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A Study of U.S. Consumer Perceived Value and Purchase Intention Toward Recycled Material Made Athleisure Apparel

A Study of U.S. Consumer Perceived Value and Purchase Intention Toward Recycled Material Made Athleisure Apparel

Primary Author: Olabisi Adesanya

Faculty Sponsor: Ting Chi

 

Primary College/Unit: Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences

Category: Business, Communication, and Political Sciences

Campus: Pullman

 

Abstract:

Apparel and textile industries are known for their immense contribution to environmental pollution worldwide. In recent years, practitioners and researchers work collaboratively to mitigate the negative impact of the industry on the environment. Polyester is the mostly used (60% of all materials), and non-biogradable material in apparel. Athleisure apparel is a prominent everyday wear and primarily made of polyester. Due to its latent contribution to pollution, this study aimed to identify U.S. consumers’ sustainable behavior through their perception of athleisure apparel made from recycled polyester as opposed to virgin polyester and the influence of their perception on purchase intentions. The Perceived Green Value (PGV) framework by Sheth, Newman and Gross (1991) was used. The theoretical framework consists of five-dimensional values: functional, social, emotional, conditional and epistemic values. Qualitative research method was used to ensure a rich exploration of the topic. Semi-structured interview was conducted with 16 U.S. female millennials, which were recruited through a snowball sampling method. The interviews were transcribed, and content analyzed. All the above values were important to the consumers in shopping for sustainably produced athleisure apparel. Fit and comfort were the most important qualities to the participants, and they showed willingness to pay 10-15% price premium for athleisure apparel made from recycled polyester if quality is comparable to those made from virgin polyester. This study provides implication for apparel retailers and manufacturers to communicate their sustainable practices to consumers because they showed willingness to pay price premium for sustainably produced apparel products.

 

The Sea as a Source of Novel Antiparasitic Compounds

The Sea as a Source of Novel Antiparasitic Compounds

Primary Author: Rachel Relat

Faculty Sponsor: Roberta O’Connor

 

Primary College/Unit: College of Veterinary Medicine

Category: Medical and Life Sciences

Campus: Pullman

 

Abstract:

 

PRINCIPLE TOPIC

Cryptosporidium, an intracellular parasite that causes severe diarrhea, is now recognized as a leading cause of waterborne disease worldwide, infecting both humans and valuable livestock.  Cryptosporidium infection is particularly devastating in children as it causes life-threatening diarrhea, along with developmental delays including growth stunting and cognitive impairment. Cryptosporidium is an especially important disease of immunocompromised individuals of all ages, leading to chronic, potentially fatal diarrhea. No effective treatment exists for many human or veterinary patients diagnosed with Cryptosporidium.

METHODS

To address this medical imperative, we designed a high throughput screen to test thousands of unique compounds, with the goal of discovering new, potent, anti-Cryptosporidium drugs and drug scaffolds. Our collaborators at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) have amassed a library of over 125 natural compounds, and 6500 highly enriched fractions from extracts of marine organisms. We began screening this library as it contains compounds and fractions produced by sessile oceanic animals which frequently use chemical defenses.  We screened greater than 3,600 partially purified extracts from the HBOI library by infecting cells with Cryptosporidium parvum, allowing replication, and then treating with a specific highly enriched fractions or compounds, and then measuring parasite growth after 48 hours.

RESULTS

We identified 10 extracts derived from sessile marine organisms that effectively inhibit (>80% inhibition) Cryptosporidium without damaging the host cells in which these parasites live. This work will significantly contribute to the goal of discovering effective treatments against Cryptosporidium specifically, and further the search for novel anti-parasitic drugs.

 

How Attachment May Influence Social Media Usage: Examining Use, Cyber-friends, and Platforms

How Attachment May Influence Social Media Usage: Examining Use, Cyber-friends, and Platforms

Primary author: Jordyn Randall
Faculty sponsor: Stacey Hust

Primary college/unit: Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
Category: Business, Communication, and Political Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Attachment is formed in infancy and has significant impact on how adults form interpersonal relationships. There are three main levels of attachment: secure, anxious, and avoidant. People who are securely attached typically had a wholesome childhood and will be better at forming relationships. Social media can have a negative impact on social skills and impact interpersonal relationships depending on how social media is used and the frequency of use. There is minimal research on how attachment styles may influence social media usage. This study aims to identify the role of attachment in how emerging adults use social media by frequency, number of friends online, and number of platforms. Additionally, the importance of childhood home status in determining attachment styles and influence on social media frequency of use. A sample of 240 undergraduate students completed an online survey asking them about demographic information, their social media usage, their parental attachment, and their peer attachment. The sample was made of more females (64%) and was predominantly White (69.5%). Results show that peer attachment was significant for high social media usage for four major social media platforms and number of online friends when childhood home status was calculated as a moderator. Parent attachment was non-significant for all analyses. This could be due to two-thirds of the participants coming from nuclear families and they had secure attachment to their parents. Possible implications for this are the importance of childhood home status and how the home status may impact relationship formation for emerging adults.

