15133 research outputs found
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The mediating effect of emotional dysfunction on the relationship between autism spectrum disorder and anorexia nervosa
No full textAutism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition, and Anorexia Nervosa (AN), an eating disorder characterized by starvation often co-occur (Gaffney, et al., 2020), making treatment less successful and worsening clinical outcomes (Adams, et al., 2024). For this reason, research into the mechanisms that underlie both disorders is necessary to identify targets for intervention. Core symptoms of ASD, such as emotional dysregulation (ED) may compel individuals to engage in disordered eating (Field, et al., 2023). Two symptoms of ED are dysphoria, which represents depressed mood, and emotional reactivity, which describes the way in which one experiences emotions (Lavi et al., 2019). This study examined the role of ED underlying the relationship between ASD and AN. Data was collected from parents of 121 youth (55% males, 57% autistic, ages 6-17, 48% Caucasian American/ White) using the Emotion Dysregulation Index (EDI; Mazefsky et al., 2021) and the Child & Adolescent Symptom Inventory (CASI-5; Gadow & Sprafki, 2013). Pearson correlations were observed between ASD and symptoms of ED, namely dysphoria (r =.377, p\u3c .001) and emotion reactivity (r=.307, p=.001) as well as AN severity and dysphoria (r=.395, p\u3c.001) and emotion reactivity (r=.300, p=.002). Mediation analyses indicated that both emotional dysphoria (Bindirect=0.374, p=0.004) and emotional reactivity (Bindirect=0.228, p=0.029) fully mediated the relationship between autistic diagnostic status and AN symptoms. These findings suggest that emotional dysregulation may be an important target for intervention for individuals experiencing ASD and AN
Empowering business growth and education in Honduras: Volunteering with global brigades
No full textOur project with Global Brigades focuses on supporting Amigos Unidos, a non-profit organization in Honduras, by helping a local business owner grow her enterprise while also promoting education access. In Honduras, where educational resources are limited, we aim to combine business growth with efforts to increase educational outreach. Our approach involves broadening the business’s reach through social media and increasing funding and donations to sustain the non-profit’s operations. These strategies are designed to amplify the organization’s impact and ensure it can continue to provide both economic opportunities and educational resources. We are in the early stages of the project, and results have not yet fully materialized. However, we are closely monitoring how the business’s expansion and the increased support from social media and donors contribute to both the success of the business and the community’s access to education. While we have not yet gathered conclusive data, we remain optimistic that the combined efforts of business growth and educational outreach will lead to meaningful long-term benefits for the community. As we continue the project, we look forward to seeing the results of these strategies and evaluating their effectiveness in promoting both economic development and education in Honduras. We anticipate to have results by the end of the year
Water soluble fluorescent sensors for cation
No full textMany Fluorescent Photoinduced Electron transfer (PET) sensors for cations are designed as fluorophore-spacer-receptor assemblies. These sensors are not fluorescent in the absence of a cation due to PET between the receptor and the fluorophore. Binding a cation in the receptor changes the oxidation potential of the receptor which quenches PET leading to a fluorescent signal. Since our sensors are large organic molecules they have low solubility in water and cation binding studies are carried out in methanol water mixtures. These sensors can be made water soluble by attaching a methyl imidazolium group that would allow us to use them in aqueous solutions. Several water soluble PET sensors with methyl imidazolium groups have been prepared on a small scale in our lab in the past. This project is focused on preparing larger amounts of these sensors for fluorescence studies
Faults of antitrust laws
No full textAmerican antitrust laws, aimed at protecting consumers through fair competition and preventing monopolies, face a critical challenge: lax enforcement. This deficiency leads to higher prices, reduced consumer choice, and diminished product quality, directly harming consumer welfare. Furthermore, weakened enforcement enables powerful companies to suppress wages and eliminate jobs, negatively impacting workers. Recent interpretations of these laws have seemingly favored powerful businesses, creating an imbalance that demands immediate attention. Antitrust laws, designed to safeguard consumer welfare and promote fair economic competition, have undergone significant evolution. This analysis examines this evolution through economic, political, and legal lenses, highlighting inconsistencies in enforcement and gaps in individual protection. Regulatory agencies have, at times, ceded power to the very corporations they are meant to oversee. This has resulted in consumers becoming increasingly vulnerable to unchecked corporate practices. My research underscores the necessity for stronger legal protections for employees, who are often overlooked in antitrust cases. The frequent use of mergers to eliminate competition fosters monopolistic or oligopolistic market structures, necessitating stricter regulatory supervision. To address these issues, antitrust laws must be rigorously enforced, and regulatory agencies must actively curb anti-competitive behavior, block harmful mergers, and ensure equitable treatment for both consumers and workers
How may psychological support from an athletic trainer impact male collegiate athletes return to play outcomes?
