bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of extirpation of frogs on the trophic structure in tropical montane streams in Panama
Authors:   , Hunte-Brown Meshagae Endrene , Kilham Susan Soltau
Published: July 2021

Amphibian populations are in global decline. Species that have stream dwelling tadpoles and inhabit upper montane environments are disproportionately affected. Tadpoles are keystone herbivores in the streams so their removal is expected to have a wide range of ecosystem effects. This inspired the collaborative TADS (Tropical Amphibian Declines in Streams) project which investigated the spectrum of ecosystem effects of the frog extirpation. The study was conducted in the uplands of Panamá at two sites that were differentially affected by the die offs. This arm of the TADS project used stable isotopes to investigate the changes in trophic structure in the streams. During the field season, a massive die off event occurred at the healthy site. This provided a unique opportunity to study the changes in trophic structure as they were transpiring. Several interesting trends were elucidated. The ultimate source of nitrogen and carbon are different at both sites. The food web was truncated in the absence of the tadpoles, resources that were thought to be important in the system proved not to be and fractionation of 15N and 13C varied between the sites. In keeping with the trends in the current literature, the IsoSource mixing model software was used to evaluate the trophic linkages. IsoSource which is used to determine relative contributions of multiple sources to a consumer, proved to be ineffective for pioneer studies such as this one. It is clear from the data however, that the trophic structure in both locations is significantly different and that the tadpoles provided an important subsidy to the food web. Some compartments of the food web in El Copé have already begun to approach prevailing conditions in Fortuna, but further studies are required to determine the length of time required for the entire system to equilibrate and approximate to the current conditions in Fortuna.
Praxic and executive components in tool use learning
Authors:   , Lunardelli Alberta , Rumiati Raffaella I. , Chute Douglas L.
Published: July 2021

Objectives: The current study intended to investigate whether social learning processes other than imitation can be traced in human adults, particularly in brain-injured patients who have lost their ability to imitate. This was undertaken by exploring the extent to which the observation of how to solve a tool-use task primed the performance of left (LBD) and right (RBD) brain-damaged patients, as well as of healthy adults. Methods: Participants were assigned to a no model condition (N), in which they were left alone to solve the problems, and a demonstration condition (D), in which they could either observe a Correct (C) or an Incorrect + Correct Demonstration (I+C) in which they witness a failed attempt followed by the correct solution of the task. Results: Consistent with predictions, LBD overall performance was significantly worse than that of control subjects, while RBD did not differ from controls. However, there was only a trend in LBD to perform worse than RBD and controls after both type of demonstrations, and alternative non-imitative processes were rarely adopted by both patient groups. Yet, looking at single cases, all LBD scoring below controls in C engaged in (goal) emulation, and all had ideomotor apraxia, those in I+C showed mimicry, and were affected by frontal dysfunction. Conclusions: The left hemisphere is indeed critical for motor control and selective neuropsychological deficits can compromise action imitation and selection of goal-directed movements, independently from each other. Our findings also suggest that when the ability to imitate actions is lost or lowered emulation may come available.
Semantic text mining and its application in biomedical domain
Authors:   , Yoo Illhoi , Hu Xiaohua
Published: July 2021

A huge amount of biomedical knowledge and novel discoveries have been produced and collected in text databases or digital libraries, such as MEDLINE, because the most natural form to store information is text. In order to cope with this pressing text information overload, text mining is employed. However, traditional text mining approaches have several problems, such as the use of the vector representation for documents. In this thesis, we introduce a semantic text mining approach that can overcome the traditional problems. This approach consists of important text mining components. Those components are graphical representation method for documents that relies on domain ontologies, document clustering taking advantage of the scale-free network theory to mine the corpus-level graphical representation, text summarization, and a semantic version of Swanson's ABC model. The primary contributions of this dissertation are four-fold. First we introduce graphical representation method for documents that take advantage of domain ontology. Second, the semantic document clustering approach is unique in that it provides users with document cluster models from an ontology-enriched scale-free representation of a set of documents, which are the summaries for each document cluster, and which also explain document categorization. Third, in order to maximize the usefulness of document clustering, we introduce a text summarization approach that makes use of document cluster models. Finally, we introduce a semantic way to generate reasonable hypotheses based on evidence from biomedical literature using the complementary structures in disjoint literatures.
A study of homogeneous ignition and combustion processes in CI, SI, and HCCI engine systems
Authors:   , Zheng Jincai , Cernansky Nicholas Peter , Miller David Leslie
Published: July 2021

