bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Nature of University-Led Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) Professional Development
Authors:   , Wallace Jade Nicole , Phillips Joy C.
Published: July 2021

The use of technology has become customary for many faculty teaching in institutions of higher education. And, many institutions provide professional development (PD) for integrating instructional technology into the classroom. But, research shows that many PD opportunities emphasize the use of specific technology tools and are inefficient at teaching faculty how to approach technology integration that is particular to their discipline. The objective of this study was to explore instructional technology administrators' lived experiences creating technology-integration profession development opportunities for education faculty and education faculty's experiences participating in these opportunities. The rationale for this study emanates from the researcher's aspiration to create PD opportunities for education faculty that enhance the effectiveness of their teaching. This study utilized a qualitative transcendental phenomenological methodology to explore the lived experiences of instructional technology administrators and education faculty. The central question to guide this study was the following: Using the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, what are instructional technology administrators' lived experiences on creating technology-integration professional development opportunities for education faculty, and what are education faculty's lived experiences engaging in technology-integration professional development? Purposeful and snowball sampling methods were used for selecting three instructional technology administrators and eight education faculty. The primary data collection method was an in-depth interview; supportive methods included non-participant observations and document analysis. The data were coded through initial and focused coding. Through analysis and interpretation, data were organized into themes that emerged in the data. This study revealed many experiences associated with creating and engaging in technology-integration PD. These experiences showed that PD is created for large audiences and covers broad topics; however, education faculty are interested in support for a specific task. TPACK professional development is infrequent. However, based on the one-to-one nature of support that is often given to education faculty, there is potential to offer TPACK PD in alternative settings outside of the traditional large-group environments. Recommendations are offered for instructional technology administrators, university leaders, and further research opportunities. Given the various resources available in each instructional technology department, the recommendations put forth should be considered for its appropriateness on an individual university basis.
Markov Models for Procedural Content Generation
Authors:   , Snodgrass Sam , Ontañón Santiago
Published: July 2021

Procedural content generation (PCG) is a growing area of research focused on leveraging artificial intelligence in the design and creation of content (e.g., levels, environments, stories, etc.) oftentimes for video games. However, most current PCG approaches are domain specific or require a substantial amount of domain knowledge to be used across multiple domains. We want to determine whether more general approaches to PCG are possible (i.e., approaches that can be applied across large classes of domains without customization or domain knowledge). The first key contribution of this dissertation is to show that machine learning approaches, specifically Markov models, can be used to model and generate levels across multiple domains by replacing domain knowledge with training data, while still being able to capture much of the domain information, such as structural level information and player interactions. The second key contribution of our work is a new theoretical framework to understand PCG approaches based on machine learning, and provide a unifying view of this new class of approaches, highlighting similarities, differences, and providing insights into future avenues of research. Our third main contribution is the development of extensions to these machine learning-based approaches that allow for more control over the generated content and more accurate modeling of the given domain.
A Qualitative Inquiry into the Experiences of Transgender Youth on High School Sports Teams
Authors:   , Kennedy Ronald H. , Phillips Joy C.
Published: July 2021

In the world of athletics, a hetero-masculine culture rules, and for many transgender athletes this can be a challenging environment. Transgender students face unique challenges in nearly every aspect of school life, and in many cases transgender students face opposition from ill-informed coaches and faculty members. This qualitative, phenomenological case study research explored the experiences of transgender athletes. The study is grounded in three theories: queer theory, social constructivism and critical theory. The purpose of this research is to examine lived experiences of recently graduated transgender students in order to promote understanding and facilitate the development of best practices for making high school campuses and athletic teams more welcoming for transgender students. The main research question is how do transgender, or gender variant recently graduated students reflect on their high school experiences as athletes competing on high school sports teams? This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using open ended interview questions to collect qualitative data from transgender students who were asked to reflect on their experiences as a transgender high school athlete. The findings from the interviews include; misconceptions of the term transgender; lack of knowledge of transgender and gender variant individuals; teachers' and coaches' misperception of transgender; and a general lack of knowledge of biology and sex as it pertains to transgender. The participants' experiences are presented in two narrative forms composed across the participants' interviews but comprised entirely of their own words: (a) background profiles and (b) multiple, short narratives addressing various themes. This study is critical to help build understanding and empathy among all the students about transgender identity and issues; and to help transgender and gender non-conforming students feel more comfortable in school and develop positive self-esteem. Helping all students to be more knowledgeable, understanding, and empathic serves all constituencies in creating safe, welcoming, and more humane schools and communities.
Social Action in Art Therapy with Veterans
Authors:   , Davenport Casey Lee , Carlton Natalie
Published: July 2021

