859. Boston Evening Traveler)."

Poem: At Castle Island, Lake Superior By Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, Editorial Board

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

"Here in my native inland sea/ From pain and sickness would I flee/ And from its shores and island bright/ Gather a store of sweet delight. [...] Far from the haunts of men away/ For here, there are no sordid fears,/ No crimes, no misery, no tears/ No pride of wealth; the heart to fill,/ No laws to try my people ill.

Preclinical Perspectives On Disorders Of The Temporomandibular Joint: Tracing The Past, Navigating The Present, And Shaping The Future, John K Neubert, Kyle Allen, Tamara Alliston, Alejandro J Almarza, Kyriacos A Athanasiou, Basak Donertas-Ayaz, Bruna Balbino De Paula, Roxanne Bavarian, Nidhi Bhutani, Brian E Cairns, Robert M Caudle, Yang Chai, Jian-Fu Chen, Yong Chen, Glenn T Clark, Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Alexandre F Dasilva, Paul L Durham, Airam Vivanco Estela, Millie Embree, Roger Fillingim, Fernando Guastaldi, Shruti Handa, Sunil D Kapila, David Keith, Keith L Kirkwood, Phillip Kramer, Katherine T Martucci, Niall P Murphy, Andrea G Nackley, Richard Ohrbach, Benedikt Sagl, Shad B Smith, Feng Tao, Beth Winkelstein, Hai Yao, Simon Young, Michael S Gold

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are complex conditions characterized by orofacial pain and dysfunction, affecting a significant portion of the population. TMDs may involve joint and/or muscle pain, dysfunction (e.g., noise, limited or altered jaw movements), or both, leading to a marked decrease in quality of life. Patients often experience functional limitations that hinder eating, speaking, and daily activities. Additionally, TMDs are frequently associated with psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, which further impacts overall well-being. Despite the profound individual and societal impact of TMDs, effective therapies remain elusive, partly due to deficiencies in translational research. A primary limitation in the TMD …

The Cost Of Malnutrition In Older Adults In The Mountain West, 2020, Taylor Volk, Anirudh Polagani, Olivia K. Cheche, Kristian Thymianos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents 2020 data on the annual costs of disease-associated malnutrition for adults aged 65 years and older across the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are sourced from “Advancing Policies for Quality Malnutrition Care in Older Adults: A Toolkit for State Legislators,” a report published by Defeat Malnutrition Today and Women in Government.

Details Matter: Getting People Involved, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel

Cornhusker Economics

Sometimes getting people into the habit of community participation can be a bit challenging, but two aspects can help make this a little easier. The first is to make sure that there are no organizational barriers in participating, and the second is to realize that community participation happens on several levels and that each level has certain expectations. When these expectations are clearly stated, people are more easily motivated to get involved and stay involved.

Setting up engagement from the beginning requires thought and attention to detail. It can be insignificant things, like choosing a date or picking a location, …

Gardens As Pathways To Environmental Education For All Ages, Lacey Anderson

The Cicadian

Gardens provide hands-on opportunities for environmental education that extend beyond food production, encompassing ecological literacy, sustainability practices, experiential learning, and community engagement. This article uses a creative nonfiction approach to examine the author’s personal journey from reluctant gardener to advocate for learning gardens. Through narrative reflection of her own family’s gardening experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the author illustrates how gardening fosters intergenerational learning, socio-emotional development, and curiosity-driven exploration of ecological systems. The article highlights how gardens function as accessible entry points for lifelong learners of all ages, demonstrating that environmental literacy can emerge outside of traditional scientific expertise. Ultimately, …

The Impact Of Public Relations Strategies On The Effectiveness Of Epidemic Management In Jordan: A Case Study Of Covid-19, Hazem Jamil Al-Rahahleh

This study aimed to explore the impact of public relations strategies on the effectiveness of epidemic management in Jordan, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study. The study employed the descriptive-analytical method, which is based on the systematic description and interpretation of social and media phenomena. The findings revealed that public relations play a pivotal strategic role in managing health crises by building public trust, preparing communication plans, and formulating awareness messages in coordination with relevant authorities. The study recommended the need to enhance the training of public relations personnel in managing communication during health crises, to continue diversifying …

09.08.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Researcher training opportunities
• Project to increase PhD student success
• ORED online training opportunities

Leslie Combs And His Life In Chaos, Stanley C. Krippner

Journal of Conscious Evolution

The purpose of this contribution is to review what Leslie Combs described as his “Life in Chaos” and our interaction over the years. Beginning with our meeting at the founding of the Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology in 1991, this tribute traces his journey from early educational challenges to his emergence as a pioneering theorist in consciousness studies. It highlights our decades-long collaboration in the study of dreams, creativity, and the evolution of consciousness, celebrating his enduring legacy as both a brilliant psychologist and a cherished friend.

