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A multi-method, multi-rater approach to understanding avoidance in childhood anxiety and its impact on treatment outcomes
No full textThese are the slides from a presentation given at Association of Depression and Anxiety of America on 04/05/2025.Background: Childhood anxiety is prevalent, affecting ~25% of youth. Children with anxiety often avoid situations, thoughts, or objects that they perceive as threatening. Although avoidance temporarily reduces anxiety by providing escape from perceived threat, it maintains symptoms over time. Avoidance encompasses behavioral, cognitive, and attentional mechanisms; thus, it may be best captured by a multi-method, multi-rater approach. The purpose of this study was to 1) explore if multi-method measures of behavioral, cognitive, and attentional avoidance load onto a single avoidance factor and 2) understand how that avoidance factor relates to treatment outcomes for clinically anxious youth.
Methods: Participants were 133 youth (Mage=11.06, SD=1.53) diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (e.g., generalized, social, and/or separation) in a larger treatment outcome study comparing CBT and child-centered therapy. Behavioral and cognitive avoidance was measured via child-report on ecological momentary assessment (EMA): one item assessing distraction and one item assessing suppression. Behavioral avoidance was assessed via clinician-report on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS). Attentional avoidance was measured by a child dot-probe eye-tracking task. Treatment outcomes were measured by SCARED-C/P scores. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted, with all avoidance measures expected to load onto a single factor. The avoidance factor was used as a predictor in regressions on SCARED-C/P scores at post-treatment, controlling for baseline scores and treatment condition. We hypothesized that avoidance would be related to better treatment outcomes.
Results: In the PCA including all avoidance measures, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value was below threshold (.498), indicating that these data were not suitable for factor analysis. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were then conducted to see if the two EMA items loaded onto a single factor of real-world avoidance and the two measures associated with in-lab evaluation (PARS and eye-tracking) loaded onto a single factor of lab-based avoidance. The EMA items both loaded onto a single factor, with an eigenvalue of 1.45 and communalities of 0.72, explaining 100% of the variation in items. For the PCA with eye-tracking and the PARS, Bartlett’s Test was not significant (p=.06); thus, the data were unsuitable for a PCA. Results of the multiple linear regression predicting SCARED-C scores from the real-world avoidance construct indicated that only therapy type (β=-4.3, p<.05) and baseline SCARED-C scores (β=.38, p<.05) were significant predictors. Multiple linear regression results predicting SCARED-P scores found that both the EMA avoidance factor (β=1.65, p=.003) and baseline SCARED-P scores (β=.58, p<.001) were significant predictors.
Conclusions: It is possible that our avoidance measures each capture a unique mechanism underlying avoidance in childhood anxiety; the EMA items loaded onto a single factor, potentially due to shared method variance. EMA items predicted SCARED-P scores with worse avoidance at baseline predicting more anxiety post-treatment, suggesting that interventions may not have adequately ameliorated avoidance. The lack of shared variance among avoidance measures highlights the necessity of multi-method, multi-rater report to comprehensively understand avoidance as this may be an important target for interventions due to its impact on treatment outcomes for anxious youth
Tourism in Russia's Altai Republic: Indigenous Perceptions
No full textThese are the slides from a presentation given at American Association of Geographers on 03/24/2025.The government of Russia’s Altai Republic encourages tourism for local socio- economic development. The year 2020 brought 2.2 million visitors to the Altai Republic, an ecologically pristine but economically depressed region, with a population of just 220,200. Ethnic Russians constitute a majority of the Altai Republic’s citizenry, but Indigenous groups make up 34 percent of the population. Using surveys and interviews, this study analyzed perceptions of tourism among four rural Indigenous groups in 2018–2019 concerning maintaining local culture, improving the standard of living, and preserving the environment. Survey participants generally did not agree that tourism helps them to maintain local culture or to improve the local standard of living, although interview respondents gave positive and negative viewpoints. Both those surveyed and those interviewed expressed overwhelming concern for the preservation of the natural environment and alarm regarding illegal and excessive hunting by outsiders
Mechanically-Spliced High-Strength Steel Bars in Earthquake-Resistant Walls
No full textResults from these tests can be found at this reference:
Neupane, U., Lequesne, R. D., Lepage, A., and Darwin, D., DATASET: Results from Cyclic Tests of Earthquake-Resistant Rectangular Walls Mechanically-Spliced High-Strength Reinforcement, KU Scholarworks, Lawrence, KS, January 2025. https://hdl.handle.net/1808/35804Three large-scale reinforced concrete rectangular slender structural walls were subjected to reversed-cyclic displacement demands to investigate the use of mechanical splices with Grade 100 (690) longitudinal bars in regions where yielding is expected. These tests were undertaken because ACI 318-19 prohibits both lap and mechanical splices for Grade 100 (690) bars in special structural walls where longitudinal reinforcement yielding is likely. The reinforcement detailing of the walls satisfied ACI 318-19 requirements for special structural walls, except that all longitudinal bars of the walls each had one of three types of mechanical splices located 2 in. (50 mm) from the top of foundation. The mechanical splice types considered were: taper-threaded, swaged-threaded, and shear screwed. The impact of the mechanical splice on wall cracking, surface strains, bar strain demands, drift ratio capacity, and failure mode are examined.