Art therapy has shown the benefits it has when working with veterans transitioning back into civilian because it accounts for the complexity of trauma persons may have obtained while serving their country, as well as the effects service has had on their families. In the veteran population, there are ample amount of challenges veterans face in their day-to-day life. Specifically, with women veterans, they still have yet gained the recognition that is rightfully deserved. Despite the challenge, this project demonstrated how art therapy could activate and support frameworks of social action and social justice advocacy while working alongside women veterans. This project-enacted social action qualities such as promoting and advocacy; reflection on cultural and developmental identity; allowing participants to guide the process; using a systems lens-equality is not equity; leadership roles; and radical authenticity.
Implementation of a New Practice Plan for Preoperative Communication in a Preoperative Testing Unit
Authors:   , Mattingly Mark S. , Rundio Al
Published: July 2021

Preoperative patient education is an essential component of patient safety and satisfaction in today's healthcare arena. Kruzick (2009) suggested that changes in preoperative patient education, particularly in a preadmission assessment testing unit (PATs), is an excellent starting point for an improvement in patient safety and for the increase in satisfaction ratings. Miscommunication, anxiety and poor patient satisfaction were common occurrences at this university teaching hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Patients presenting to this PAT unit were targeted by this new preoperative educational intervention using the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2014 "Before Surgery" patient communication guidelines. These 2014 guidelines were used to query patients verbally and then were compared to the current rudimentary and non-standardized educational assessments over a 6-week period. Outcomes assessed were the nurse practitioners (NP) thoughts on patient satisfaction and perioperative communication levels, measurable with a qualitative focus-group survey. A surprising discovery found during this clinical research was the disconnect between a patient's self-reported medical history and their present health state. In researching this PAT unit, a great deal was learned about the vital role an NP has in this clinical setting. The theory of Ida Jean Orlando's (1987) "Nursing Process Discipline Theory" guided this project. Lowest costs were maintained by using existing equipment and the freely accessible WHO (2014) guide. Implementation was guided by a desire to address healthcare disparities in this hospital's most medically and socially vulnerable population. The outcome measures show that some improvement was visible and recommendations for a revamp of this Philadelphia, PA hospital's PAT department would be warranted.
The Movement Exchange
Authors:   , Budnovitch Sonya Kathleen , Goldstein-Levitas Natasha
Published: July 2021

In the United States, older adult care is becoming increasingly important as the Baby Boomer generation grows older. By 2050, it is estimated that 20.9 percent of the population will be over the age of 65 and affected by many illnesses including cognitive impairments and dementia (Barnett & Quenzel, 2017). Symptoms of cognitive impairments and dementia can be alarming to patients and family members as these diagnoses can include life-changing symptoms such as limited ability to communicate and be socially involved, negative behaviors (i.e. wandering, aggression, disinhibition, etc.), mood swings and personality changes, and emotional difficulties due to comorbid diagnoses of depression and anxiety (Karkou & Meekums, 2017). Dementia affects over 70 percent of residents in long-term care facilities and the use of non-pharmacologic and therapeutic interventions is becoming more widely accepted as a way to improve the biopsychosocial needs and quality of life for these older adults (Phillips, Reid-Arndt, & Pak, 2010). This capstone project presents a structured method intervention utilizing dance/movement therapy (DMT), storytelling techniques, and sensory stimulation, and is implemented on the memory care floor of a continuing care retirement community. Goals of this method include increasing social interaction, providing active movement opportunities, exercising cognitive functioning, bringing awareness to the self and to others, and encouraging opportunities to express creativity.
Reduce Alarms in a Telemetry Room Using Plan Do Study Act Methodology
Authors:   , Meyers Mark , Slaughter-Acey Jaime C. , Zuzelo Patti Rager
Published: July 2021

