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Classical Conditioning in Tardigrades: Blue Light CS and Caffeine US
Get PDFWe sought to determine whether tardigrades could associate caffeine with a neutral blue light stimulus. Our V-shaped apparatuses had central alleys measuring 2.5 mm wide x 25 mm long. A center divider was used during testing to restrict the blue light to half of the apparatus yet allowing tardigrades to freely move along the alley. Prior to trials, tardigrades were isolated in each apparatus and maintained in darkness for 24 hr. Beginning a trial, the CS illuminated the apparatus for 40 sec. Upon terminating the CS, 1 ml of the US (0 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, 5 mg/ml, 10 mg/ml, or 15 mg/ml) was introduced for 4 min. Treatment was ended by flooding the apparatus. After 4 hr of darkness, the CS illuminated one half of the apparatus, which remained on for another 4 hr. The distribution of tardigrades along the length of the apparatus floor was videoed upon termination of the CS. Extraneous variables were handled using multiple control conditions. Chi square tests were used to analyze our data, revealing: no preferences across control groups, 0 mg/ml Forward Pairing (FP) differed from 5 mg/ml FP (χ2(1) = 5.3, p \u3c .05), in the 5 mg/ml FP more tardigrades were in the blue zone than the dark zone (χ2(1) = 10.7, p \u3c .01), and the 5 mg/ml FP differed from the 15 mg/ml FP (χ2(1) = 12.2, p \u3c .001). This suggests 5 mg/ml of caffeine is appetitive to tardigrades while 15 mg/ml is aversive. Keywords: Caffeine, Tardigrades, Classical Conditioning, light stimulu
Temporal Trends in Mammalian Roadkill Abundance in Central Georgia
Get PDFMitigating wildlife-vehicle collisions requires knowledge of spatiotemporal trends which can be revealed using roadkill data analysis. When examining seasonal roadkill abundance, the trends could be explained by seasonal changes in animal behavior, interactions between taxa, and relative species abundance. Furthermore, roadkill seasonality can be influenced by driver visibility due to changing day lengths. The current study documents the temporal distribution of mammalian roadkill from 2012 to 2022 on a 12.2 mile section of Highway 212 in Putnam County and Baldwin County, GA. In this driving survey, roadkill were recorded to the nearest tenth of a mile using vehicle odometer readings. One thousand nine-hundred and ten roadkilled mammals representing 21 species were documented. The four most abundant species were Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum), Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer), Dasypus novemcinctus (Nine-banded Armadillo), and Sciurus carolinensis (Gray Squirrel). Combined, these species account for 81% of the observed roadkill. The 10-year monthly average of mammalian roadkill shows seasonality with peaks during May and October. Temporal trends in the abundance of mammalian roadkill are likely heavily influenced by the breeding season and natal dispersal of medium and large mammals such as opossums and white-tailed deer
Recruiting and Retaining Males in Secondary School Chorus Programs
Get PDFAbstract
This paper discusses the challenges of recruiting and retaining male singers in secondary school elective choruses and examines both new and established techniques that aim to solve these issues. Challenges include the feminine stigma surrounding vocal and choral music, issues for female teachers when trying to replicate a male vocal sound, social norms, ensemble sizes, and the male pubertal voice change. Countless solutions and ideas from the expertise of more than fifteen choral directors and music educators support the needs of programs looking for growth in their male participation. Suggestions for increased recruitment and retention include social events, networking, using male voice models through live and video demonstrations, extra-curricular investments, gender-neutral uniforms, carefully considered repertoire, classroom management and activity tools, student surveys, vocal placement, and gender identity conversations
Do stay-at-home mothers affect children’s academic outcomes?