Boromycin as a potential anti-toxoplasma and anti-cryptosporidium drug

Boromycin as a potential anti-toxoplasma and anti-cryptosporidium drug

Primary Author: Jaypee Abenoja

Faculty Sponsor: Roberta O’Connor

 

Primary College/Unit: College of Veterinary Medicine

Category: Medical and Life Sciences

Campus: Pullman

 

Abstract:

Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium parvum, members of the phylum Apicomplexa, are considered significant pathogens of both humans and animals worldwide. They are obligate intracellular parasites that cause serious conditions like neurological abnormalities, blindness and chronic diarrhea especially to immunocompromised individuals. Unfortunately, aside from significant toxicity on mammalian cells, current therapies against these parasites become ineffective through time because of drug resistance, making the discovery of new therapeutic drugs a priority. Here we described the activity of Boromycin (BM), a lipid-soluble antibiotic produced by Streptomyces antibioticus only known before as a drug for gram positive bacteria, against T. gondii and C. parvum.

BM’s in vitro activity against T. gondii and C. parvum was evaluated using various assays including proliferation inhibition, invasion assay and immunofluorescence to characterize the morphological changes of the parasites after being exposed to BM.

BM potently inhibits intracellular proliferation of T. gondii (EC50=2.13nM) and C. parvum (EC50=6.46nM) into their host cells. Irreversible inhibition on the ability of extracellular T. gondii to invade host cells was also observed after 2 hours of incubation with BM. Furthermore,

immunofluorescence of the parasites using anti-surface antigen glycoprotein-1 (SAG1) antibodies show detectable parasitophorous vacuoles (PV) but with randomly distributed surface antigens and complete loss of morphologically intact parasites within the vacuoles. We also determined after cytotoxicity assays that BM is very selective against parasites at the same time safe to mammalian host cells (Selectivity Index= of 3582.7). These promising results suggest BM as an exciting drug candidate for treating toxoplasmosis and cryptosporidiosis.

Case Studies on Academic Library Virtual Reference (VR) Services

Case Studies on Academic Library Virtual Reference (VR) Services

Primary author: Christy Zlatos

Primary college/unit: Libraries
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Although VR services are performed in nearly every academic library as part of its overall library services, very little is known about individual library variations in services. In seven interviews with experts in the field, this work presents an overview of some best practices covering 7 broad groups of issues/concerns in the field including software/technology available, user satisfaction, staffing, consortia providers, marketing of the service, and the referral of library patrons to experts. The seven VR experts selected include one software company representative, the head of a state cooperative, and five academic librarians. In looking VR services in academic libraries, I hope to learn whether large VR services are different than smaller ones, what sorts of library workers best provide the service, how many libraries participate in consortia, what VR software libraries using, how libraries market these services, how libraries might target these services to specific populations (e.g., international students), and how libraries handle referrals (i.e., getting the library users hooked up with the expert they need). The finished report should provide snapshot of the industry in 2020 and shed some insight on some perennial issues.

Identifying the mechanism of action of Tartrolon E, a broad-spectrum anti-apicomplexan compound

Identifying the mechanism of action of Tartrolon E, a broad-spectrum anti-apicomplexan compound

Primary Author: Gregory Bowden

Faculty Sponsor: Roberta O’Connor

 

Primary College/Unit: College of Veterinary Medicine

Category: Medical and Life Sciences

Campus: Pullman

 

Abstract:

 

PRINCIPAL TOPIC

The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium is the cause of the severe diarrheal disease, cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most important diseases of children, immunocompromised individuals, and young ruminant livestock. Currently, there is no treatment for neonatal ruminants, and the only approved treatment for immunocompromised individuals is ineffective; a new treatment is needed.  Recently we identified Tartrolon E (TrtE), a compound from shipworm symbiotic bacteria, to have broad-spectrum anti-apicomplexan parasite activity, including activity against Cryptosporidium. The purpose of this work was to uncover the mechanism of action of TrtE against apicomplexan parasites by examining gene expression during treatment.

METHOD

We studied the mechanism of action of TrtE using the model apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Changes in gene expression during treatment were determined by RNA-sequencing and verified by RT-qPCR. We investigated the potential function of the responsive gene using bioinformatics and immunofluorescence assays. To examine the effect of this gene on parasite susceptibility to TrtE, we deleted the gene using CRISPR/Cas9.

RESULTS

RNA-sequencing data revealed that T. gondii responds to TrtE treatment by upregulating TGME49_272370 (TERG) in a rapid dose-dependent manner. TERG encodes for an unknown protein with multiple predicted transmembrane domains. Immunofluorescence assays located the TERG protein to punctate areas throughout the cytoplasm. The deletion of TERG resulted in a 22% increase in parasite susceptibility to TrtE. In uncovering the mechanism by which TrtE inhibits T. gondii parasites, we may identify a shared pathway critical to apicomplexan parasite survival and advance the search for a new treatment for cryptosporidiosis.