Patient safety literature supports that alarm management deficiencies are mostly caused by human errors that relate to system complexities. The circumstances of alarm management systems are usually institutionally unique and are influenced by organizational culture, equipment and styles of alarm management. Variability across care systems and within department units contributes to troubling problems that cannot be solved with a single, broad approach. Modifying telemetry rooms can be an effective strategy to combat alarm management challenges; however, the design and set up of these rooms can expose telemetry technicians, also known as monitor watchers, to a barrage of alarms that may be overwhelming and lead to patient safety events. The proposed doctor of nursing practice site's telemetry room does not have protocols for reducing alarm events based on patients' clinical conditions. This proposed quality improvement project will utilize the Plan, Do Study Act cycle to reduce the number of nonactionable alarms to which a monitor technician is exposed in a telemetry monitoring room in order to focus on actionable alarms. The appraised evidence supports that eliminating premature ventricular contractions (PVC) alarms from telemetry monitoring reduces nonactionable alarms. Employing this change may reduce alarm fatigue attributed to telemetry technicians' over exposure to alarm noise. Continual monitoring of overall alarm numbers on a month-by-month basis will continue to ensure an increase in exposure to actionable alarms.
The Efficacy of the Do The Math Intervention in the Math Achievement of Special Education Elementary Students
Authors:   , Farrell Ryan P. , Phillips Joy C.
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the Do The Math (DTM) intervention for increasing math achievement of elementary school students in special education. This cross-sectional, quasi-experimental study compared the performance of a group of special education students in one school district on a standardized mathematics assessment both before and after the implementation of the DTM intervention for a 60-day instructional period. The researcher also compared the growth of the same experimental group of students in special education receiving the DTM intervention to that of a control group of students in special education receiving a re-teaching of the core curriculum in the special education setting on a standardized mathematics assessment. The findings of this study indicated that the DTM intervention was effective as a treatment in improving the math achievement of students in special education and it was a more effective treatment for improving achievement in math than the re-teaching of the core math curriculum to special education student in the special education setting. The results of this quantitative study provided evidence to inform the district administrators' position regarding the intervention's efficacy to meet special education student needs and also contributed to the much-needed research on viable math interventions for elementary students in special education.
Secure Signal Processing and Secure Machine Learning using Fully Homomorphic Encryption
Authors:   , Shortell Thomas M. , Shokoufandeh Ali
Published: July 2021

This dissertation focuses on the new techniques for secure and private computation for signal processing and machine learning. Specifically, the thesis will focuses on extending Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) technique in a cloud computing set up by running the algorithms while the data is encrypted. The (FHE) comes at a cost of integer space and not the real space needed by signal processing and machine learning algorithms. Solving this problem requires using numerical models that represent real numbers in an integers space including a rational number format and a fixed point binary format. These models allow the computation of signal processing and machine learning algorithms while the data is encrypted. This dissertation includes analysis and implementation of a natural logarithm, Brightness-Contrast filter, Fast Fourier Transform, Speeded Up Robust Features, Histogram of Oriented Gradients, and Convolutional Neural Networks. Analyzing these algorithms with the numerical models provide tight upper-bounds on numerical error introduced from their use. Each of the implementations provide unique understanding of error propagation in the encrypted domain. Experimental results of each implementation were aligned with the expected error based on the theorems. Despite their algorithmic constructions, each implementation is a step towards more advanced computations for privacy and security in the cloud.
For Whom the Quotas Count
Authors:   , Morrison Jeaná Evonne , Clothey Rebecca A.
Published: July 2021

Affirmative action was employed in 2002 to increase access to the elite system of Brazilian higher education. This policy, deemed constitutional by Brazil's Supreme Court in 2012, supports the use of reserved spaces for underrepresented students based on race, ethnicity, class, ability, public school attendance, and for children of officers killed in the line of duty. The race-based quota system has allowed more Black students to attend quality universities, however, at what expense? Race continues to be a complex issue in Brazil where more than half of its citizens identify as non-White. As a result, this complicates understandings of race in general and who should benefit from quotas in particular. Using a critical ethnographic design, this study examines how self identified Black university students negotiate race, their status as quota students, and other identities under a policy mandated to ensure opportunity on one hand, within institutional environments that restrict opportunity on the other. Conceptually grounded in critical race theory and intersectionality, this research centers race as a unit of analysis that when compounded by the existence of other identities, creates particular outcomes and experiences in educational spaces. Findings from interviews, observations, and critical discourse analysis reveal that Black students proactively manage their identities despite institutional challenges. Although Brazil provides the setting for this dissertation, it serves as one case in the larger global context of addressing the complex relationship between universities, underrepresented students, and policies that sometimes miss the mark when confronting issues of equity.
Studies of the Full-length Histidine Kinase VanSA in Detergent
Authors:   , Upton Elizabeth C. , Loll Patrick J.
Published: July 2021