Emissions remain a critical issue affecting engine design and operation, while energy conservation is becoming increasingly important. One approach to favorably address these issues is to achieve homogeneous charge combustion at lower peak temperatures with a high compression ratio - the goal of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engines. This thesis focuses on developing appropriate kinetic models for HCCI engines and on experimentally exploring new paths to address the limitations with current and advanced technologies. Since fuel oxidation chemistry determines HCCI engine performance, a model describing fuel oxidation at these conditions would be a useful design tool. HCCI engine experiments were conducted to provide the essential database for modeling, including temperature, pressure, ignition delay, and heat release. An existing pre-ignition skeletal chemical kinetic model was applied to HCCI ignition. Then, it was improved and extended to cover the entire HCCI combustion process. A global reaction model also was constructed for CFD simulations. Simulations using these models are generally in good agreement with the experimental data. During our investigations into HCCI and autoignition processes, we have observed some ignitions that begin at much lower temperature (< 550 K) than expected. This is at odds with the generally accepted explanation of autoignition in HCCI engines, that the reactivity is driven by temperature, where autoignition occurs after the mixture has reached some critical temperature (approx. 1000 K). We have attempted to investigate the origins of these lower temperature autoignition phenomena, and we propose that traditional models may be missing the low temperature chemistry that explains this behavior. Our analysis indicates that proper utilization of these lower temperature phenomena may provide a means to better control SI, CI, and HCCI engines. Finally, to develop a better understanding of the autoignition chemistry of fuel mixtures and blends, this study investigated the preignition behavior of nheptane, iso-octane, and propionaldehyde blends in a pressurized flow reactor. Experimental results indicated that the effect of fuels in blends can be interpreted in terms of their radical scavenging behavior. To be effective as a scavenger, a fuel must have an overlapping reactivity range and a lower reactivity than the other fuel.
Rank in Matrix Analysis
Authors:   , Grossmann Benjamin Wilhelm , Woerdeman Hugo J.
Published: July 2021

For Hilbert spaces X,Y, the set of maximally entangled states, MES_{X,Y}, is a set of rank-1 positive semidefinite operators over the space X [o times] Y. In this thesis, we consider the problem of classifying the linear maps that take maximally entangled states to maximally entangled states in the case of finite dimensional spaces X,Y. After classifying these linear maps in the case where dim X divides dim Y, we consider possible avenues of extending these results and consider the set WMES_{X,Y}, which is a set of low-rank positive semidefinite operators over X [o times] Y. We then discuss the "fractional minimal rank", a fractional parameter assigned to partial matrices. We compute the fractional minimal rank for partial matrices whose pattern of knowns is a "minimal cycle", which is the family of the smallest cases for which it is known that the ''minimal rank'' and ''triangular minimal ranks'' differ in general.
Moral Disengagement in Minority Adolescents
Authors:   , Champion Gemmika R. , Nezu Arthur M.
Published: July 2021

Moral disengagement is defined as a cognitive distortion that leads to negative conduct being rationalized as reasonable and justified behavior, and it is a harmful behavior that can have a particularly negative impact on adolescents. Research on moral disengagement in minority adolescents remains limited, which encourages the examination of the extant literature to determine important areas for future empirical research. This study presents a literature review on moral disengagement in ethnic majority and ethnic minority adolescents. The literature review includes research that has been conducted over the past thirty years and was identified via online databases including: Jstorr, Ebscohost, Psychinfo, and ProQuest. This literature review will focus on precursors to moral disengagement, psychosocial outcomes of morally disengaged ethnic minority youth, as well as treatment recommendations for morally disengaged ethnic minority youth. Much of the review points to significant gaps in the existing research on ethnic minority youths, negative sequelae of moral disengagement (e.g. antisocial behavior, aggression, and depression) and discussions on future directions research and treatment options. This literature review serves as a meaningful preliminary step to guide future studies, which help increase knowledge on moral disengagement in ethnic minority adolescent and support the development of culturally-sensitive strategies for effective intervention in this population.
The Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) with Formal Preoperative Assessment and Documentation
Authors:   , Young Amanda L. , Wilson Linda , Okupniak Carol
Published: July 2021

Postoperative nausea and vomiting can occur in anywhere from 30-70% of the population. Symptoms of this condition can cause negative side effects to both the patient and the managing institution. There are several drug classes and methodologies for attempted prevention and treatment. A guideline for a formalized preoperative evaluation, resulting in a PONV score with accompanying intervention, was introduced into a New York City hospital in an effort to reduce symptoms of nausea and vomiting, and reduce time in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. To assess effectiveness and determine if this new intervention should continue, a quality improvement project via retrospective chart review was conducted, examining 300 total patients before and after the implementation of the new protocol. Results were statistically significant, reducing symptoms of nausea from 70% to 43.3%; vomiting was reduced from 20% to 6%; and time in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit was reduced from 163.51 minutes to 100.23 minutes. As the new guidelines has shown to be effective, the recommendation is to continue with this method of management for this institution.
Impact of the STOP-Bang Questionnaire on the Assessment of Sleep Apnea in Hospitalized Adults with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)
Authors:   , Kane Rebeca , Wilson Linda
Published: July 2021

