19304 research outputs found
Sort by
The Role of Doctor Visits, Body Image Discrepancy, and Perceived Health in Predicting Medical Weight Problem Diagnosis
No full text<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study investigated how doctor visit(s), body image discrepancy, and perceived health status are associated with receiving a medical weight problem diagnosis. <b>Methods</b>: The sample included 458 Hispanic adults (366 women, 92 men) who completed a health survey at health fairs. <b>Results</b>: Descriptive analyses indicated that 51.4% of women and 54.3% of men were classified as overweight or obese, yet only 30% received a medical weight problem diagnosis. Most participants selected an ideal body shape that was thinner than their perceived body shape. Separate logistic regression analyses were conducted by gender to assess associations between body image discrepancy, perceived health status, and receiving a medical weight problem diagnosis, controlling for age. Findings revealed that women who had visited a doctor in the past year had 5.02 times the odds (95% CI:1.98&ndash;12.73) of receiving a medical weight problem diagnosis compared to those who had not. Each one-point increase in body image discrepancy was associated with a 1.88-fold increase in the odds of receiving a diagnosis (95% CI:1.49&ndash;2.37). Conversely, a one-point increase in perceived health status was associated with 1.59 times the odds (95% CI: 0.47&ndash;0.83) of not receiving a diagnosis. For men, those who had visited the doctor in the past year had 14.17 times the odds (95% CI:1.53&ndash;131.17) of receiving a medical weight problem diagnosis. Each one-point increase in body image discrepancy was associated with 1.60 times the odds of receiving a diagnosis (95% CI:1.01&ndash;2.54). However, perceived health status was not a significant predictor of diagnosis among men. <b>Conclusions</b>: Addressing healthcare access barriers and considering the roles of body image and perceived health status could improve obesity diagnosis and treatment in Hispanic populations
A Comparison of Control Methods for Spacecraft Maneuvering With Run Time Assurance
No full textIn the vast subject of aerospace systems, safety is a critical factor in mission completion within the controls field. Controllers designed using data-based approaches like artificial intelligence must uphold the same levels of safety expected from modern controllers, such as Linear Quadratic Regulators. This is accomplished with the application of Run Time Assurance, which ensures the system states will remain within a predefined safe set of values, no matter the potentially dangerous control actions from the primary controller. This research compares control approaches for a deputy spacecraft conducting proximity operations to safely egress from near a chief spacecraft to a predefined relative parking orbit. This trajectory is described in a linearized relative motion reference frame and is calculated from a variety of modern control methods: Linear Quadratic Regulation, Linear Quadratic Integration, and Linear Quadratic Tracking. The initial conditions are chosen to force an unsafe trajectory to demonstrate how the use of Run Time Assurance ensures the system remains within the set of safe states. The two Run Time Assurance methods utilized are an active set invariance filter and a switching backup controller, both of which use a control barrier function to determine the safe set of values for the affected outputs with differing approaches of implementation. Three different scenarios are investigated to prove the safety bounds are not violated, each with a new situation addressed complete with new specific initial conditions. The results demonstrate that each modern controller is fully capable of implementing Run Time Assurance methods, while displaying varying levels of success based on the calculation-based values of the summation of control output and the rendezvous time
Sorry, Am I Intruding? Comparing Performance and Intrusion Rates for Pretested and Posttested Information
No full textPretesting and posttesting have long been implemented in classrooms as methods of testing and improving learning. Prior research has been mixed on the relative benefits of pretesting versus posttesting, with some studies finding pretesting to be more beneficial, and others finding posttesting to be more beneficial. True/False testing is a particularly easy-to-implement method and is regularly used in classrooms. However, relatively little is known about how these tests affect learning. Three experiments address the effects of true/false pre- and posttests on learning correct information and intrusion rates of false information. We find consistent benefits of both pretesting and posttesting but significantly higher intrusion rates for posttesting relative to pretesting, a finding that persisted despite inclusion of simple True/False feedback (Experiment 2) and substantive feedback (Experiment 3). Although the difference between pretesting and posttesting intrusion rates was still significant with the addition of substantive feedback, overall intrusion rates were greatly reduced
The monstrous other: The convergence of queer culture and the horror genre