VanSA is a sensor histidine kinase responsible for detecting vancomycin and activating expression of vancomycin-resistance genes in vancomycin-resistant bacteria. When VanSA senses vancomycin it autophosphorylates and then transfers that phosphate to the transcription factor VanRA. Phospho-VanRA then activates transcription of the enzymes that remodel the cell wall to avert vancomycin's effects. In the absence of vancomycin VanSA has a third enzymatic activity, phosphatase activity, which it uses to maintain VanRA in an inactivated state. This is required because VanRA can be non-specifically phosphorylated by small molecule phospho-donors and, potentially, other histidine kinases (referred to as cross-talk). To study this VanRSA signaling system we purified the individual components including the full-length VanSA protein solubilized in detergent. An ongoing question in the field is whether VanSA detects vancomycin directly or detects a downstream effect of vancomycin. We found that vancomycin does not affect the activity of purified full-length VanSA in detergent. We also found that a non-partner histidine kinase, PhoR, phosphorylates VanRA much more slowly than its cognate partner VanSA does. PhoR binds VanRA with an affinity comparable to that of VanSA, indicating that the binding affinity alone does not confer partner-like signaling.
Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Implantable Axial Flow Blood Pump Impeller for Fontan Patients
Authors:   , Hirschhorn Matthew D. , Throckmorton Amy , Sarver Joseph J.
Published: July 2021

Infants who are born with cardiac defects that are characterized as a single ventricle physiology face numerous physiological complications, such as early-onset congestive heart failure, thrombosis, arrhythmias, and protein losing enteropathy. Clinical treatment and management costs for this cohort of patients exceed $1 billion/year. It is theorized a systemic pressure boost of 1-5mmHg is sufficient to alleviate many of these complications, and there is a growing interest in the use of blood pumps as a bridge therapy to heart transplantation. Currently available blood pumps have limited use in these patients because they are large and designed for adults. A major constraint of current pumps is the diameter, rigid fixed-blade designs and off-design operation due to the rigid designs, which leads to irregular flow patterns, inefficient performance, and blood damage. The presented study investigates the use of flexible blade designs to begin working toward the design of a minimally invasive blood pump with blade pitch adjusting capabilities. Using one-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI) computational studies, the implications of blade deformation on pump performance and blood damage was investigated for flexible impellers made from biocompatible materials such as nitinol, polyurethane, and silicone. It was found that rotational speed is the largest determinant of impeller deformation and the maximum deformation occurred at the blade trailing edge. The models predicted the maximum impeller deformation for nitinol to be 40nm, Bionate 80A polyurethane to be 106um, and silicone to be 2.8 mm, all occurring at 9000 RPM from 15 kPa of fluid pressure on the trailing edge of the impeller blade. The effects of silicone deformation on pump performance was significant, particularly at rotational speeds above 5000 RPM where a decrease in pressure generation of more than 10% was observed for all rotational speeds. Despite the loss, pressure generation still exceeded the level required to alleviate Fontan complications and with proper characterization the loss could be overcome through optimization of operating conditions. The estimated blood damage observed for all materials tested at all operational conditions remained below a level acceptable for blood pumps. The contributing effect of significant impeller deformation on blood damage was inconsistent and requires additional investigation because deformation did reduce blood damage metrics in some circumstances, something that could be leveraged in the future with further study. These results support the continued development of an axial-flow, mechanical assist device as a new clinical therapeutic option for patients with dysfunctional or failing single ventricle physiology.
Developing Isocyanide Methodology
Authors:   , Chao Allen , Fleming Fraser F.
Published: July 2021

Isocyanides are privileged structures, found in bioactive compounds derived from natural sources and pervasive in the synthesis of pharmacologically relevant compounds. Isocyanide synthesis is, however, limited by few commercial products and a dearth of methodology that allows for their manipulation. To this end, the focus has been on pioneering new methods and substrates. The initial work concentrated on the development of conjugate addition reactions to novel oxoalkeneisocyanides, followed by finding a method to purify difficult-to-isolate isocyanides. This was proceeded by the discovery and development of the first copper-catalyzed radical addition to alkeneisocyanides which tangentially lead to a review of copper(I)-isocyanide complex spectra and structure characteristics. Lastly, applications of Asmic, a novel isocyanide building block, were explored in the synthesis of heterocyclic scaffolds.
Social Problem Solving as a Moderator of Moral Injury and Suicidal Behaviors in Combat Veterans
Authors:   , Johnson Lauren Brittany , Nezu Arthur M.
Published: July 2021

