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The Genetic Role of Panic Disorder
No full textPanic Disorder (PD) affects approximately 5% of the population and was characterized by unexpected/recurring panic attacks yet can vary from patient to patient. While environmental factors are significant, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms play a major role in this percentage. It is vital to focus on the genetic mechanisms underlying PD, while emphasizing mutations in the GABA system and their large impact on the neurological system. The GABARAP gene is located on chromosome 17 and is an essential building block for assembling, transporting, and degrading GABA(A) receptors. The gene helps regulate inhibitory signaling to the brain. Disruption to the assembly of subunits into transport-competent GABA, and endocytosis recycling and degradation of the GABA, can cause a mutation within the gene from the amino acids arginine to glutamine, thereby exacerbating PD symptoms. Additionally, epigenetic variations of the GAD1 and GAD2 genes, which influence gamma y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis, are associated clinically with anxiety disorders (including panic disorder) specifically in the female population. Current treatments and medicative routes lack precision because the disorder was introduced 25 years ago. Vortioxetine, a newly developed antidepressant, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) are some of the most recent treatments. Though treatments have been applied, neuromodulation techniques and psychopharmacological compounds should be a large focus in future studies
inVent Equine LLC Business Plan Project
No full textThis project presents the business plan for inVent Equine LLC, an equine services company focused on empowering clients to inVent their own personalized equine experience. The company offers customized training, care, and boarding services, allowing each client to tailor their horse\u27s journey based on individual needs and goals. The plan includes strategic objectives for the first three years, emphasizing a client-centric approach to every aspect of the business.
Key components of the plan include a management structure, detailed service offerings, and a rate sheet designed to provide flexibility. The marketing plan focuses on building strong, lasting relationships with clients through transparency and customization. The site map and facility plan prioritize a comfortable, functional space that supports both horse well-being and client satisfaction.
Financial projections, including startup costs and a 12-month cash flow analysis for Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3, demonstrate a clear path to profitability. The operational plan ensures seamless day-to-day management, while risk management strategies are in place to guarantee safety and quality. inVent Equine LLC is committed to revolutionizing the equine industry by providing clients the freedom to shape their own equine experience, fostering an environment of growth, trust, and success for both horses and owners
Stowable Communication Board for Wheelchair Users
No full textCommunication boards are essential tools for individuals who use wheelchairs, experience speech limitations, are paraplegic, or quadriplegic. These simple and affordable devices enable them to effectively express their needs and interact with their environment. Traditional communication boards often present accessibility challenges due to restrictive placement and ergonomic constraints. This prototype integrates a motorized folding mechanism, so the board can be stowed when not in use and includes a selection of boards that can be swapped out. It is designed to enhance the usability and accessibility of communication boards while maintaining the width and mobility of the wheelchair. The prototype incorporates a pivoting attachment that facilitates seamless transitions between multiple board positions, allowing users or their assistants to adjust placement according to the user’s needs and their wheelchair dimensions. The inclusion of QR codes to the outward facing areas on the board attachment provide usage and guidance instructions to the public on how to interact with the board user. The board is available in a range of acrylic colors, including clear and solid fluorescent hues, and users can opt for colored, etched lettering. The mounting system enhances accessibility by minimizing the effort required for manual adjustments and represents a significant step toward enabling more efficient communication for wheelchair users, fostering greater independence and inclusivity
Echo-Location Helmet
No full textVision loss affects approximately 50 million Americans annually, ranging from partial impairment to complete blindness. The Echo-Location Helmet is designed to assist individuals with visual impairments by providing real-time spatial awareness. The helmet delivers sufficient information to enable users to navigate unfamiliar environments with greater confidence.
The Echo-Location Helmet was constructed using ultrasonic sensors, visual processing, and speech output, integrated through development software and artificial intelligence (AI). The system employs hardware components such as an Arduino microcontroller, a serial camera, ultrasonic sensors, and an MP3 player to detect and alert the user. This provides users with an easy way to navigate their surroundings. Wireless technology was also incorporated as needed.
The prototype was developed with user feedback, while prioritizing safety, comfort, and accessibility. It is used as a “smart” helmet utilizing an ESP32 Arduino board to help users identify real-world objects in real-time. The helmet is viewed as a starting point to various advancements in medical technology. Scheduled upgrades will be aimed at reducing latency, enhancing processing speed and precision, and introducing features such as live location sharing. Official testing will also validate the effectiveness of the device. Subsequent versions will make the helmet more weather-resistant and wearable
A Blueprint for an Engaging Zoom Classroom: Shortening the Distance in Distance Learning through Media Ecology and Phenomenology
No full textThe Zoom classroom continues to be an option for many schools. In terms of bridging the fields of media ecology and phenomenology on the matter of the zoom classroom, this project is the first of its kind. While much has been said about effective teaching strategies in the Zoom classroom, a study that examines Zoom’s makeup as a distinct media environment can provide a proper anchor for the adoption of the best teaching strategies. The field of media ecology serves as the proper lens through which to examine Zoom’s makeup as a biased environment that plays upon the human sensorium in specific ways. While much of instruction on Zoom features visual stimuli of various kinds, this project contends that the auditory dimension holds the key to a more engaging classroom. The distance in distance learning is shortened in and through the human voice, especially when the human voice takes on a character of dialogue and sociality that approximates the dynamics associated with Martin Buber’s I-Thou Relationship
The Heart of Advanced Heart Failure Caregivers: Impact of Social Support on Subjective Burden
No full textInformal caregivers often experience a perceived lack of social support, leading to a greater sense of subjective burden. Caregivers of those living with advanced heart failure are faced with many competing responsibilities throughout the course of an unpredictable illness trajectory. In comparison to caregivers of those living with illnesses such as cancer or dementia, there is little research available on the needs of advanced heart failure caregivers. This project aimed to address the social support needs of advanced heart failure caregivers to help mitigate caregiver burden and address knowledge gaps. Through community-based participatory research, a monthly topic-facilitated caregiver support group was established through the HeartBrothers Foundation. Perceived social support and social conflict outcomes were measured using the Perceived Social Support for Caregiving (PSSC) and Social Conflict (SC) scales through pre- and post-surveys conducted at the start of the intervention and at six months. The Mann-Whitney U test for unpaired samples was used to compare the pre- and post-survey results. The results of this study showed an improvement in perceived social support among participants after six months of online monthly facilitated support groups. These results provided a greater understanding of interventions that may help reduce caregiver burden by providing a means of social support. Caregiver feedback at the end of the six-month study period expressed a desire to sustain the monthly support groups
