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Neuronal Control of Posture in Blind Individuals
Get PDFThe control of posture is guided by the integration of sensory information. Because blind individuals cannot apply visual information to control posture as sighted individuals do they must compensate by the remaining senses. We therefore hypothesize that blind individuals alter their brain activation in the sensorimotor cortex during postural control to compensate for balance control without vision by the increased integration of somatosensory information. Ten blind and ten sighted (matched) individuals controlled posture during conditions with (I) eyes closed / open, and (II) stable / unstable surface conditions. Postural sway was recorded by applying a pressure distribution measuring plate. Brain activation was collected by functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) above motor-sensory cortices of the right and left hemispheres. Blind individuals showed significantly increased postural sway when balancing with open eyes on an unstable surface and when compared to sighted individuals. Whereas blind individuals showed significantly increased brain activation when balancing with open eyes on stable and unstable surface conditions, sighted individuals increased their brain oxygenation only during closed eyes and unstable surface conditions. Overall conditions, blind individuals presented significantly increased brain activation in two channels of the left and right hemispheric motor-sensory cortex when compared to sighted individuals. We therefore conclude that sighted individuals increase their brain oxygenation in the sensorimotor cortex during postural control tasks that demand sensory integration processes. Blind individuals are characterized by increased brain activation overall conditions indicating additional sensory integration during postural control. Thus, the sensorimotor cortex of blind individuals adapts to control posture without vision
Fossil Abundance in Evolving Environments Across the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, Arrow Canyon Range, Nevada
No full textThe Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE) is considered the longest prolonged increase in biodiversity in the Earth’s history, though the timing and magnitude of this event varies locally. The physical drivers of the GOBE have been well-researched; however, the interaction of biotic factors like animal abundance, ecology, and diversity with abiotic parameters like depositional environment remain understudied. This research investigates the relationship between animal abundance, biodiversity, and depositional environment in Early and Middle Ordovician sections in the Arrow Canyon Range, southeastern Nevada. In the Arrow Canyon Range, the Pogonip Group preserves the transition from the Cambrian to the Middle Ordovician. The Pogonip Group was deposited in a shallow, subtidal carbonate shelf environment. Environments change throughout this stratigraphic interval and vary from shallow subtidal to shoal environments. Ninety-five samples from the Pogonip Group were point-counted for skeletal abundance and diversity. Synthesis and analysis of field and petrographic observations reveal environmental and biological changes recorded in the Arrow Canyon Range. The average fossil abundance of each unit ranges from 8-14% and does not increase temporally. Biodiversity increases throughout the Pogonip Group with the onset of the GOBE. Nuia, echinoderms, trilobites, and sponges are present in the lowermost unit Opb, compared to Nuia, echinoderms, trilobites, ostracods, sponges, brachiopods, gastropods, unidentified mollusks, and bryozoans in uppermost unit Opf. In the Arrow Canyon Range, the GOBE begins with the start of the Darriwilian. Biodiversity increases throughout the Pogonip Group and the variability of fossil abundance by unit in the context of changing environments suggests that environments play an influential role in animal abundance in the Arrow Canyon Range
Of Two Minds : A Cross-Genre Exploration of Composing and Songwriting: An Album of Original Songs
No full textQueering Critical Consciousness: Measurement and Implications of Critical Consciousness Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth
No full textWe consider critical consciousness among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth. Factor analytic and measurement invariance analyses were conducted across straight Black and Latinx youth (N = 254), SGM Black and Latinx youth (N = 111), and SGM white youth (N = 458). Factors of critical reflection and political efficacy emerged in all groups. Configural and partial metric invariance, but not scalar or residual invariance, were established. Correlations between political efficacy and wellbeing and grades replicated across groups. Critical reflection was associated with grades only for white youth, while critical action was associated with grades only for non-white youth. Implications for measurement and generalizable application of CC with an intersectional lens are discussed
Informing Smith College Botanic Garden’s Seed Collecting Policy
No full textSeed collection is a practice riddled with ethical and legal hurdles. Botanic garden seed collection, whether for display, research, or conservation, is tied to a long history of colonialism and exploitation, which botanic gardens continue to grapple with today. The Smith College Botanic Garden has called on us to help inform their seed collection practices, so they may write up a seed collection policy by Spring 2025, their next collection season. We used a combination of literature review, a survey, interviews, and mapping to explore the history of botanic gardens and seed collecting, gauge various perspectives around seed collecting, identify legal conventions to follow, and visualize the Smith College Botanic Garden’s history of seed collection locations. We found that botanic gardens have an intrinsic history of perpetuating colonialism, thus so does seed collecting. There are no universal standards for seed collection practices, ranging from acquiring permission to collect beforehand to regulations on how many seeds to collect, how frequently to collect, protocols for collecting rare/threatened/endangered plants, and how to consider Indigenous territories and knowledge. We concluded that it is best practice to follow legal conventions such as acquiring a permit or license and having specific protocols for collecting rare versus common species. The relevant literature also highly endorsed documenting seed collections in a comprehensive database. Overall, we recommend that the Smith College Botanic Garden create a mission statement that will guide its collections policy to respect legal conventions and make efforts to include Indigenous perspectives
Climate Justice & Community Collaboration: A Work-Study Proposal
No full textWhile Smith has a strong commitment to decarbonization and has invested in renewable energy initiatives, the institution currently lacks a Climate Justice Action Plan (CJAP). This signifies a gap in addressing the equity and social justice dimensions of climate action. Environmental Science & Policy (ES&P) students have played a critical role in pushing for climate action at Smith. Several student projects have advocated for the development of a CJAP. Additionally, the Committee on Sustainability and the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion have shown initial interest in incorporating climate justice into planning, but concrete steps haven\u27t been taken yet. Lastly, collaboration between administration, faculty, students, and community members on climate justice issues seems limited.
Our broader theme was Climate Justice: Beyond the Gates which inspired us to create a project that actively and meaningfully connects the Smith community with organizations in our local area whose mission is centered around climate justice. We decided to build a framework that establishes work-study positions for students to gain hands-on experience outside the gates of Smith College and work on climate justice issues as part of their personal and career interests.
We followed a four-part methodology to accomplish our project. First, we held informational internal interviews with CEEDS staff to explore possibilities and the feasibility of our project. The second part included community outreach efforts and holding interviews with representatives from organizations we were interested in. After confirming that the organizations were open and interested in hosting work-study positions for students, we created and distributed a survey to the student body to gauge student interest in those jobs. The survey included questions regarding reasoning for interest, eligibility, and more. Lastly, we combined all the information gathered from the first three steps to create an implementation plan comprised of five phases which can be used as a tool to implement similar projects in the future.
We found that both students and organizations have a great interest in collaborating with each other on projects related to climate justice issues. The organizations we worked with, Grow Food Northampton, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and the Citizens Climate Lobby, look for passionate students to work with them on a variety of projects, from social media marketing to farming and developing educational materials for the public. Students, on the other hand, are particularly excited to broaden their horizons and work off-campus to get involved in real, hands-on experiences which they hope will help them grow personally and professionally