The rise in suicide risk among military service members and veterans, specifically those involved in the recent Middle East conflicts, is increasingly recognized as a significant public health concern. In response to these trends, empirical investigation into specific factors that contribute to suicidal behaviors within this demographic remain imperative. Within military populations, both moral injury (MI) and social problem-solving (SPS) abilities have been independently linked to suicidality. To date, no research has investigated the relationship between MI and SPS, or how they interact to affect suicidal behaviors. The present study aimed to replicate previous findings related to MI/SPS and suicidal behaviors, in addition to determining whether SPS moderates the relationship between MI and current suicide ideation. A sample of 200 combat veterans completed an online survey that included a demographics questionnaire and the following validated self-report measures: Moral Injury Questionnaire-Military Version, Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Short Form, Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, and Posttraumatic Checklist for DSM-5. As expected, MI and SPS were both found to be significantly associated with current suicide ideation. Also, as predicted, the results suggest the moderating role of SPS between moral injury and current suicide ideation. When participants reported high levels of moral injury, "effective problem solvers" (i.e., +1 SD above sample mean), experienced significantly lower levels of suicide ideation compared to their "ineffective problem solver" counterparts. Currently, there are few evidence-based treatments that have been shown to be effective in targeting the symptoms of moral injury to decrease suicide risk. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential importance of adaptive social problem-solving abilities in decreasing suicidal behaviors in individuals with moral injury and provides the preliminary rationale for utilizing an Emotion-Centered Problem-Solving Therapy (EC-PST) treatment approach. Future research that evaluates the efficacy of EC-PST, which focuses on adaptive social problem-solving and emotional regulatory skill building, could provide evidence for the use of this intervention in veterans with moral injury at increased risk for suicide.
Creating Fluid Game Assets by Synchronizing Video Textures to Geometry Sequences
Authors:   , Monaco Benjamin , Wagner Michael G.
Published: July 2021

When a game artist creates an asset for a game they will inevitably encounter corners to be cut. That is how game art is optimized and delivered on time. Pipelines that cut the fewest corners without slowing down development will become mainstays in the game artists' tool kit. Fluid props and environment pieces are amongst the most difficult to create. Imagine your art director asks your team to create a monster that spits lava. For the FX artist, the first part of the problem is clear; make a fluid simulation and export out an optimized mesh sequence. The second part of the problem is difficult; how do we animate the surface? Traditionally, because UV mapping a mesh sequence is difficult, the answer would be to create a shader. With this solution, the artist's pipeline has gone off course. Further, the surface animation cannot be fully derived from the artist's original simulation-it's a fix. This research presents a pipeline that a game artist can use to create a fluid simulation exactly how they want, and to then assemble it as an optimized game asset for a game engine, fully deriving all assets-geometry and texture-from the original simulation. The only texture animation method available that can be fully derived from the original simulation is an image sequence, because each image is literally rendered from each frame of the simulation. As animation duration increases, image sequences quickly become too large for game development project standards. This research sees the novel application of video to animate a geometry sequence texture as a replacement to the traditional image sequence method-it is a leaner and better optimize method to compete with shaders, especially because the animation can be fully derived. Another corner not cut. Video is rarely used as a solution because video has frame-drift at run-time, and each video frame does not reliably land on the geometry frame that has the UVs it was originally projected with. The pipeline designed in this research details a solution for this frame-drift by synchronizing each frame of the video to its corresponding geometry frame. This research presents a pipeline an artist can use to create a simulation, and to then assemble it as a 'baked' fluid asset in a game engine without sacrificing the original surface animation, and with marginal of loss of quality.
Implementing Structured Contraception Counseling to Increase Knowledge and Compliance Among Childbearing Women
Authors:   , Yung Jeanie , Li Angie , Slaughter-Acey Jaime C.
Published: July 2021

