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Anishinaabe Nibiing: Anishinaabe Waterscapes and Canoe Building as Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Get PDFThis paper explores the cultural, ecological, and technological significance of birch bark canoe (wiigwaasi-jiimaan) building among the Anishinaabe people, emphasizing their identity as an inland maritime society. Drawing on historical accounts, oral traditions, and personal experience as a park ranger, the author examines the intricate process of harvesting materials and constructing canoes, highlighting the deep environmental knowledge and gendered labor involved. The canoe served not only as a vital means of transportation and subsistence—facilitating fishing, wild rice harvesting, and seasonal migration—but also as a symbol of familial and spiritual connection. Through detailed descriptions of material selection and craftsmanship, the paper reveals how canoe building reflects broader Anishinaabe relationships with land, water, and community. The study also considers colonial reliance on Anishinaabe technology and the enduring legacy of jiimaanikejig (canoe builders) across shifting landscapes. Ultimately, the canoe emerges as a vessel of survival, sovereignty, and cultural continuity
Matrescence
Get PDFKunz reflects on her transformation into motherhood, describing the physical, emotional, and psychological shifts that accompany the process known as matrescence. Through vivid memories of childhood and early parenting, she explores the complexities of maternal love, especially for women who did not receive unconditional love themselves. Her rocking chair becomes a symbol of nurturing and endurance, where she gave everything to her children while grappling with her own identity. Erin also highlights the supportive role of her partner, challenging traditional gender norms and celebrating shared caregiving. As her children grow, she mourns the environmental changes that have altered the natural world she once knew, yet finds new ways to connect with nature and her family. Ultimately, she embraces her changed body and mind, recognizing herself as a resilient source of love and life.
ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY AND THE IMPACT ON FUNCTIONAL COGNITION
Get PDFIntroduction: Occupational therapy practitioners often work with individuals with deficits in cognition due to an acquired brain injury (ABI). Individuals who experience an ABI may have deficits in functional cognition, making it difficult to complete everyday complex tasks, resulting in decreased independence, safety, engagement, health, and wellness (Engel et al., 2019; Erez & Katz, 2018; Klepo et al., 2022; O’Donoghue et al., 2022; Scharaga & Holtzer, 2015). Implementing current evidence-based functional cognition evaluations is difficult for occupational therapy practitioners due to the 17-year lag between evidence and implementation into clinical practice; therefore, practitioners need support in these efforts (Rubin, 2023). The intended purpose was to develop a toolkit that supports occupational therapy practitioners at a major Midwestern medical center to implement evidence-based evaluation of functional cognition.
Methodology: A preliminary literature review was conducted to understand the needs of individuals with an ABI during their inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation. Upon arriving at the site, observations, discussions, and survey results of occupational therapy practitioners were analyzed to understand how functional cognition was addressed. Utilizing this information, a product was developed to address the gaps identified.
Results: Barriers to the implementation of functional cognition evaluations included a lack of knowledge of current evidence-based practice, access to current research, time constraints, lack of resources, and facility or individual characteristics (D’Cruz et al., 2021; de Charentenay 2024; Fischer et al., 2016; Juckett et al., 2019; Murrell et al., 2021). Effective ways to combat barriers include education and training, access to current research, facility support, opportunities for education inside the workplace, and small group interactions (de Charentenay et al., 2024; Fischer et al., 2016; Juckett et al., 2019; Waltz et al., 2019). A toolkit was created that contained functional cognition assessments, associated documents for each assessment, educational videos for administration, scoring, and interpretation, and a documentation outline that was programmed in the electronic medical record system to reduce barriers.
Conclusions and Significance: The toolkit decreases barriers and allows occupational therapy practitioners to use evidence-based evaluations when assessing functional cognition
A GUIDE TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERVENTION PLANNING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MIGRAINES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
Get PDFOne in ten individuals in the world experience migraines (Amari et al., 2022). Migraines are a debilitating condition that presents with symptoms of intense head pain, aura, and nausea (American Migraine Foundation, 2018; Mayo Clinic, 2023). These symptoms have a global effect on an individual’s life and affect the meaningful and necessary tasks they do each day including work, school, family and social life, and their emotional health and cognitive functioning (Buse et al., 2019; Estave et al., 2021). Occupational therapy (OT) can be used with individuals with migraine by addressing factors such as routines, migraine self-management, cognitive strategies, and environmental management to help manage or reduce the effects of migraines (Association of Migraine Disorders, n.d.-a; Chabot & Sanchez, 2020; Occupational Therapy Australia, 2016; Pyatak et al., 2022; Sahai-Srivastava et al., 2017). Although there are a variety of interventions occupational therapists can recommend with individuals with migraine, there is a lack of OT developed standards of care, and occupational therapists on the teams working with individuals with migraines (Sahai-Srivastava et al., 2017).