No full textThis project will reflect upon the relationship between the genre of horror literature and the LGBTQ+ community with respect to queer culture and the role horror plays in regard to it. In modern day, there is much overlap between those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community in some way or another and those who participate in or contribute to the horror genre. I seek to understand, expand, and polish this beautiful layer of overlap within this thesis. As it pertains to this subject, I will focus on common features in horror literature and break down how and why queer people may find themselves represented in them, whether or not the author's intended purpose was to connect to LGBTQ+ folks. At the heart of this project, the reader will find individual chapters dedicated to specific themes of nightmarish creations and explorations of why they resonate with queer people, as well as how queer people have added their unique contributions and experiences to them. For the purpose of allowing the reader to walk into these topics with solid footing, I will preface these chapters with a brief history of queer culture, leading up to present day society, as well as a brief history of horror literature, as it arose from oral folklore traditions and led to some of today's most famous novels, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Shining, and The Hellbound Heart.Honors CollegeEnglish, Department o
Effects of Phasic Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation Paired with Visually Guided Weight Transfer in Individuals Post Stroke
No full textStroke rehabilitation typically focuses on motor cortex impairment, often overlooking the role of spinal cord damage. However, animal models of stroke have shown secondary degeneration in the spinal cord, particularly in the cervical and lumbar regions, which may limit functional recovery. Recent studies suggest that transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) can enhance the excitability of spinal networks and modulate corticospinal pathways, offering a potential avenue for improving locomotor function. Additionally, using visual feedback (VF) to encourage weight transfer toward the paretic leg can promote more active engagement during walking in stroke survivors with hemiparesis. This study aimed to assess the effects of TSS combined with VF on weight transfer and walking function in individuals post-stroke. Participants walked at their normal pace through a series of walking tests, including baseline strides, walking with either TSS + VF or Sham + VF, and post-intervention strides. Results showed that participants in the TSS + VF group demonstrated increased vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) on the paretic leg throughout the post-adaptation phase, indicating a more sustained improvement compared to the short-lived effects in the Sham + VF group. In conclusion, TSS paired with visually guided weight transfer may be more effective than sham stimulation in improving weight transfer during walking in stroke patients. These findings suggest that spinal stimulation could promote spinal cord plasticity and enhance motor learning in locomotor rehabilitation after stroke.Health and Human Performance, Department ofHonors Colleg
A Comparison Between Control Barrier Functions and Hamilton-Jacobi Reachability for Safety Assurance of Satellite Proximity Operations
No full textAs the number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) continues to grow, ensuring the safety of these valuable assets during proximity operations is increasingly critical. Different approaches have been proposed to define safety with two leading options: 1) Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) that encode safety through the system’s dynamics and 2) Hamilton-Jacobi (HJ) Reachability that defines unsafe regions via backwards reachability. These methods can be implemented into a safe controller through the Run Time Assurance (RTA) framework. These novel, safe controllers can, however, be prohibitively expensive to validate on real satellite systems making the use of terrestrial surrogates a practical alternative. This work compared the effectiveness of the two methods of defining safety, highlighting use cases for each: HJ Reachability is more practical for use cases requiring faster responsiveness and CBFs having a more flexible safe set. The resulting dynamics were simulated on a quadcopter terrestrial surrogate, the Crazyflie 2.1 system, with promising results for visualization of the satellite operations. In this thesis, both approaches of defining safety are evaluated in terms of conservativeness, computational complexity, and implementation feasibility for spacecraft proximity operations in two- and three-dimensional simulations. To bridge the validation gap for these on-orbit systems, the Crazyflie 2.1 micro-quadcopter is employed as a surrogate. Experimental results show that CBF-based safety controllers yield less conservative safe regions and higher control efficiency, though at greater online computational cost than HJ Reachability-based controllers. The Crazyflie platform is proven to be an effective and practical surrogate for visualizing and validating these safe controllers
Breast Shape Simulation and Postoperative Shape Estimation in Reconstructive Surgeries using Statistical Modeling