Unintended pregnancy is a major public health issue in the United States (U.S.). It is estimated that 23% of women with unintended pregnancies had inadequate knowledge or inconsistently used contraceptives. Despite the existence of contraceptive counseling and educational interventions, women of childbearing age still lack adequate knowledge of family planning methods. The primary aim of the current quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a structured contraceptive counseling intervention to enhance knowledge of family planning and promote contraceptive compliance among a convenience sample of childbearing women who visit an Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) clinic and potentially decrease unintended pregnancies. A structured counseling intervention was implemented using an educational pamphlet that described birth control methods. The project leader actively educated the participants and allowed them to take home the pamphlets used in the counseling session. The Contraceptive Knowledge Assessment (CKA) questionnaire was used to measure the participants' knowledge of family planning before and after the structured counseling sessions to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The Satisfaction with Decision (SWD) questionnaire was used to measure the participants' compliance after the implementation of the structured contraception counseling to assess the levels of compliance regarding the decision made about family planning. The theoretical foundation of the current QI project was based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). Statistical analysis was conducted using independent samples t-test at .05 level of significance. Keywords: contraception, structured contraceptive counseling, contraception knowledge, contraceptive compliance, childbearing women, unintended pregnancy, Health Belief Model
Community-Based Master's Project
Authors:   , Traore Nimat , Breaux Jennifer , Sudler-Milligan Charmaine
Published: July 2021

To Our Children's Future With Health (TOCFWH) Inc. is a community based non-profit organization, founded in 1992, with the mission of empowering Philadelphia's youth, adults, and communities towards healthier living by providing them with community health education as well as services. TOCFWH was founded by Dr. Robin Foster-Drain a New York native who decided to dedicate her life work towards disease prevention and securing good health for inner city children and their families. Other members of the TOCFWH team include Charmaine Sudler-Milligan, Director of Grants Management and Community, Pilar Fernandez-Blakey who helps to coordinate the non-profit's logistics and activities, as well as Omar Rice, the Youth Coordinator at TOCFWH. TOCFWH Inc. works with a number of partners and predominantly works with residents in the North and West Philadelphia area providing community support. The organization runs a number of youth development programs that provide youth and their families with services as well as an opportunity to build leadership skills and to empower them to become agents of change of their own community. These programs include: Safe Haven, which provides homework assistance, and academic enrichment activities with a strong focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) and literacy, in addition to a number of recreational activities, a workforce development program at Overbrook High School, and Club Den, a year-round youth development program that provides academic support for students in K-8 grade. Additional programs include: a child and adult care food program, a parent empowerment program, and a prevention assistance fund were TOCFWH helps families to identify resources day to day necessities for families.
Dynamic control of hepatitis B virus replication
Authors:   , Duchemin Nicholas Joseph , Chaiken Irwin
Published: July 2021

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of primary liver cancer. Understanding the cellular pathways that contribute to the control of HBV replication is central to understanding the development of HBV-associated disease progression. The multifunctional HBV protein, HBx, has been linked to the modulation of a variety of cellular-signaling pathways and is thought to play a role in the progression of HBV-associated disease. HBx has previously been shown to stabilize hypoxia- inducible factor 1-[alpha] (HIF1-[alpha]), but the contribution of HIF1-[alpha] to the HBV lifecycle remains unknown. HBx has also been shown to increase rates of early-stage autophagic flux, which contributes to progression of HBV-genome replication; however, the specific contributions of late-stage autophagy on HBV replication remain unknown. We therefore determined the role of both HIF1 and autophagy in control of HBV replication. We observed that HIF1-[alpha] is a factor that enhances HBV mRNA levels, genome replication, and core particle levels. These HIF1-mediated stimulatory effects were observed when HIF1-[alpha] was introduced via expression vectors or stabilized pharmacologically. Attenuating the transactivation ability of HIF1 blocked the positive effect of HIF1 on HBV mRNAs and HBV DNA. Although HBx expression resulted in an accumulation ofearly-stage, autophagy markers, HBx did not effect the levels of late-stage autophagy markers; however, blocking autophagy at both early and late stages resulted in decreased viral replication. Our studies have identified novel pathways that regulate HBV replication in primary hepatocytes. HBV-mediated changes in HIF1-signaling pathways and autophagy may connect chronic HBV infection to the development of HBV- associated disease progression.
Self-Disclosure and Response Behaviors in Socially Stigmatized Contexts on Social Media
Authors:   , Andalibi Nazanin , Forte Andrea
Published: July 2021