 

Transforming Library Data to Wikidata in the Linked Data Environment

Transforming Library Data to Wikidata in the Linked Data Environment

Primary author: Lihong Zhu

Primary college/unit: Libraries
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Wikidata is a free, collaborative, multilingual database that collects structured data to provide support for Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, the other wikis of the Wikimedia movement, and to anyone in the world. (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Main_Page) Wikidata is not only a free collaborative knowledge base that is evolving with its community members and their needs; it is also a central place where data created by people from different cultures and languages can coexist. This study focused on three research questions: (1) What makes the Wikidata data model special in the linked data environment? (2) Why should libraries get involved with Wikidata? (3) What are issues and trends in transforming library data to Wikidata?

When Wide and Shallow Better than Narrow and Deep: Misinformation Correction across Social Media Platforms

When Wide and Shallow Better than Narrow and Deep: Misinformation Correction across Social Media Platforms

Primary author: Wenqing Zhao
Co-author(s): Mina Park
Faculty sponsor: mina.park@wsu.edu

Primary college/unit: Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Since social media has become a major platform of spreading misinformation and reinforcing misperception, scholars and practitioners have devoted to correct misleading content on social media. In line with these efforts, this study tries to figure out how to use social media effectively to combat misinformation. In particular, this study examines the effects of using multiple social media platforms in correcting vaccine misinformation compared to using a single social media platform given the consistent number of times of corrective message exposure. To test the hypotheses, a between-subjects online experiment was conducted. The results showed that people exposed to corrective messages on multiple social media platforms have higher level of positive evaluations for corrective messages and more positive attitudes toward vaccination compared to those exposed to the same messages on a single social media platform. The findings suggested that multi-platform correction is a promising technique for misinformation correction. This study has both theoretical and practical implications of misinformation correction and social media.

Narrative Theory in Gallery Design: It’s Use (Or Misuse) and Impact on Visitor Experience

Narrative Theory in Gallery Design: Its Use (Or Misuse) and Impact on Visitor Experience

Primary author: Carrie Vielle

Primary college/unit: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Narrative Theory’s origins lie in the fundamental understanding that storytelling is a basic human strategy for understanding our experience, Visitors in museum galleries naturally seek out and construct narratives – it’s essential in the meaning-making, understanding, and remembering process of museum material. Capitalizing on this visitor behavior, many contemporary exhibition designers create varying degrees of controlled, immersive narratives and participatory experiences designed to influence specific visitor understanding and experience.

The value of the application of narrative in exhibition design is a widely debated, multi-dimensional topic: is immersive storytelling controlled by exhibit designers truly beneficial to comprehensive understanding, or does a more discursive, free exploration of exhibition material and its consequent visitor-constructed narrative produce a more successful outcome? While this research will not answer that question directly, it will focus on defining design strategies employed to establish an immersive vs. discursive experience. The analyses and comparisons of a variety of exhibitions that represent either narrative approach will propose that a balance of immersive and discursive narrative approaches within a single exhibition design can potentially accommodate the benefits of both types of narrative construction. The key exhibition used to support this conclusion will be the world-wide traveling exhibition “Pompeii: The Immortal City.”

The Impact on Student Motivation to Engage in Behavioral Harm Reduction Practices

The Impact on Student Motivation to Engage in Behavioral Harm Reduction Practices

Primary author: Alex Steiner
Co-author(s): Oluwafemi Sunday; Patricia Maarhuis

Primary college/unit: Cougar Health Services/Health Promotion
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

This research project evaluated the WSU IMPACT program’s effectiveness by measuring students’ motivation to engage in behavioral harm reduction practices regarding high-risk substance use, which in turn affects academic success. Student motivation was measured via four questions using a “level of importance” Likert scale associated with self-reported engagement in protective strategies, as well as participant willingness and intention to engage in these strategies. IMPACT is a harm reduction and psycho-education service provided to students mandated by the WSU Center for Community Standards sanction process for substance use violations. The purpose of this small group intervention is to administer a substance abuse BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) program (1999) based on efficacious best practices identified in the CollegeAim Matrix report (2015). Analyses: Independent T-test and ANOVA of pre/post brief intervention results were conducted across two sessions and four pre/post time points (Alcohol group N = 252, Cannabis group N = 106). Results: Overall, across all four questions, significant differences were found between timepoints one and two as well as timepoints three and four, with an upward slope or increases in reported positive harm reduction behaviors post IMPACT intervention (Alcohol: F(1, 116) = 5043.15, p = .001; Cannabis: F(1, 38) = 848.64, p = .001) Conclusion: Per these self-reported data, the IMPACT intervention was effective in increasing motivation and intention for positive behavior change regarding high-risk substance use across multiple timepoints.