All three walls reached the same deformation capacity (at least one cycle to 3% drift ratio) irrespective of the splice connection type or length but differed in the failure mode, with Wall 1 losing strength due to bar fractures. Mechanical splices with a strength not less than the actual bar tensile strength, such that bars systematically fail in direct tension tests away from the splice, performed well. Such bar failure in direct tension tests should be required of mechanical splices used where yielding is expected. Mechanical splices satisfying ACI 318-19 Type 2 criteria resulted in better wall behavior than reported for lap splices, but bar fractures still occurred at the splice, so Type 2 splice requirements alone are insufficient to allow mechanical splices where yielding is expected.
Splice length influenced crack distribution near the splices and wall failure mode. The taper-threaded splices (length 0.1*l_w) led to more concentrated cracks above the splices. The concentrated cracking led to larger longitudinal and shear strains (> 0.01 radians) measured on the concrete surface at larger drifts, resulting in shear-induced compression failures of those walls. Although the maximum shear force remained relatively constant after 1% drift ratio, average shear surface strain in a row-layer near the base of all three specimens continued to increase nearly proportionally to the average longitudinal surface strains in the same row-layer. Further study is necessary to examine whether average longitudinal and shear strains remain proportional as wall configuration and loading conditions change.
A simple model was proposed for relating bar strains to wall drift ratio that estimated boundary element longitudinal bar strains that were nearly within 10% of the measured values at 2% and 2.5% drift ratio for the walls tested in this study. A parametric study conducted with the model suggests that for a given drift demand, bar strain demands increase as splice length increases and as splice relative elongation, wall aspect ratio, reinforcement grade, and longitudinal bar diameter decrease. The contribution of shear distortion to overall drift and concrete compressive strength have relatively small effects on calculated bar strain demands. Based on the test results and parametric study, it is recommended to limit mechanical splice length to 0.2*l_w at the base of slender walls with Grade 100 (690) longitudinal reinforcement.
Appendix E reports preliminary results from an investigation of squat wall strength. No conclusions are drawn based on the results presented.Electric Power Research Institut
Vertical Wind Velocity Estimation during UAS Fire Plume Encounters
No full textThese are the slides from a presentation given at AIAA SciTech Forum 2025 on 01/08/2025.Wildland fires present significant challenges for aircraft emergency response operations, including firefighting, surveillance, and cargo/crew transportation. The high temperature and strong turbulence near or within fire-generated plumes can be hazardous or catastrophic for manned and unmanned aircraft. In this paper, KHawk Zephyr3, a small fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system (UAS), was sent to fly through fire-generated plumes during a prescribed grass fire to collect the UAS response data in autopilot mode. During the fire plume encounters, the unmanned aircraft experienced significant changes in acceleration, angular rate, attitude, altitude, airspeed, and ground speed. Based on the collected UAS response data, two model-aided wind velocity estimation algorithms, a 2-state extended Kalman filter (EKF) and a 9-state EKF, were developed for the calculation of vertical wind velocity along the plume encounter flight trajectory. Both simulation and flight test results showed the effectiveness of the two vertical wind estimation algorithms. Based on simulation analysis, the 2-state EKF (inertial angles of attack and sideslip) performs slightly better than the 9-state EKF for wind velocity estimation. During the two selected UAS plume encounters, the updraft velocity within the fire generated plumes is estimated to be in the range of 6-10 m/s at a height of approximately 115 meters above the ground level
Investigating the Longitudinal Relation Between Sleep Disturbance and Depressive Symptoms in Late childhood: The Moderating Effects of Social Support.