Social computing platforms are often celebrated for their capacity to connect; yet expressing one's identity, and seeking as well as providing support on these platforms can be difficult when people experience distress and stigma. In this dissertation, I theorize social media behaviors such as sensitive disclosures and interactions around them. I address how we can design social computing systems that facilitate disclosures of difficult and stigmatized human experiences and enable supportive interactions to form around them. I focus on pregnancy loss, as a common reproductive health experience that is often traumatizing and not disclosed in spite of potential disclosure benefits such as access to social support. First, I contribute a framework to explain direct pregnancy loss disclosures and non-disclosures on social media. I conducted in-depth phenomenological interviews with women in the U.S. who are social media users and had experienced pregnancy loss within the past two years. This framework includes six types of decision factors related to the self, audience, network, society, affordances and platform, and time. I also introduce the novel concept of network-level reciprocal disclosure to describe broadcast disclosures that happen in response to and in anticipation of others' disclosures and a perceived reduction in stigma. Second, I contribute a typology of indirect disclosure strategies and an understanding of decision factors informing indirect disclosures of sensitive experiences across social media platforms. Indirect disclosure strategies include hinting about an experience or an identity facet in such a way that the audience must infer the full message, or explicitly sharing information through another person. Factors related to the self, audience and affordances, and time motivate individuals to disclose pregnancy loss in an indirect manner, although in distinct ways compared to direct disclosures. Finally, responses to sensitive disclosures are important to understand if we aim to design social computing systems that encourage supportive interactions. I used interviews and designed vignette instruments to provide a response decision making framework (RDM) that explains factors informing whether and how individuals respond to sensitive disclosures from their social media connections. This framework includes factors related to the self, poster, and disclosure context. I identify empirically grounded design and research implications to support potential disclosers and responders in sensitive or stigmatized contexts on social media.
Memory Accuracy and the Ability to Recall Psychological Distress and Behavior Over Time
Authors:   , Murphy Megan Jean , DeMatteo David S.
Published: July 2021

The current study examined the accuracy/consistency of recollections of pre-therapy distress, problems, and episodic details, with an emphasis on understanding the degree to which memories of past emotions, distress, and behaviors are accurate/consistent, and the sources and direction of bias when they are inaccurate. Study participants (N = 20) recalled some types of psychological distress better than others and tended to overestimate their previous psychological distress. Increased current psychological distress was strongly correlated with decreased accuracy recalling interpersonal relationships. Regarding recall of previous problems, study participants endorsed a wide range of life problems and the number of problems endorsed was strongly correlated with the level of current psychological distress. Accuracy of recalling previous problems was strongly correlated with accuracy recalling pervious psychological distress. Memory accuracy for episodic details varied considerably and there was a strong relationship between increased time and reduced accuracy. Despite a small sample, the current study has potentially wide-reaching implications for medical and mental health professionals, as well as researchers who may all rely upon recall of symptom and behavioral information for diagnosis, clinical outcome evaluation, clinical research, and criminal responsibility evaluations. This study replicates previous findings related to recall of previous psychological distress, establishes future research priorities, and provides suggestions for future symptom recall research design.
Finding Freedom
Authors:   , Taylor Mary Elizabeth , Morningstar Dawn , Schlechter Sarah
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this capstone project is to develop a dance/movement therapy method that encourages freedom of expression for children with cerebral palsy. "Finding freedom" encourages movement, extension, and relaxation for clients with severe cerebral palsy who do not often have the opportunity to express themselves through movement outside of their wheelchair. The method involves creating safety through the therapist offering both physical and emotional supports before transferring a student from a wheelchair to the floor. Once on the floor, the therapist supports exploration and expression of movement through mirroring, breathing, and attunement. This method developed organically and was introduced after the therapist and the client developed a therapeutic relationship based on comfort, trust, and understanding.
Dare or dare not
Authors:   , Lee Jeonggyu , Suri Rajneesh
Published: July 2021