Background: Over half the patients diagnosed heart failure have co-existing sleep apnea. New guidelines in the treatment of heart failure recommend early recognition and assessment of sleep apnea. Evidence shows that adequate treatment of sleep apnea decreases morbidity and mortality in high-risk patients with heart failure. Using a valid and reliable assessment tool like the STOP-Bang(c) Sleep Apnea Questionnaire can help identify patients in need of further assessment. Current practice at the bedside does not use a systematic approach to screen patients with heart failure for sleep apnea. Methods: An evidence-based project was piloted consisting of educational sessions on the use of the STOP-Bang(c) Sleep Apnea Questionnaire followed by the implementation of the tool on two cardiac telemetry units. A retrospective chart review was conducted to determine the impact of the questionnaire on referrals to the sleep center when compared to current standard practice. Evaluation: The DNP student compared the number of referrals to the sleep center pre and post implementation of the STOP-Bang(c) Sleep Apnea Questionnaire over a three-week pilot. Conclusion: Early assessment of sleep apnea with a validated questionnaire allows for an increase number of referrals for polysomnograms leading to early identification and differentiation of sleep disorders. Based on risk, health care providers can formulate appropriate referrals for better outcomes. Further research to evaluate outcomes such as mortality and readmissions based on sleep apnea treatment is needed. Keywords: sleep apnea, heart failure, STOP-Bang(c) questionnaire, obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea.
Cognitive and ASD Symptom Profiles in Comorbid Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors:   , Hamner Taralee , Robins Diana L. , Lee Nancy
Published: July 2021

Individuals with a comorbid presentation of Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are a misunderstood and vulnerable group who have received little attention in the literature despite a prevalence estimated at 20% of the DS population. There is a great need to characterize the cognitive and ASD symptom profiles, as currently very little is known. Given the relative social strengths in DS and defining weaknesses in ASD, previous studies have focused on documenting social features in DS+ASD relative to either group in isolation. However, few studies have included all three groups and only one has used gold-standard evaluations to characterize children. As such, this study aims to fill the large gap in the literature that prevents us from better understanding the developmental and behavioral phenotype for these children by exploring cognitive and ASD symptoms within and between all three clinical groups. Participants included 173 children (Mean age= 60 months) with ASD (n=102), DS (n=56), and DS+ASD (n=15). Two 3x2 repeated measures ANOVA using semi-parametric statistics in R statistical software were completed. Between-subjects factor was diagnostic group (DS, ASD, DS+ASD) and within subjects factors were either cognitive (verbal DQ and nonverbal DQ) or ASD symptoms (social-affect (SA) and restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs)). Significant group-by-scale interactions were revealed for both cognitive and ASD symptom models. Pairwise comparisons revealed profiles of Verbal DQ: DS+ASD < DS, ASD whereas nonverbal DQ: DS+ASD < DS < ASD. For SA, a profile of DS < DS+ASD, ASD emerged. A RRB profile of DS, DS+ASD < ASD emerged. Findings suggest greater cognitive impairment for children with DS+ASD on both verbal and nonverbal measures of functioning. Despite this severe presentation, ASD symptom profiles appeared less impairing for those with comorbid DS+ASD relative to their peers with ASD in isolation. Specifically, SA was significantly lower in DS+ASD, though still elevated over DS-only. Discrepancies in overall severity for both cognitive functioning and ASD symptoms have important implications for early identification and intervention, as youth with DS+ASD appear to have a unique presentation. Future research should investigate whether traditional ASD interventions, which have been shown to alter developmental trajectories and improve lifetime outcomes, will be beneficial in this group. Finally, given prior research suggesting social abilities are a relative strength for those with DS and the documentation of less severe ASD symptoms in this study, future research should investigate the potentially protective role in DS.
The Complete Interactome with 5-D GPU Accelerated Analysis, Visualization, and UI for Biological Microscopy Applications
Authors:   , Wait Eric C. , Cohen Andrew R.
Published: July 2021