Project Description: After completing an in-depth literature review, needs assessment, meeting with practitioners and individuals with migraine, and applying models of practice, a product was designed to meet the needs of individuals with migraines and the team with which they work. The main need identified was a product that could be used for self-directed learning or as a small part of a session. A booklet was then created to be given to individuals with migraines or for use by the interdisciplinary team. Topics included were selected with the individuals with migraines’ needs in mind and were based on the principles of the Model of Human Occupation and Ecology of Human Performance.
Discussion: While OT has a variety of interventions for the management or reduction of the effects of migraine, OT services have been limited as part of the interdisciplinary team. It is expected that OT services will expand, and that OT will be recognized as a part of the migraine management interdisciplinary team. This product will contribute to furthering the awareness and significance of OT services in this field. Plans for future study include research to contribute to current literature, expanding services to multiple practice settings, and providing specialized services for individuals with migraines
STEM Professors’ Motivation To Engage In A College Teaching Certificate
Get PDFDespite an expanded focus on educating students in STEM disciplines, nearly half of U.S. college students who enroll in these degree programs fail to graduate (Hamm et al., 2020, p. 623). Critics sometimes blame pedagogically untrained faculty (e.g., Kahn, 2022). This Dissertation in Practice (DiP) focused on STEM university faculty\u27s motivation for teaching and whether professors are motivated to enroll in pedagogy courses. Via the lens of self-determination theory (SDT), this DiP examined to what extent STEM faculty at a major research university in the upper Midwest could devote additional time to pedagogy by enrolling in a college teaching graduate certificate program. This DiP utilized a semi-structured interview (n = 6) to address the primary research question of to what extent faculty are motivated to enroll in a college teaching graduate certificate program to address critics who advocate for pedagogically trained faculty. Findings indicated that the behavioral needs of professors were not sufficiently satisfied to engage in a graduate teaching certificate. Rather, the STEM faculty were interested in pursuing a method of pedagogical development that satisfied their behavioral needs more effectively, engaging in book club related discussions. The implications of this study suggest that STEM faculty are motivated for pedagogical improvement under certain circumstances (i.e., when their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are being satisfied), when they have the time to commit to pedagogical endeavors, and when they are early in their teaching careers which can be useful for university administration to improve STEM educational experiences in their institutions
Hillslope Degradation: Coarse Sands May Move Faster But Fines Dominate Flux
No full textHillslopes are one of the most pervasive landforms on Earth yet the details of the processes that drive their evolution are not completely understood. Excluding boulders, the majority of mass and volume in soil-mantled hillslopes is composed of sand-sized and finer grains. Understanding the transport rates and governing transport mechanisms of these grains is therefore key to advancing our knowledge of hillslope evolution.This research investigates sand-sized sediment transport through field experiments at 20 sites tracking surface sediment motion and 11 sites measuring depth-dependent transport. These empirical results are compared against outputs from a novel grain-based hillslope diffusion simulation (GBHDS), which provides theoretical estimates of sediment flux. Additionally, a physics-informed machine learning surrogate model was trained on GBHDS outputs and embedded within a genetic algorithm to optimize model parameters more efficiently than traditional trial-and-error approaches. Results show that in semiarid climates, sediment transport predominantly occurs intermittently within a thin surface layer composed of medium and fine sands. Sediment grains of this size are overrepresented in the grain size distribution of soil mantled hillslopes and are likely transported by radial dispersion processes such as bioturbation or rain splash during dry years and sheetwash during wet years. This study also reveals how sediment transport rates depend on grain size, hillslope angle, and transport process. Lastly, this study demonstrated that embedding a physics-informed surrogate machine learning model within a genetic algorithm yields rapid, effective parameter optimization for complex geophysical models. These findings can help better predict how hillslopes evolve over time and refine models of sediment movement toward streams and valleys. These insights can refine erosion models used in land management, infrastructure stability assessments, and conservation planning in semi-arid environments
Exploring The Concepts Of Rematriation And The Sugpiaq/Alutiiq People’s Traditional Values And Ways Of Being To Address Historical Trauma: A Qualitative Study