No full textThis poster was presented at ADAA on 04/04/2025.Background
Sleep disturbances among children and adolescents has been estimated to be as high as 50% (Williamson et al. 2019). Unfortunately, most research focuses on adolescents, leaving a gap in the literature examining late-childhood aged children. Findings and treatments developed for adolescents and adults may not apply to pre-adolescents because of age-related changes in sleep issues and developmental differences in cognitive abilities (Gregory et al., 2008). Thus, it is imperative to investigate both the outcomes of sleep disturbances and buffers to promote healthy development within the late childhood age group.
Higher depression scores in late childhood is common and may result from lack of sleep, as this relation has been found in adolescents (Morrison et al., 1992). Bowlby’s (1973) attachment theory underscores the importance of a supportive environment and how that contributes to children’s emotional wellbeing. Social support from teachers and school staff (e.g., showing of appreciation for a student, being attuned to a student’s needs, and being available to spend time with a student) can promote students’ emotional confidence and coping skills and may serve as a protective factor against depressive symptoms for late-childhood children (Gariepy & Quesnel-Vallee, 2016; Weyns, 2018). Consequently, it is hypothesized that that sleep disturbances will be linked longitudinally with depressive symptoms, but will be moderated by social support from teachers.
Methods
A sample of 166 children (ages 8-11, grades 3-5) served as participants. These children completed self-report measures of demographic information (age and gender), 2 items of
perceived social support within the school (The Social Support Scale), 3 items about sleep disturbances (Patient-Reported Outcomes Information System (PROMIS), and 13 items about depressive symptoms (Short Mood and Feeling Questionnaire) at two time points (Fall (T1) and Spring (T2)) of the same academic school year.
Results
Longitudinal path models were estimated with sleep disturbance, school-based social
support, and their interaction at Time 1 serving as the predictors of Time 2 depressive symptoms. Higher sleep disturbance scores (B=.19, p<.01) and lower social support scores (B=-.05, p<..05), but not their interaction (B=.027), at Time 1 forecasted Time 2 depressive symptoms. When Time 1 depressive symptoms were controlled in subsequent analyses, there were no significant effects.
Conclusions
Longitudinal analyses suggest that sleep disturbances and social support, but not their interaction, forecast later depressive symptoms. However, when more rigorous analyses (i.e., controlling for Time 1 depressive symptoms) were conducted, significant results did not emerge, likely due to the strong relation between Time 1 and 2 depressive symptoms (B=.71). Future research should explore a more comprehensive measure of social support (i.e., examining both home and school support)
Quantification of Non-Perennial Stream Flow using Time-lapse Photography and Machine Learning
No full textThese are the slides from a presentation given at ASLO on 03/29/2025.While methods for measuring perennial streamflow are established in ecohydrological studies, methods for measuring non-perennial flow are still in development, and remain vastly underexplored. Understanding flow patterns in non-perennial streams requires new methods including quantifying sustained wet-up, long periods of low flow, and intense bursts of stormflow. In Kansas, over half of the streams are non-perennial due to the stark contrasts between wet- and dry- seasons. Here, we assessed the accuracy and suitability of an ecohydrologic method that combines time-lapse photography with machine learning techniques (i.e., gaugeCam) to quantify non-perennial streamflow. Our overarching question is, What conditions optimize the utility of ground-based time-lapse imagery and machine learning for quantifying non-perennial streamflow rates and connectivity? We installed trail cameras at the Konza Prairie Biological Station near Manhattan, Kansas, and translated their images into stream connectivity metrics using GaugeCam Remote Image Manager-Educational AI (GRIME AI), and built rating curves using GaugeCam Remote Image Manager-Educational 2 (GRIME2) and discharge data. We found that hydrologic metrics derived from gaugeCam images were useful for quantifying stream connectivity, providing a data-intensive technique to address the technical hurdles with assessing water quantity through space and time. Thus, time-lapse photography and machine learning serve as a novel application for quantifying long term changes in the physical dynamics of streams, including non-perennial systems
US infant formulas contain primarily added sugars: An analysis of infant formulas on the US market
No full textAdded sugar consumption is contraindicated for infants 2 fold higher proportional added sugars compared to standard formulas (ORs=2.11–2.57, HDI>0, pd=99.1–99.99 %). Lactose-free formulas had 4–8 times higher proportional sucrose (OR=8.92, HDI=[3.86,20.8], pd=100 %) and maltose (OR=4.91, HDI=[2.51,9.56], pd=100 %) relative to standard and gentle formulas. Five formulas contained primarily (70–90 %) naturally occurring lactose. In conclusion, most US infant formulas contain primarily added sugars. However, the presence of five formulas containing primarily naturally occurring lactose demonstrates that such formulations are feasible to produce; such formulas should be made more widely available to help promote infant health