Microscopes now have the ability to collect highly complex data. This thesis presents new algorithms and software packages for analyzing, visualizing, and interacting with biological microscopy image datasets. These new software packages provide functionality not available with existing methods. Along with new functionality, the methods described here are of higher accuracy compared to existing methods. These new software packages provide significant improvements in computational efficiency and usability. Contributions described within this thesis are biologically motivated with examples given throughout. The analysis presented has enabled new biological discoveries along with new mathematical analytic techniques. This thesis is broken into three distinct areas: analysis of interactions between organelles describing the complete interactome, a hardware accelerated image processing library, and software packages providing visualization, validation and analysis. First the complete interactome describes a new method of quantifying the interactions of all of the organelles within a single cell. Where prior methods focus on pairwise interactions, methods described here include a robust quantification method for these high order interactions. Secondly, a hardware accelerated image processing library and framework called Hydra Image Processor (HIP). HIP is capable of swiftly processing arbitrarily large datasets. The HIP framework automatically (without user intervention) distributes data and schedules processing across all available graphic processing units. In addition, HIP processes the edges of images with higher precision than currently available methods. Lastly, visualization, validation, and analysis tools are presented. Visualization of high dimensional datasets captured by modern microscopes is non-trivial. Integrating processing, segmentation, and tracking results embedded is also a challenge. Software packages presented here perform all three of these task within the scripting environment of MATLAB for fast prototyping and swift user interface generation. Validation tools are also described that incorporate user input to inform unsupervised algorithms and reduce underlying segmentation and tracking results significantly. All methods and contributions of this thesis are biologically motivated. Within the three areas described above are biological examples where these methods contributed significantly. They range from describing the high-order interactions within a single cell, to lineaging stem cells in 5D, to the reconstruction of large montage images of the Subventricular Zone. The adoption of these methods will enable future biological findings within highly complex datasets captured by modern and future microscopes.
Level of Fit of Two Fracture Fixation Plates to the Radius through Physical and Virtual Analysis
Authors:   , Stolle Jordan , Siegler Sorin
Published: July 2021

Fractures of the radius are commonly treated by open reduction and internal fixation by use of a fracture fixation plate. In doing so, the gap between the underside of the plate and the surface of the bone must be minimized, and contouring time of the plate to the radius shape must also be minimized. It is proposed that plates with an initial precontour to approximate the shape of the radius will best achieve these requirements. To this end, the goal of this study is to evaluate the bending time and the level of fit of precontoured plates versus standard plates in fracture fixation of the radius. Six cadaver arms were obtained, and their radii were extracted and cleaned of soft tissue. Precontoured plates designed by Acumed, LLC, were fitted to the radii before and after additional contouring along with standard industry plates designed by DePuy Synthes. Gap measurements were taken at various points along the plate, and bending times were recorded for the plates that were additionally contoured. This analysis was then repeated virtually as well as physically through use of 3D printed duplicates of the radii. The dorsal precontoured Acumed and Synthes plates were found to fit equally well to the radius, while the volar precontoured Acumed plate does not fit as well as the Synthes plate. Additionally bending both the dorsal and volar Acumed plates provides superior fit over the Synthes plate. Also, no significant differences were found between the measurements of the bone and 3D printed bone, meaning 3D printed bone could be a useful facsimile of real bone for use in surgical planning.
Inherent individual differences in presynaptic dopamine dynamics govern cocaine-associated behavior
Authors:   , Shaw Jessica Kaytlin , España Rodrigo A , Raghupathi Ramesh
Published: July 2021

Cocaine addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease characterized by the heavy use of, aberrant motivation for, and an inability to maintain abstinence from cocaine. Considerable effort has been directed towards understanding the factors underlying the risk for cocaine addiction; however, the mechanisms that predispose individuals to develop the disease remain unclear. The mesolimbic dopamine system has been particularly implicated in the reinforcing effects of cocaine, which enhances extracellular dopamine in this system primarily by inhibiting dopamine uptake. Recent evidence suggests that inherent variability in dopamine neurotransmission may influence the risk for developing cocaine addiction. To determine the relative contributions of dopamine release and uptake to the vulnerability to use cocaine, we first employed a novel application of fast scan cyclic voltammetry in anesthetized male rats to construct a neurochemical profile of DA signaling in the medial dorsal striatum (mDS) and ventral striatum of individual animals under baseline, drug-naïve conditions-prior to any behavioral testing. Following recovery, rats were either allowed to self-administer cocaine or were induced to develop cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP). Results suggest that there is no significant relationship between dopamine release or uptake and the acquisition of either CPP or operant self-administration, nor did we identify a significant relationship between dopamine signaling and the consumption of cocaine. We did, however, identify a strong, linear relationship between dopamine uptake in the mDS and the motivation for cocaine under progressive ratio and threshold schedules of reinforcement as well as cocaine-primed reinstatement-implicating DAT function in the risk for aberrant motivation associated with cocaine addiction. Moreover, results using ex vivo voltammetry suggest that inherent variability in dopamine uptake mediates the neurochemical sensitivity to cocaine, suggesting that faster rates of uptake may enhance the interoceptive properties of cocaine. Finally, preliminary results using viral manipulations to reduce DA uptake further suggest that DA uptake governs motivation for cocaine. Together, these data suggest that inherent variability in the mesolimbic dopamine system may underlie behavioral components associated with cocaine abuse.
Therapist Fidelity in Two Family-Based Treatments
Authors:   , Ibrahim Maliha , Diamond Guy S.
Published: July 2021