No full textIn 2011, the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics found that 70% of married women with children were working, up from the 10% working in 1940. Using national, cross-sectional data from Add Health, I estimate whether having a stay-at-home mother affects childhood academic outcomes. It is becoming increasingly more difficult for families to live on one income in the United States, and it is important to understand whether this affects children’s academic development. Previous work focused on smaller populations indicates a positive effect on test scores and grade point averages among adolescents with an unemployed or part-time working mother, as opposed to full-time working mothers. My dependent variable is a score that follows the 4.0 GPA scale that I calculated based on students\u27 self-reported grades in grades 7-12 for the previous quarter in 4 main subjects. My key independent variable “homemaker” is a dummy variable equal to one if the student listed their mother’s profession as “homemaker.” Using a more nationally representative sample, I found that stay-at-home mothers have a negative effect on their children’s academic outcomes
Family Size and Happiness: Evidence From the Twin Birth Instrument
No full textWith declining mental health and fertility rates in the United States, the relationship between having children and happiness has wide-ranging implications. Because parents voluntarily decide how many children to have, identifying a causal relationship between procreation and happiness is challenging. In this paper, we attempt to estimate the exogenous effect of the number of children on parental happiness by employing an Instrumental Variable (IV) regression. As our instrument, we use the quasi-random occurrence of twin births
Study of the Impact of Social Media on Students
No full textThis research explores the transformative impact of social media on students\u27 academic prowess and mental health, presenting a unique opportunity to optimize educational outcomes. By investigating the correlation between social media usage and academic performance, we aim to provide actionable insights for educators, parents, and policymakers to enhance student success. Employing a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, this study combines surveys, interviews, and academic performance data analysis to capture the nuanced relationship between social media, academic achievement, and mental well-being. The survey will delve into students\u27 social media habits, academic performance metrics, and mental health indicators, while interviews will offer qualitative depth to their experiences. Academic data analysis will further illuminate patterns and correlations. This research is pivotal for devising strategies that leverage social media\u27s potential to boost academic excellence while safeguarding students\u27 mental health. The findings will equip stakeholders with evidence-based approaches to support students in achieving their academic goals while nurturing their overall well-being
The Use of Sign Language in the U.S, Mexico, and Spain
No full textA common misconception of sign language is that it is a universal language, and that every country uses the same gestures for similar words or phrases. However, most countries have their own specialized version of sign language with different meanings of certain gestures. In the U.S this is called ASL or American Sign Language, while in Spain it is SSL, and in Mexico LSM. Even in the most common aspects such as the alphabet, these languages are completely different. Each variation of sign language also each have their own unique grammar rules, such as spoken English or Spanish. This presentation will mainly explore the differences between the English, Spanish, and Mexican sign languages and how culture and geography can cause a variation of each sign language. This presentation will also explore what Universal Sign Language is, the reasons it was created, and the reasons why it is not used worldwide
Music Time with H
Get PDFIn this case study, the student music therapist co-led group sessions with H., a 45-year-old African American male, twice a week at a skilled nursing facility. After doing an assessment and taking baseline data, two music therapy goals were established. These goals and their objectives were as followed: To increase participation as operationally defined by eye contact during the song, playing an instrument, movement or dance, and participating in decision making activities. To increase quality of life which is operationally defined as the amount of times H smiles or presents positive emotion within the session. Music was used as a mediator, reinforcer, and a structure in order to achieve these goals. Elements such as lyrics, rhythm and tempo were used specifically to help facilitate the desired response. Throughout the session, H. was met with verbal continuous reinforcement each time he participated or presented a positive emotion. By the end of the practicum contract, music therapy was shown to be effective as H. ended up meeting both of his goals. He is recommended to continue music therapy treatment on new goals and objectives
Two Step Synthesis of a Novel Phthalein Based pH Indicator
No full textConventional phthalein dyes are used as pH indicators due to their distinct color change in solutions of different pHs. For example, a solution of phenolphthalein in water turns from colorless to pink as the pH of the solution is increased from acidic to basic. Here, we propose a two-step synthesis of a novel phthalein based pH indicator from commercially available materials that utilizes reactions commonly encountered in undergraduate organic chemistry courses. In step one, the pure product of 1-phenyl-2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylic anhydride was obtained which was used in step two by reacting it with phenol. The final product obtained contained acid base color change indicator properties similar to phenolphthalein. Currently, we are attempting to purify the final indicator product to better characterize it through NMR and melting point analysis. Once the pure indicator product is obtained, the synthesis will be incorporated into the organic chemistry and quantitative analysis laboratory curriculum at Georgia College with the aim of enhancing student learning outcomes through a student-centered hands-on pedagogy
Increasing Annual Depression Screening for Adults in a Primary Care Setting
Get PDFIncreasing Annual Depression Screening for Adults in a Primary Care Setting
Background:
Depression is a mental illness that\u27s common worldwide, which can cause an individual to function poorly in society and can progress to suicide. Because of several barriers, patients in a primary care environment are not being seen or treated for depression. Even though the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that all adults in primary care receive annual depression screening that delivers effective treatment with the correct diagnosis and accurate follow-up, patients are still not being screened for depression.
