1854 research outputs found
Sort by
The Rise of the Machine: How Industrial Robots Will Revolutionize U.S. Manufacturing
Get PDFAutomation has become a term to symbolize many different movements in today’s world. It could represent anything from the blind, preprogrammed robotic arm in an automotive assembly plant to the increasing prevalence of driverless cars on the road. It could be used as a word of praise in the chase of more efficiency and optimization, or as a curse against the aspect of the obsolescence of humans as their roles are rendered redundant by robotic laborers. However, the lack of clarity of the term stems from a lack of understanding about its historical connotations, precisely how it applies today, and what it might mean in the future. I believe that we can draw from examples in the past and apply their lessons to the present to determine the best possible course for the future. The history of robotics, and more broadly the increase in optimization that led to their development, will provide the backdrop of the grand drama by which the present will play out. The current state of the field will provide the context for much of the analyses of how the future should play out. The future will be conjectured into a few key paths, all of which are possible and plausible. It is a matter of what is done now that will determine what path will be the most likely. Before the future is set, let’s examine how the present came to be
Design Thinking in Contemporary Geisel Award Winners
No full textIn this presentation, the work of a content analysis of the past 10 Geisel Award winners will be shared. After coding the 10 texts for the elements of design thinking (i.e., empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test), researchers identified emergent themes. These themes along with applications for practice in the early childhood classroom will be shared
Ecological and Economic Revitalization Through Historic Preservation of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail in the National Historic District of Marietta, Pennsylvania
Get PDFSince the spring semester 2019 and every semester since, including two SCARP projects 2019 and 2020 (and now a third 2021); I have been working with Marietta Borough on their asset-based planning process to bring economic development to the local community. I have been collaborating with the grass roots local community action task force called “Our Marietta.” I am launching a “This Place Matters” national campaign for Marietta, created by the National Historic Preservation Trust, to promote the objectives of the “Our Marietta” task force. In my work I have employed the active learning pedagogy from the (NCHC) National Collegiate Honors Council’s City as Text.™ My scholarship has contributed to “Our Marietta’s” asset-based planning process in identifying and mobilizing existing as well as unrecognized resources such as physical, human, social, financial, environmental, political, cultural, and historical assets. This is rooted in the Community Based Learning Component (CBL) of Professor Benowitz’s course Honors/Public Heritage Studies 201: Elizabethtown History: Campus and Community.” Currently, this is the third time I have taken the course. This SCARP project will demonstrate how I have worked with Marietta Borough to cultivate a viable working relationships among local government and business leaders, residents, community based organizations, and regional agencies enacting a plan benefiting the community and economic development future of Marietta Borough
Activities of daily living with bionic arm improved by combination training and latching filter in prosthesis control comparison
No full textBackground: Advanced prostheses can restore function and improve quality of life for individuals with amputations. Unfortunately, most commercial control strategies do not fully utilize the rich control information from residual nerves and musculature. Continuous decoders can provide more intuitive prosthesis control using multi-channel neural or electromyographic recordings. Three components influence continuous decoder performance: the data used to train the algorithm, the algorithm, and smoothing filters on the algorithm’s output. Individual groups often focus on a single decoder, so very few studies compare different decoders using otherwise similar experimental conditions. Methods: We completed a two-phase, head-to-head comparison of 12 continuous decoders using activities of daily living. In phase one, we compared two training types and a smoothing filter with three algorithms (modified Kalman filter, multi-layer perceptron, and convolutional neural network) in a clothespin relocation task. We compared training types that included only individual digit and wrist movements vs. combination movements (e.g., simultaneous grasp and wrist flexion). We also compared raw vs. nonlinearly smoothed algorithm outputs. In phase two, we compared the three algorithms in fragile egg, zipping, pouring, and folding tasks using the combination training and smoothing found beneficial in phase one. In both phases, we collected objective, performance-based (e.g., success rate), and subjective, user-focused (e.g., preference) measures. Results: Phase one showed that combination training improved prosthesis control accuracy and speed, and that the nonlinear smoothing improved accuracy but generally reduced speed. Phase one importantly showed simultaneous movements were used in the task, and that the modified Kalman filter and multi-layer perceptron predicted more simultaneous movements than the convolutional neural network. In phase two, user-focused metrics favored the convolutional neural network and modified Kalman filter, whereas performance-based metrics were generally similar among all algorithms. Conclusions: These results confirm that state-of-the-art algorithms, whether linear or nonlinear in nature, functionally benefit from training on more complex data and from output smoothing. These studies will be used to select a decoder for a long-term take-home trial with implanted neuromyoelectric devices. Overall, clinical considerations may favor the mKF as it is similar in performance, faster to train, and computationally less expensive than neural networks
Work–life balance in media newsrooms
No full textThis research examined work–life balance in media newsrooms. A total of 50 in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with individuals currently employed in US newsrooms of varying market sizes including small and medium market television stations, such as KCAU (Sioux City, IA), WHTM (Harrisburg, PA), WGAL (Lancaster County, PA), NBC12 (Richmond, VA), NY1 (News York, NY), and WNBC (New York, NY); regional newspapers, such as Lancaster Newspapers and the York Daily Record; and national news organizations, such as The New York Times, CNN, ABC, and FOX. Results indicate that males had more difficulty separating work and life than females. However, females reported more positive work-to-family spillover than males. Those working in both print and television newsrooms stated that digital technology further impeded their ability to adequately balance work and family life