Introduction. Efforts to determine effective psychotherapy interventions are confounded by a variation in treatment delivery by therapists. For high-risk populations impacted by depression and suicidal behavior, therapist interventions are important to consider. Methods & Aims. Using outcomes data from a large randomized controlled trial (RCT), this study evaluated therapist fidelity to 16 weeks of interventions in Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT) and Family-Enhanced non-directive supportive therapy (FE-NST), for their impact on client outcomes for 129 adolescents. The researcher coded fidelity data from recorded therapy tapes and utilized existing outcomes data. This dissertation explores three research questions. First, does therapist overall fidelity to the treatment manual predict improved client outcomes? (Reduced suicidal thoughts and behaviors, reduced depression symptoms, increased family functioning and client satisfaction) Second, does therapists' use of relational interventions unique to ABFT, contribute to outcomes? Third, do peripheral factors such as therapeutic alliance and therapist demographics moderate this adherence-outcome association? 17 therapists participated in the study and independent coders rated 280 therapy sessions on a fidelity measure that comprised interventions from both treatments. Analysis & Results. The tool was psychometrically validated through a factor analysis using the principal component analysis method. Inter-rater reliability was established between coders and between coders and trainers at [alpha]=0.90. Multi-level analysis using pre-post change scores in the Hierarchical Linear Regression (HLM) method, accounted for nesting by treatment and therapist. Findings revealed that overall therapist fidelity was associated with reduced suicidal ideation and increased client satisfaction in the presence of a positive therapeutic alliance. Utilization of relational interventions in family therapy promoted youth-reported family cohesion. Mediation analysis revealed that therapist fidelity to ABFT mechanisms in early and middle stages of treatment increased family functioning, which in turn improved depression outcomes. Discussion. The above findings are presented in the context of existing fidelity research. The opportunities and challenges associated with training therapists in manualized treatments are discussed. Research and clinical implications for different therapy models and future therapist training are also noted.
The State of Sports Television
Authors:   , Lajoie Daniel , Tedesco Albert S.
Published: July 2021

In the fast evolving television landscape, many networks and executives are looking towards the future to see how they can ensure success moving forward. For cable and broadcast networks, it is crucial to explore innovative strategies and decisions that help draw audiences and stay competitive in a landscape inundated with options for consumers to choose from. With more money spent in sports television than ever before, this research will explore how this money can be spent most cost effectively. This research examines the sports television industry to see what has worked, what hasn't worked, and how these ideas can be evolved to thrive in the future. A case study was conducted, featuring a survey administered through Qualtrics to 169 individuals, interviews and articles featuring industry titans, and the collection of Nielsen ratings, arranged using Microsoft Excel, to answer the following research questions: (1) What is causing the recent proliferation of sports networks and what is its effect? (2) How do major sports networks fare with audiences and against competitors? (3) Are rising cable subscription fees causing subscribers to drop sports networks? (4) What are the current and future costs of live sports contracts and what is the right balance between live and original programming? The results of this case study provided insights and actionable strategies for the sports television industry. Ratings, Shares, Universe Estimates, and Median Age averages all contributed to the results of the case study. Interviews featuring current and former sports television executives gave more clarity to the sports industry and its inner workings while observed industry publications showed how the industry is received on a more widespread level.
Formation and Early Evolution of Stellar Clusters
Authors:   , Wall Joshua E. , McMillan Stephen L. W.
Published: July 2021

We describe a novel numerical method for the studying the formation and evolution of stellar clusters, Torch. This method combines the magnetohydrodynamics code Flash with the Astrophysical Multipurpose Software Environment, AMUSE. Once embedded into AMUSE, we combine Flash with the stellar evolution code SeBa, the N-body dynamics code ph4 and the multiple star system evolution module multiples to create a unique method for tracing the detailed evolution of stellar clusters through time. We then add units for radiation, stellar winds and supernovae, as well as a new star by star formation prescription to Flash that allows for star formation and stellar feedback to create and destroy star clusters and the interstellar gas they form from. The result is the most detailed star cluster formation code to date. We then demonstrate the use of these methods for studying binary star formation and the effects of stellar feedback. We find that massive dynamical binaries created in our simulations are consistent with observations. Further, we observe that wide dynamical binaries tighten due to gas dynamical friction, losing cluster energy to the natal gas, after which they are disrupted by stellar encounters. This supports theoretical predictions that embedded clusters may contract due to the interactions of gas and stars. We also find that while stellar feedback is effective at expelling gas from natal clusters, the clusters themselves remain bound even as they expand due to the loss of the binding potential of the gas. Finally, stellar clusters formed in our simulations mass segregate before the expulsion of their natal gas clouds, as expected from observations of young clusters in the Milky Way.
The Effects of a Single-Session Dance/Movement Therapy Intervention on Movement, Thought, and Behavioral Dysfunction for People with Schizophrenia in a Short-Term Psychiatric Inpatient Facility
Authors:   , Biondo Jacelyn , Goodill Sherry W.
Published: July 2021