This dissertation research examines how an advertising model's pose that signals power (hereafter referred to as power pose) influences consumers' price perceptions. Prior research on social judgments suggests that people generally indicate submissive behavior (e.g., averting gaze and look down) when encountering with a powerful subject. Yet, little attention has been paid to how this affects consumers when marketing information is being processed. Across six studies, this research finds that displays of a model's non-verbal, dominant gestures stimulate consumers to selectively attend to and process price information. Specifically, when a model exhibits a high-power pose (vs. low-power pose), consumers are more likely to pay attention to and process price information of the products that are displayed on the bottom of an advertisement. As such, consumers indicate better price recall for the outfits and accessories displayed on the lower body. Consumers also more accurately estimate the price discount depth when the comparative price promotion appears below the image of the model in a high-power pose. In contrast, consumers indicate better price recall ability and estimation of the discount when they are visualized above the model in a low-power pose. This effect of power pose occurs both when an image of a model is presented and when an actual model displays power, whether high or low, through their pose. However, the effect of power pose reverses when the model's face is not visible. When the face is eliminated, consumers are not dominated by the power of the pose, and as such do not display submissive behavior. Instead they attend more to the model's upper body than the lower body to garner more information about the model. Therefore, consumers indicate better performance in recalling price information of apparel displayed on the upper body as opposed to those on the lower body when they encounter a high-power pose with the absence of the face. The mediating role of anxiety is introduced as a potential underlying mechanism. This research provides insights to help marketers identify ideal locations for displaying price information when using a model in advertising, and for in-store displays.
Adaptive Game Input Using Knowledge of Player Capability
Authors:   , Gray Robert C. , Diefenbach Paul J. , Zhu Jichen
Published: July 2021

The application of video games has been shown to be valuable in medical interventions, such as the use of Active Video Games in physical therapy. Because patients requiring physical therapy present with both highly variable physical capabilities and unique therapeutic goals, developers of rehabilitation intervention games face the challenge of creating flexible games that they can individualize to each player's particular needs. This thesis proposes an approach to this problem by identifying and addressing two issues concerning therapy AVG game design. First, regarding the difficulties of individualizing software, a particular complication in the development of AVGs for therapy is the increased complexity of writing input routines based on human body motion, which provides a much larger and more complex domain than traditional, discrete-input game controllers. Second, the primary difficulty in individualizing a therapy game experience to an individual player is that developers must program software with static routines that cannot be modified once compiled and released. Overcoming this aspect of software development is a prime concern that adaptive games research aims to address. The System for Unified Kinematic Input (SUKI) is a software library that addresses both of these concerns. SUKI enables games to adapt to players' specific therapeutic goals by mapping arbitrary human body movement input to game mechanics at runtime, allowing user-defined body motions to drive gameplay without requiring any change to the software. Additionally, the SUKI library implements a dynamic profile system that alters the game's configuration based on known physical capabilities of the player and updates this profile based on the player's demonstrated ability during play. Within the context of the study of adaptive games, the following research presents the details of this approach and demonstrates the versatility and extensibility that it can provide in adapting AVG games to meet individual player needs.
Music Therapy and Restorative Justice
Authors:   , Nieves Janice Ann , Ierardi Florence
Published: July 2021

Children and adolescents living in poor, urban environments are often exposed higher rates of trauma, abuse, and neglect compared to their middle- and upper-class counterparts. These youth have traditionally been referred to as "at-risk" in reference to the increased risk of poor mental health, poverty, crime, and death. Alternatively, this population can be referred to as "at-promise" to acknowledge the potential for resilience and to break the cycle of poverty. This critical review of the literature focuses on the role of incarceration and poor mental health in the perpetuation of the cycle of poverty. The Restorative Justice Model is discussed as a framework for rehabilitative programs that aim to hold criminal offenders accountable for their actions, address the issues that caused them to offend in the first place, and protect and heal the community. The use of music therapy with at-promise youth is also discussed for its role in promoting safe self-expression and decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Suggestions are made for the integration of music therapy practices within the Restorative Justice Model in an attempt to alleviate the cyclical impact of urban poverty on at-promise youth.
Light-Driven Polymeric Bilayer Actuators Fabricated by 3-D Printing
Authors:   , Hagaman Daniel E. , Ji Haifeng
Published: July 2021

4D printing is an emerging additive manufacturing technology that combines the precision of 3D printing with the versatility of smart materials. 4D printed objects can change their shape over time with the application of a stimulus (i.e., heat, light, moisture). Light driven smart materials are attractive because light is wireless, remote, and can induce a rapid shape change. Herein, we present a method for fabricating polymeric bilayer actuators via 3D printing which reversibly change their shape upon exposure to light. The photoactive layer consists of a poly(siloxane) containing pendant azobenzene groups. Several different photoactive polymers were synthesized, to study how substitution of the benzene rings affected the properties of the active layer polymers and the bilayer actuators. The photomechanical effect displayed by the bilayers was evaluated quantitatively. These bilayers exhibit rapid actuation with full cycles completed within seconds, and photo-generated stresses ranging from 1.03 - 1.70 MPa.