Characterizing standardized patients and genetic counseling graduate education
No full textStandardized patients (SPs) are laypersons trained to portray patients, family members, and others in a consistent, measurable manner to teach and assess healthcare students, and to provide practice for emotionally and medically challenging cases. SP methodology has been studied with practicing genetic counselors; however, there is minimal empirical evidence characterizing its use in genetic counseling (GC) education. The Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) Standards of Accreditation for Graduate Programs in Genetic Counseling include SP sessions as one way to achieve up to 20% of the 50 participatory cases required for graduation. The purpose of the current project was to determine the scope, frequency, and timing of SP methodology in ACGC-accredited programs to establish baseline usage, which happened prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A 40-item investigator-created survey was developed to document the scope and frequency of SP use among programs. The survey was distributed through the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors’ (AGCPD) listserv to 43 accredited and 6 programs under development. Surveys were analyzed from 25 accredited programs (response rate = 58%). Seventeen of these programs report inclusion of SP methodology in the curricula (68%), of which 13 report working with an established SP program. SPs are used predominantly for role-plays (70.6%), individualized instruction and remediation (29.4%), and for other reasons such as lecture demonstration, final examinations, practicing skills, and assessing students’ goals. Sixteen of the participating programs use SPs to give GC students experience disclosing positive test results. Other details vary among the GC programs including the use of trained SPs, volunteer or paid SPs, actors with and without SP training, or GC students acting as patients. This study demonstrates that GC program SP experiences differ, but are largely viewed as valuable by the programs. Many GC programs report using SP encounters to create multiple opportunities for students to practice and refine clinical skills similar to SPs in medical school
The Role of the Baccalaureate Social Work Program Director: A Qualitative Understanding
No full textThis purpose of this study was to assess preparation for the role of BSW program director, its stressors and joys, and areas for future training through two focus groups of current BSW program directors. Results indicated that the vast majority had no training before assuming the role. Major stressors included the time demands, lack of resources, and role stressors, and the most common joys noted were being able to lead the program forward and being able to use the position to help students. To do their job better, program directors stated they needed more information on leadership and management, gatekeeping, and accreditation-related issues. Implications of these findings include the need for further training—for both new and experienced program directors—as well as developing mentorship opportunities
Effects on Bacterial Composition from Long-term Storage of Fecal Matter for Fecal Matter Transplant
Get PDFFecal Matter Transplantation (FMT) is an innovative treatment that has in clinical trials, resolved 80-90% of infections caused by the recurrent Clostridium difficile bacterium which does not respond to antibiotics. During FMT, a fecal preparation from a healthy stool donor is transplanted into the colon of the patient. Stool banks, such as OpenBiome, store donor stool samples at their biorepository facilities, for a maximum of two years. However, there lack studies examining the bacterial composition, for such long-term storage, for fecal matter. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of long-term storage on the composition of microbes using fecal matter obtained from dogs. To study long term effects, stored fecal matter samples were analyzed after one months, one year, and three years of storage in a deionized water with 25% glycerol solution at -80 °C. Community DNA was extracted from the original samples for analysis. After DNA extraction, the V4 region of DNA was amplified using PCR and sent for sequencing. Data were analyzed for changes in microbial composition across time using the Qiime software. Preliminary analysis of the data suggests the greatest change occurs when the stool sample is first stored. For a more comprehensive answer, further analyses will be conducted. The results from this study will provide greater insight towards the maximum storage period suitable for greatest bacterial recovery. Additionally, results could provide better understanding towards methods for bacterial storage intended for Fecal Matter Transplant
Microbiome Integrity of Unprocessed Canis familiaris Stool Samples prior to Storage for Fecal Microbiota Transplants
Get PDFFecal microbiota transplants (FMT) are used for patients with dysbiosis of their gut microbiome or with endogenous pathogens. While FMTs are promising, it has become apparent that the gut microbiome varies between individuals and in the same individuals with diet and age. Therefore, it is difficult to establish a microbiome baseline and assess the compatibility of donor stool since the gut microbiome contains numerous bacteria that facilitate metabolic processes as well as prevent the growth of exogenous pathogens. A recent approach to address this issue is the storage of an individual’s stool samples for later. This storage would prove useful for patients prone to dysbiosis pathologies. The primary goal of this experiment was to analyze changes in the stool microbiome overtime prior to stool sample storage. The hypothesis was that as time passes, endogenous bacteria that are poorly adapted for the external environment would decrease while opportunistic bacteria would increase. The study was performed with stool samples passively obtained from Canis familiaris. Samples were set out in room temperature for 0 hours, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, and 2 days. Once the allotted time passed, the samples were homogenized and underwent DNA extraction and PCR amplification of the V4 16S DNA region. Findings show that there was a substantial change in the microbiome for the samples left out for 2 days, notably the Bacteroidales order decreasing and Clostridiales order increasing. Some minor changes were observed between 1 hour and 3 hours which could be critical in a FMT setting, therefore immediate processing would be necessary. Consumer end processing and proper banking infrastructure can help mitigate this delay