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) interventions have been used to support people with schizophrenia; however, these typically include lengthier interventions. Current inpatient hospitalization lengths of stay do not offer the time needed to implement such interventions. The effects of DMT interventions for people with acute schizophrenia have not yet been determined. The purpose of this study was to determine: feasibility of protocol completion, feasibility of measurement sensitivity, and the effects of a single-session DMT intervention compared to a single-session verbal treatment as usual (TAU) intervention. This study is a mixed methods convergent design feasibility study. Thirty-two participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were randomized into either an intervention or control group. Pre- and post-test quantitative data were collected with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) to measure symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Post-test qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interview questions to learn about the participant experience. The results of the quantitative data analysis indicated that there was a statistically significant improvement in symptoms associated with schizophrenia for participants in the DMT intervention group over those in the verbal TAU group. Qualitative interview data were convergent with the quantitative data in the overall BPRS scores and subcategories of Psychological Distress, and Negative and Positive Symptoms and suggested that a single-session DMT intervention supported an increased sense of belonging and community over the TAU group. These findings suggest that a single-session DMT intervention can alleviate symptoms associated with acute schizophrenia including affective regulation, and positive and negative symptomatology such as isolation, spontaneity, interpersonal skills, paranoia, and auditory hallucinations.
Developing movement experiences with refugees who have undergone trauma
Authors:   , Dieterich-Hartwell Rebekka , Goodill Sherry W.
Published: July 2021

Amid the biggest global refugee crisis in history, admission numbers of refugees to the United States have decreased in recent years. Those who are able to resettle here have a significantly higher prevalence of mental health problems, particularly posttraumatic stress and depression, than individuals born and raised in America. Meanwhile, Western treatment approaches are likely not sufficient in engaging and supporting this marginalized population as many refugees come from cultures that tend to experience trauma symptoms through their bodies. With the role of the body and movement in recovery, acculturation, and coping largely unknown, this grounded theory study investigated what resources recent refugees to the United States tap into and what part their body and expressive movement can play in their resettlement process and recovery. Further, it was examined how co-created, expressive movement structures were experienced and how they contributed to a sense of coping and having resources. The study consisted of four phases: (a) analysis of existing dance/movement therapy (DMT) studies with refugees; (b) completion of questionnaire about existing resources and relationship to body and movement; (c) development of movement experiences over the course of several weeks; and (d) interview about the experiences of co-created movement and completion of second questionnaire. Thirteen refugees (ten female, three male) from the Middle East and North -, West-, and Central Africa participated in this study, ranging in age from 21 to 69 years with Arabic or French as first language. Ten of the participants completed all the movement sessions and semi-structured interviews. Constructivist grounded theory methods and descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data. The findings suggest that refugees draw on family relationships, cultural elements, environmental support systems, and personal qualities with movement and body playing a minor role that, when emphasized, can become a resource. Movement experiences were found to have both a settling and mobilizing effect. The overarching phenomenon was the aspect of connection, whether it was to the self or to another person. A grounded theory model was developed based on the findings to inform the practice of DMT with refugees. This model shows a dynamic interaction between the encountered categories. The findings of this study contribute to an understanding of the resettlement phase of refugees with implications and suggestions for the field of DMT and other health disciplines serving this population.
Speaking Up for Safety
Authors:   , Weis Bernadette T. , Zuzelo Patti Rager
Published: July 2021

Background: Ineffective teamwork dynamics and communication among team members is a common factor in adverse event root cause analysis. Communication failures directly or indirectly account for approximately 75% of preventable patient harm events in a community hospital. Current safety behaviors and tools have not demonstrated sustainable results after an initial decline in adverse patient safety events. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to improve the perception of teamwork and communication in the surgical services environment. Methods: This quality improvement project included the development of a team training program. The program was developed using the TeamSTEPPS® competencies and outcomes. All members of the surgical services team participated in training sessions. Implementation Plan/Procedure: The TeamSTEPPS® framework was used for the implementation of this project. The surgical services staff received a pre-teamwork perceptions questionnaire, participated in a team training session and then received a post- teamwork perceptions questionnaire. Implications/Conclusions: Although the team training sessions were appreciated by staff there was no statistical significance identified between the pre- and post-survey results. Staff has incorporated the safety behaviors and tools in their daily work. The effect of team training has been identified through decreased patient safety events.
Sonic Hedgehog Signaling is Negatively Regulated in Reactive Astrocytes Following Forebrain Stab Injury
Authors:   , Allahyari Rava Vivian , Garcia Anna Denise R.
Published: July 2021