No full textThis study is a collaborative exploration of the intersection of traditional Sugpiaq/Alutiiq values, historical trauma, and the process of rematriation. It aims to understand how these elements contribute to healing, resilience, and identity restoration within the Sugpiaq/Alutiiq community. Utilizing a qualitative research approach grounded in Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study engages in in-depth interviews with Alutiiq elders, cultural leaders, and community members. Their lived experiences and perceptions are integral to the research process. The study seeks to uncover how Sugpiaq/Alutiiq cultural values, such as community solidarity, connection to land, and spirituality, protect against the impacts of historical trauma. Additionally, this research examines the role of rematriation in reclaiming cultural heritage and strengthening communal identity. The findings provide insights into culturally grounded pathways to healing and resilience, offering recommendations for community-based interventions that leverage traditional values and rematriation to address ongoing challenges. This collaborative study contributes to the broader discourse on Indigenous healing practices and the vital role of reclaiming traditional knowledge, practices, and identity in the recovery from trauma
The Effects Of Chronic Sleep Deprivation On Visuomotor Performance Using Electroencephalographic Measurement
Get PDFThe present study investigated the impact of acute and chronic sleep deprivation on visuomotor performance using both electroencephalographic (EEG) and behavioral measures (Senaptec Sensory Station) in a sample of 43 college students aged 18 to 27. Participants were assigned to low or high sleep conditions based on Chronic Sleep Reduction Questionnaire (CSRQ) scores, while acute sleep deprivation was assessed via the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded to support condition placement, but comparisons revealed no significant differences between groups. No significant differences were found in visuomotor control or eye-quickness assessments. However, visual clarity was significantly better in the high sleep condition. A significant interaction between sleep condition and KSS scores indicated that subjective sleepiness more strongly impacted visual clarity in the low sleep group. EEG analysis revealed increased theta activity in the low sleep group during the go/no-go task, consistent with elevated fatigue, heightened cognitive effort, and reduced alertness. Furthermore, distraction probabilities increased with rising KSS scores, particularly in the high sleep group across tasks (i.e., depth perception, near-far quickness, target capture, perception span, multiple-object tracking, reaction time, eye-hand coordination, go/no-go). These findings suggest individuals with chronic sleep deprivation may develop compensatory strategies that buffer against performance deficits, unlike those in the high sleep group who may be less adapted to sleep loss. Limitations include a relatively small sample size and restricted CSRQ variability. Future research should incorporate larger, more diverse samples and refined measures of sleep to better distinguish the effects of sleep deprivation on visuomotor performance
ADHD Research And Practice: An Evaluation Of Psychologists’ Utilizations Of ADHD Assessments In Practice
Get PDFThe incidence of first-time Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses among adults has been on the rise. There is limited research on effective practices for evaluating adult ADHD, with previous studies showing conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of various assessment measures. The current study investigates the assessment tools chosen by psychologists and their perceived importance in evaluating ADHD. A cross-sectional design was used with 200 participants who were primarily licensed psychologists. The unstructured clinical interview with the client was the most used assessment tool and was rated as having the highest importance, whereas continuous performance tasks were rated as having the lowest importance. A minority of participants (i.e., 27%) reported always including collateral interviews or rating as part of these ADHD assessments. Assessments of memory, malingering, and general neurocognitive functioning were also the least likely to be used. Analysis of continuous performance tasks (CPTs) revealed that a minority of participants, specifically 14.5%, considered it essential, while a larger proportion, comprising 49.7%, consistently administered it. There was only a moderate, but significant, positive correlation between the frequency of use and perceived importance of CPTs in assessment. For other assessment tools, the concordance between the frequency of use and perceived importance ranged from high to weak. Ordinal regressions were used to investigate participant variables that predict use and importance rating. Participant demographic variables inconsistently predicted the reported use of assessments and their perceived importance. Insights into psychologists\u27 perspectives on the significance and practical use of assessments can reveal crucial gaps between research and practice, emphasizing the necessity for further establishing and disseminating best practices for evaluating adult ADHD