Keywords: Allan Leslie Combs, Stanley Krippner, chaos theory, systems theory, consciousness …

P.L.A.Y. For All Pilot: Effects Of A Community-Based, Inclusive After-School Program On Physical Activity And Motor-Skill Outcomes, Allison R. Tsuchida, Karl-Richard Hennebach, Erin E. Centeio

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

After-school programs for physical activity (PA) can contribute to helping children and youth achieve the suggested 60 minutes a day of PA. Previous research also suggests that developing motor competency can positively impact long-term PA participation. Additionally, parent and peer support can help children and youth overcome barriers to PA participation. The primary purpose of this pilot research study was to determine the effects of an inclusive after-school program on PA levels and motor-skill outcomes for children with and without disabilities. A secondary purpose was to examine parental support for physical activity and children’s physical activity and motor skills. 38 …

09.02.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• NIH Specific Aims Statement RED Talk
• NSF Research Security Training 

The Effects Of Early Life Rearing Experiences And Age On Sociality In Captive Olive Baboons (Papio Anubis), Angela M. Achorn, Michele M. Mulholland, Chet C. Sherwood, Soojin V. Yi, William D. Hopkins

Anthropology Faculty Publications

Social connections within primate groups are continuously changing, and an individual's connectedness within their social network can have important consequences on morbidity and mortality. Here, we examined the effects of early life social experiences and age on social connectedness of captive female olive baboons (Papio anubis). Subjects included 54 mother-reared (MR) and 35 nursery-reared (NR) baboons (4.03 to 19.8 years of age). We conducted four 15-min focal observations and recorded all social interactions. For every possible dyad, we calculated total amount of time in proximity to one another and total amount of time spent grooming (in each direction), then used …

Unveiling The Precision Of Physiological Signals In Prediction Error During Fear Learning: Insights From Associative Strength And Generalized Uncertainty, Haja H. Jallo-Jamboria

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Prediction error (PE) is the discrepancy between expected and actual outcomes. It is a central mechanism in associative learning particularly within fear-conditioning paradigms. Identifying physiological markers of PE in aversive contexts has important implications for refining learning models and enhancing clinical interventions for anxiety-related disorders. This study examined skin conductance response (SCR) as a potential physiological index of PE by analyzing both anticipatory and omission-related responses across multiple learning phases. Participants completed a Pavlovian fear-conditioning paradigm in which two conditioned stimuli (CS+) signaled threat at different reinforcement probabilities: CS+100 (certain threat) and CS+50 (uncertain threat), alongside a non-reinforced safety cue …

Influence Of Disaster Experience On Farmers’ Livelihood Strategies Under Extreme Climate Events In Guizhou Province, China, Yumei Bai, Huiqing Han, Yuanju Jian

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Extreme climate events have emerged as a critical challenge to global agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods. Climate change not only directly impacts crop yields and quality but also compels farmers to adjust their livelihood strategies to address escalating climate risks. This study aimed to investigate how disaster experiences influence farmers’ choice of livelihood strategies, focusing on post-disaster adjustments to cope with climate risks. Using survey data from 1,066 farmers in Guizhou Province, China, ordinary least squares (OLS) and logit models were employed to explore the influence of disaster experience on livelihood strategies, analyzing the mediating role of risk attitudes and …

Non-Linear Heart Rate Variability: Investigating Cardiac Complexity Of Psychopathic Traits, Khaya A. Roach

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Psychopathy is a complex personality disorder characterized by distinct emotional and interpersonal deficits, and affects approximately 25% of the prison population and 4.5% of nonincarcerated populations. The manifestation of psychopathy can be understood through two distinct variants, each demonstrating unique etiological pathways and clinical presentations. Primary psychopathy is characterized by core interpersonal and affective deficits, including shallow emotions and manipulativeness, while demonstrating reduced autonomic responsivity and lower anxiety levels. Secondary psychopathy presents with higher levels of impulsivity, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation, showing stronger associations with various psychopathologies. Treatment outcomes also vary between the variants, with primary psychopaths typically showing poor …

Amplifying Voices In The Midst Of A Substance Use Crisis: Storyvisual Approach, John E. Stewart, Victoria Wagner-Greene

The RAISE Center Journal

The United States is experiencing an unprecedented substance use crisis. Strategies are needed to engage, inform and empower young adults and others affected either directly or indirectly by substance use. Based on visual information processing and storytelling theories, the StoryVisual approach is a visual communication method that combines powerful web-sourced graphics with minimal text to relate valuable information, experiences, perspectives, and opportunities in story form. To date, more than 240 students in substance use education classes at a public university in Texas have created and shared StoryVisual products, addressing such drug-related topics as vaping, fentanyl, heroin, LSD, marijuana, and substance …