Following injury, the brain undergoes a multicellular response where both neural and non-neural cell types engage in a collective effort to protect surviving cells, clear cellular debris, and return to tissues homeostasis. Astrocytes, critical neural cells responsible for a variety of functions in the brain, become reactive in response to central nervous system (CNS) injury. Reactive astrocytes undergo a wide spectrum of changes and are characterized by an upregulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cellular hypertrophy, proliferation, and participation in glial scar formation, segregating healthy from damaged tissues. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that coordinate the diverse functional properties of reactive astrocytes is key to developing therapeutic strategies to treat neural injuries. In the healthy, adult CNS, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is active in mature, differentiated astrocytes. After injury, Shh signaling has been shown to promote various cellular activities, including proliferation of adult neural stem and progenitor cells. Both SHH and its target gene, GLI1 have previously been shown to undergo injury-induced upregulation and promote neural repair, suggesting that Shh signaling may play a role in neural repair processes. Here, we investigated whether Shh signaling mediates the astrocyte responses to a forebrain stab injury. Surprisingly, we found that following an acute, focal injury reactive astrocytes exhibit a pronounced loss of Shh activity in a spatiotemporally-defined manner. Shh signaling is lost in reactive astrocytes at the lesion site, but persists in mild to moderately reactive astrocytes in distal tissues. Nevertheless, local pharmacological activation of the Shh signaling pathway in astrocytes mitigates inflammation, consistent with a neuroprotective role for Shh signaling after injury. Interestingly, we find that Shh signaling is restored to baseline levels two weeks after injury, a time during which acute inflammation has largely subsided, and lesions have matured. Taken together, these data suggest that endogenous Shh signaling in astrocytes is dynamically regulated in a context dependent manner. In addition, exogenous activation of the Shh pathway promotes neuroprotection mediated by reactive astrocytes.
Explaining Actual Causation via Reasoning about Actions and Change
Authors:   , LeBlanc Emily C. , Ontañón Santiago , Balduccini Marcello
Published: July 2021

The goal of this research is to investigate and demonstrate the suitability of action languages and answer set programming (ASP) to design and realize a novel framework for explaining actual causation. Actual causation is a broad term that encompasses all possible antecedents that have played a meaningful role in producing a consequence. Attempts to characterize reasoning about actual causation have largely pursued counterfactual analysis of a scenario, inspired by the intuition that if X caused Y, then not Y if not X. However, it has been widely documented that the counterfactual criteria alone is problematic and fails to recognize causation in a number of straightforward cases. Departing from a counterfactual reasoning approach, our framework favors reasoning about the underlying causal mechanisms of the scenario itself in order to explain how an outcome of interest came to be. The framework leverages techniques from Reasoning about Actions and Change to support reasoning about domains that change over time in response to a sequence of events. The action language AL enables us to represent a scenario in terms of the evolution of the state of the world over the course of the scenario's events. AL lends itself naturally to an automated translation in Answer Set Programming (ASP), using which, reasoning tasks of considerable complexity can be specified and executed. In this dissertation, we present a theoretical framework for reasoning about actual causation and demonstrate that the framework enables reasoning about traditionally challenging examples of actual cause. We also present a sound and complete implementation of the theoretical framework in ASP, along with a collection of empirical studies that evaluate and analyze the framework's performance on a number of novel and challenging problems.
Effect of Photochemical and Mechanical Degradation Mechanisms on Polyethylene
Authors:   , Vahidi Siavash , Hsuan Yick Grace
Published: July 2021