Purpose:.
This project aims to improve the annual screening in primary care by addressing the need regarding staff knowledge, beliefs, and education. The ultimate goal is also to develop clinical guideline that encourage staff to use reliable tools such as PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 to diagnose and identify depression. Both tools have demonstrated good accuracy, validity, and reliability to be used in primary care. The Cronbach\u27s alpha scores for PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 were 0.904, confirming these tools\u27 validity and reliability. They have been widely used in clinical practice to screen, diagnose and determine depression severity.
Pico Question:
In a primary care clinic in Georgia, does educating staff about depression and the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2 and PHQ-9) mental health depression screening tools increase the rate of annual depression screenings by \u3e20% in all adults and increase the clinical staff’s competency and knowledge in implementing the tool by \u3e20% compared to current practice within eight weeks?
Methods:
This is a quasi-experimental, correlational clinical project to increase adult depression screening in primary care. This research was framed by implementing the evidence-based Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) Cycle change theory, where educational training was provided through PowerPoint sessions to increase staff knowledge of mental health and the importance of annual depression screening using screening tools. A pretest, posttest, and Likert scale were administered to monitor any changes in staff knowledge levels before and after education. A protocol and clinical guideline were provided to increase the screening rates. The research used patient health questionnaires (PHQ-2 and PHQ-9) measuring tools to help diagnose depression early that may have been undiagnosed or untreated without evidence-based instruments. A chart audit was implemented to get a baseline and to observe any changes in the rates of the PHQ tools after utilizing the depression screening. Descriptive analyses verified each variable. The lead researcher manually reviewed data collected by the patient\u27s electronic health record (EHR). Each recognized chart was checked to validate if screening was done, if the health depression assessment questionnaire was performed using the PHQ2 questionnaire, and, if it were, whether the PHQ-9 was indicated and conducted.
Findings:
The sample consisted of N=6 females. The participants were recruited from a small outpatient primary care clinic on the Southside of Atlanta. All participants completed the pre- and post-quiz. With a score of less than 80% on the post-test, remediation was required before continuing with the remaining intervention phase of the study. However, all participants scored 100% after the educational session. To determine the rate of annual depression screening pre-intervention compared to post-intervention. A nonparametric paired sample was performed on all variables. The chart audit finding consists of N=300 reviewed charts: 100 in pre-invention, 100 post-invention Phase I, and 100 in Phase II. The findings indicated an increase from 5 % pre-intervention to 98 and 100% post-intervention after educational training and the establishment of a developed protocol and guideline. In order to determine the staff’s knowledge level pre- and post-invention based on the developed quiz on depression, a pair sample t-test was performed. It was found that the overall knowledge level pre-intervention to post-intervention test scores rose from 85.3 % before attending the educational training to 100% after. It increased by 14.7, which was statistically significant.
Keywords: depression, depressive, PHQ2 and PHQ-9, patient healthcare questionnaire, primary care, depression screening, suicide, policy, protocol