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to recognize predominant psychological themes in collegiate athletes during injury recovery and highlight the importance an Athletic Trainer has on psychological factors through injury rehabilitation. Background: Return to play protocol must be completed by every collegiate athlete after injury though often psychological and physical readiness are not synonymous. The athletic trainer has influence over psychological and physical readiness and with recognition of common psychological deterrents, the athletic trainer and team physician can confidently return an athlete to competition. Methods: A review of literature was conducted using the PubMed database. Keywords searched included psychological factors, psychosocial factors, return to play, post-injury confidence and stress. Results: The primary psychological themes seen in post-injury collegiate athletes were hesitation, heightened awareness of injury, depression and treatment adherence problems. The top psychosocial strategies suggested to the athletic trainer are keeping the athlete involved with the team, creating diverse and unique rehabilitation exercises and using quantitative psychosocial outcome measures. Athletic trainers are with an injured athlete more than any other health professional in the collegiate setting. The importance of post injury psychological issue identification and psychosocial rehabilitation strategies are significant for an athletic trainer and can increase an athlete’s readiness for return to competition
Investigating EC reactions for measuring neurotransmitters
No full textElectrochemical (EC) methods provide a reliable platform for neurotransmitter detection, offering high sensitivity and rapid response times. However, detection accuracy and signal amplification remain a major problem. By implementing self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold electrode surfaces to help us explore a new EC reaction mechanism that aims to enhance neurotransmitter sensitivity. The goal is to create a stable and efficient electron transfer system that amplifies oxidation signals while minimizing background interference. By investigating how redox cycling can be optimized within this framework, we intend to create a more reliable approach for monitoring neurotransmitters at physiological concentrations
AI and children’s literacy
No full textArtificial Intelligence is a rapidly evolving form of technology that takes many different shapes and provides varied usage. The primary goal of this study is to research the effect of A.I technologies in education, specifically the ways in which it is being incorporated into youth learning. This study will take a look at various educational policies and stances on A.I, as well as whether or not the technology is being commonly considered and integrated into educational spaces. This research tracks the usage of A.I depending on the academic level; Is A.I more frequently used in an elementary school, high school or college level? This study will then look into the technicalities of how A.I is used and the most frequently used types (whether it is Generative A.I, grammar corrections, etc). Lastly, the study will look at the ways in which these unique forms of A.I have an impact on the grades and literacy levels of students. The primary corpuses used will be from existing literacy reviews and online statistical research, with A.I policy pages from school/campus websites also being utilized
A geotechnical investigation of the hydrogeological setting of an artesian well system in Stokes State Forest
No full textMany areas in Northern New Jersey rely on public and private wells for water supplies. This study involves a geotechnical investigation of the hydrogeological settings of an artesian (confined aquifer) well system in Stokes State Forest. Key aspects of the study focus on the well’s setting to assess the properties of the confined aquifer and the formation features that allow the artesian conditions to occur. The geology maps focused on bedrock type and properties, surficial sedimentary deposits, watershed interactions, and their relation to the region’s aquifers. These properties are best shown in a geospatial analysis, using ArcGIS Pro. Features of the map include the aquifers, delineates surface watershed, recharge zones, surface and subsurface geologic formations, and the well location. Finally, an interpretation of previously collected water quality data (chemical and physical parameters) from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is used to ascertain whether the geologic setting has any interactions with the water resource quality. This comprehensive study enhances our understanding of groundwater resources in Stokes State Forest therefore informing conservation efforts and sustainable water management as well as public education of the artesian well in the forest
Thread by thread: The negative effects of fast fashion on the environment
No full textThis project focuses on how the creation and waste of fast fashion negatively impacts the environment. Clothes are currently being produced and disposed of at an alarming rate in recent years, as they are cheap to make and priced in desirable ranges. Unfortunately, this is contributing to pollution, waste accumulation, and excessive resource consumption. For instance, cotton clothing production extensively leeches from water sources. A singular t-shirt needs 2,700 liters of water to be made. Synthetic fabrics like polyester shed and contribute to microplastic pollution in waterways. Non-biodegradable materials either end up in landfills or incinerated, contributing to the release of greenhouse gases. The internet itself is also a key driving force in fast fashion harming the environment. The high turnover rate of clothing articles stem from influencer culture and the need to follow social trends. Due to this, disposability is promoted and prompts individuals to toss their once-loved, no longer cool clothing. Not only do I aim to acknowledge these issues by analyzing real-world accounts of the environment being degraded by fast fashion, but I also aim to show that these issues persist due to poor industry practices and consumer behavior. My research will include a thorough breakdown of peer-reviewed articles, scientific studies, and reports that detail consumer behavior based on internet trends, as well as fast fashion’s direct impact on the increase in carbon emissions, water usage, microplastic pollution, and textile waste
Feasibility of using mixed reality with people with stroke
No full textStroke is the leading cause of severe disability in adults. Following stroke, individuals may experience gait and balance deficits primarily due to sensorimotor dysfunction such as muscle weakness, hypotonia, and spasticity. Conventional rehabilitation techniques often include physical therapy exercises based on repetitive task-orienting intensive training principle. While these traditional rehabilitation techniques are effective, chronic deficits often persist due to a lack of consistent training with only qualitative feedback from therapists throughout training sessions. Integration of modern technologies have aided in the development of innovative approaches to gait training. Virtual reality (VR) technologies allow creative designs for otherwise repetitive therapies with variable settings intensity and feedback while providing consistent training. Recently, interventions such as virtual reality treadmill training, robot-assisted gait training, and virtual reality head-mounted devices (HMDs) have been tested for usability and efficacy. This study pinpoints mixed reality HMDs since they are more feasible in small outpatient clinics in comparison to other large treadmill systems and can be used with multiple individuals at once. This study evaluated the feasibility of using HMD (HoloLens, Microsoft) in people with stroke and older adults using functional (10MWT) and biomechanical outcomes (temporal and spatial characteristics). The results showed no difference between with and without HoloLens conditions in both older adults and individuals with stroke. In addition, our results also suggest that there are no significant differences in gait between both healthy controls and individuals with stroke while wearing the headset. Our preliminary results suggest that HoloLens does not disrupt normal gait, and it may have the potential to be used as a novel stroke rehabilitation technique