As polyethylene (PE) products become more prevalent in a wide variety of engineering applications, it is critical to understand their chemical and mechanical degradation to prevent premature failure. Sunlight radiation has been recognized as the most severe environmental factor causing chemical degradation in PE. Furthermore, PE is also susceptible to mechanical failure through creep rupture and stress cracking. This dissertation focuses on the impact of these degradation mechanisms on the lifetime of PE. PE products designed for sunlight exposure are required to be stabilized with antioxidant (AO) to retard polymer degradation. In this dissertation, photochemical depletion of AO in PE samples exposed to artificial sunlight was monitored by the oxidative induction time (OIT) testing. A mathematical model was developed by implementing the photochemical reaction scheme, radiation attenuation, and diffusion of AO and oxygen. The model successfully described the AO depletion profiles and obtained a relationship between radiation intensity and AO depletion rate, based on which an equation was proposed to predict the AO depletion in PE in exposure to natural sunlight. Mechanical degradation of PE was studied by investigating creep rupture and stress cracking in thin-wall PE tubes. A test setup was designed to apply static and cyclic internal pressures to thin-wall PE tubes and to record their failure times. The pressure tests were accelerated using elevated temperatures. The failure time (and number of cycles) was predicted using two shifting methods for the dry-cooling applications. Furthermore, this dissertation investigated wave formation of PE geomembranes undergoing thermal expansion during installation. Finite element method (FEM) was used to simulate the formation of waves and quantify the tensile strains along the deformed geomembrane. The model was validated by previous experimental studies. Additionally, the effect of overburden pressure on waves was studied.
Molecular changes in alveolar epithelial cells during influenza virus infection
Authors:   , Stairiker Christopher James , Burns James M.
Published: July 2021

Annual influenza virus infection represents a concern for public health and a financial burden as it results in approximately 500,000 deaths and 5,000,000 hospitalizations as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Influenza virus infection begins with the attachment and entry of alveolar epithelial cells within the respiratory tract of susceptible hosts. During infection, influenza virus hijacks the cellular machinery in order to replicate its genome and produce new progeny virions to spread the infection. As not all alveolar epithelial cells are infected during influenza virus replication, we queried what the transcriptomic differences were between directly infected epithelial cells compared to bystander uninfected epithelial cells isolated from mice at day three post infection with a green fluorescent protein expressing A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 influenza virus. Using RNA sequencing, we identified the downregulation of Wnt signaling during influenza virus infection and our studies suggest that this might be a host response to initiate repair mechanisms necessary to restore lung function. We have also identified a novel transcript, Heatr9 that we found to be upregulated following influenza virus infection and whose expression plays a role in chemokine ligand induction and release. Beyond differences in protein coding genes, we also show that the long noncoding RNA profile of influenza virus infected epithelial cells is unique and that Zfas1, a long noncoding RNA found to be induced following influenza virus infection, plays a role in preventing apoptosis, a mechanism that may benefit viral replication in vivo in the highly inflammatory environment of the lung. These studies demonstrate the novel effects of direct influenza virus infection compared to mere exposure to an inflammatory environment and offer a platform for future studies to explore the specific pathways and interactions between influenza virus and host cells.
Environmental Music Performance, Music Medicine, and Environmental Music Therapy
Authors:   , Guo Xiaoying , Ierardi Florence , Horowitz Scott
Published: July 2021

Noise has negative effects on a person's physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing, especially for patients in medical settings. Woodward's (2004) survey of hospitalized patients indicated perceptions of a lack of beauty and aesthetics in the inpatient setting. The most common negative aspect that has been found is noise in hospitals (O'Neill & Moss, 2014). Evidence shows that music structured intentionally can promote psychological movement, activate brain reward systems and promote pleasant emotions (Nolan, 2013; Lumley et al., 2011). Using live music can meet safety concerns and best promote emotional and physical responses of patients (Loewy, 2009). Music also serves to move patients' attention away from negative stimuli to something more joyful and comfortable (Thoma et al., 2015). This capstone review thesis focuses on music-related methods to improve beauty and aesthetics in inpatient settings, including Environmental Music Performance, Music Medicine, and Environmental Music Therapy (EMT) techniques. It also includes a program proposal for incorporating music and music therapy interventions to improve the aesthetic experience in the inpatient medical setting.
A Three-Step Method for Educators Working with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors:   , Underhill Kendra Leigh , Devereaux Christina , Hunter Amy
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this project is to develop a method that can be utilized by educators who work with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Literature related to four key principles including (a) trauma-informed care (TIC), (b) neurodiversity, (c) strength-based approaches, (d) relationship-based approaches, will be reviewed. The method is titled TIC TAAC TOE, an acronym representing trauma-informed care (TIC), teaching and advocating for children (TAAC), and teaching others engagement (TOE). This method was developed with the intent to support the integration of children with ASD into the general education classrooms and the process of implementing this approach in educational settings is further detailed. Part of this project itself, was the development of an in-service presentation on TIC TAAC TOE that can be shared during training days at school-based settings to promote enhanced experiences for children with ASD in relation to their general education peers and educators. I reflect upon my experience researching and developing this in-service presentation and method. Additionally, I share how I have grown as a dance/movement therapist in my work at internship while utilizing TIC TAAC TOE, and I express my hopes for future implications in school-based settings for educators willing to utilize this method.