No full textBreast reconstruction plastic surgery procedures have seen a steady increase in recent years. Studies have shown that breast reconstruction facilitates emotional recovery for breast cancer patients who have undergone a mastectomy. Although breast reconstruction surgery is now prevalent, technological support for surgical planning and preoperative consultation is limited. Consequently, patients may be uncertain about their post-reconstruction appearance. We developed a breast shape model using statistical shape modeling. The statistical shape model was built on a rich dataset of three-dimensional (3D) surface images containing shapes of natural breasts and postoperative breasts at various stages of breast reconstruction. Further, we developed a data fusion-based method that performs Kalman filtering on sparse sample set of postoperative images to arrive at the estimate for postoperative breast shape. We utilized the vectors derived from the statistical shape model to simulate shape and dimension changes to any input breast. Plastic surgeons can utilize the simulations to visualize and manipulate the intended postoperative breast shape. We present our simulation methods to 10 plastic surgeons and established that this solution is important in addressing a critical gap in reconstructive surgical planning and patient education
Dimensionality Reduction for Spin-Phonon Interaction in Molecular Qubits Using Quantum Embeddings
No full textQuantum Computing’s practical realization hinges on the production of qubits that are robust to noise as well as scale-able. In terms of scalability, molecular qubits, and single-molecule magnets are relatively new types of qubits that have shown promising qubit performance and scalability potential. However, their organic nature makes them susceptible to vibrations/phonons in the material. This research effort targets the modeling of spin-phonon interaction with quantum embedding to reduce the dimensionality and pinpoint the intra-molecular motions most responsible for the deterioration of qubit lifetime
Optimizing Tool Management for Efficiency
No full textThe NRG Energy Services Central Repair Shop faces significant inefficiencies due to poor tool management, resulting in excessive tool search times, increased costs, and reduced productivity. This project aims to optimize tool organization and accessibility by applying Lean principles, particularly the 5S methodology, to reduce retrieval time, enhance workflow efficiency, and improve operator satisfaction. Through data-driven approaches such as Spaghetti Diagrams, Voice of the Customer (VOC) interviews, and cost-benefit analysis, the project identifies inefficiencies and proposes solutions, including standardized tool organization, optimized layouts, and digital tracking systems. Key strategies include implementing micrometer tool checkout stations, reducing search time by 50%, and organizing tools by frequency of use and proximity to workstations.&nbsp; The project aims to create a scalable framework for tool management that can be applied across the workshop, ultimately reducing operational costs, minimizing safety risks, and enhancing overall efficiency. The proposed solutions are designed to deliver a strong return on investment within 15 months, aligning with organizational goals and improving competitiveness.&nbsp;Industrial and Systems Engineering, Department ofHonors Colleg
Targeted Therapies to Inhibit Constitutive Genomic Activity of Modified Androgen Receptors in Metastatic Hormone ReceptorPositive Breast Cancer
No full textHormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer (BCa) is the most diagnosed (70%) of all subtypes with good initial prognosis; however, resistance to canonical endocrine therapy (ET) and onset of incurable metastatic disease occurs in 40% of BCa patients. Finding appropriate alternative therapy remains an unmet challenge for this large patient cohort. The androgen receptor (AR) has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target, but our recent report demonstrates accumulation of a unique constitutively active SUMO-modified androgen receptor (SUMO-AR) population in ET-resistant breast cancer (ET-R BCa). Through comprehensive transcriptome profiling, we identified genetic reprogramming that favors a shift from estrogen- to androgen-driven mechanisms in acquired ET-R BCa cells. Increasing SUMO-AR in these ET-R lines initiates induction of the EMT, TNFα signaling, and mTORC1 signaling. Concurrently, SUMO-AR is enriched at the chromatin and specifically recruited to enhancer regions adjacent to EMT genes. Chromatin interactome analysis reveals greater association of transcriptional regulators with SUMO-AR than unmodified AR in vivo in line with the observed SUMO-mediated constitutive AR genomic activity. CRISPR-directed mutation of the AR SUMO-acceptor site (sdAR ET-R cell line) significantly reduces SUMO modification and constitutive activity of AR. Transcriptome analysis of sdAR, in contrast to parental ET-R, cells show a downregulation of EMT, hypoxia and MTORC1 signaling. Interestingly, loss of SUMO-AR restores sensitive of ET-R cells to conventional ET tamoxifen. Patient data justifies a need to identify therapy to inhibit modified AR as a novel SUMO-AR gene signature demonstrates reduced progression free survival for patient with Luminal A HR+ BCa and other cancer types. Accumulation of SUMO-AR in BCa cells abates response to ET, conventional non-steroidal AR inhibitors, and AR degraders. However, allosteric AR antagonists were identified with good potency/efficacy to inhibit constitutive AR activity in drug screens. The AR-targeting agents also inhibit the growth of multiple intrinsic and acquired ET-R patient organoids. This research underscores the critical role of SUMO-AR in promoting the aggressive ET-R BCa phenotype and establishes a SUMO-AR gene signature to identify appropriate AR therapy for these BCa patients