Decoupling Lift from q and alpha: Sailplane Design Optimization with Dynamically Aerocompliant Wings
Full text linkThese are the slides from a presentation given at American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech Forum and Exposition on 01/08/2025.This presentation explores the concept, fundamentals, and mechanics of dynamically aerocompliant wings including a system on how to implement this on real aircraft and the benefits gained. Dynamically aerocompliant wings greatly enhance the safety and comfort of passengers and crew in an aircraft by mitigating the effects of air disturbances. Air disturbances, including but not limited to turbulence and wake vortices, can cause minor vibrations of the aircraft up to extreme upsets that can take down an aircraft. Minimizing the effects of these disturbances can be done by changing the camber across the wings similar to what bird feathers do. Feathers flex individually across a bird's wingspan to adapt to uneven gusts to maintain a constant lift. Technology exists that can mimic this on aircraft, and it has been studied for over 15 years, this system is called Pressure Adaptive Honeycomb (PAH). Analysis of this system from implementing it on a sailplane design showed that the aircraft could handle much stronger air disturbances and greatly improve ride quality. Additional benefits from the implementation of PAH include weight savings and cost effectiveness
Who Benefits from Paid Sick Leave Policies? Firm Size and Women’s Employment Outcomes
No full textThis is the paper from a presentation given at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting held in Chicago, Illinoi on 08/09/2025.This paper studies how workers in US firms of different sizes respond to state-mandated paid sick leave using policy expansions of paid sick leave between 2010 and 2019. To date, research has documented the effect of leave policies on women’s employment outcomes, but there is limited research examining the role of firm size on employment rate and leave take up when policies are expanded. Exploiting the unique survey design of the CPS Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC), which collects data on individuals for two subsequent years, we present three key findings. First, we find that paid sick leave increases employment rates for women previously employed in firms with fewer than 100 employees, while having no effect on those working in larger firms. Second, we identify no change in the take-up rate of leave between firm sizes before and after paid sick leave. Third, the identified employment enhancement effect in small firms after policy intervention is driven by women with children under age 5. Together, our results support a theory that institutional environments which resolve conflicts between intensive childcare responsibilities and workplace inflexibility lead to improved employment outcomes for women
Segmental constraints limit the impact of communicative factors on English CV coarticulation
No full textThis is the poster from a presentation given at the 30th Mid-Continental Phonetics and Phonology Conference (MidPhon 30) held at Indiana University Bloomington on 10/10/2025.Coarticulation, the temporal and spatial overlap of speech gestures, is a central source of variability in continuous speech. Previous research has shown that both segmental and global factors influence the degree of coarticulation. The Degree of Articulatory Constraint (DAC) model posits that the degree of coarticulation varies systematically with segment-specific articulatory constraints (Recasens, 1985; Recasens et al., 1997): highly articulatorily-constrained segments, such as palatals and fricatives, exhibit greater resistance to coarticulation, while less constrained segments, such as labials, are more susceptible. Global factors also shape coarticulatory patterns. Lindblom's (1990) H&H theory predicts reduced coarticulation in hyperarticulated clear speech, while faster speech rates increase coarticulation due to more overlap (Agwuele et al., 2009).
Little work has systematically tested how segmental constraints interact with style and rate across a wider set of consonants and vowels. The present study examines the interaction between segments, style and rate in English CV syllables. The main research question is whether highly constrained segments show smaller coarticulatory changes when style or rate varies. Ten American English speakers produced CV syllables (consonants: [k], [ʃ], [t], [s], [p], [b]; vowels: [i], [ɑ], [u]) in a carrier phrase under two style (casual vs. clear) and two rate (slow vs. fast) conditions. Standard deviations of F2 measured at CV transitions and vowel midpoints indexed consonant coarticulation across vowel contexts and vowel coarticulation across consonant contexts, respectively. with larger values signaling greater coarticulation.
Results confirmed main effects of Consonant in consonant coarticulation across vowels, of Vowel in vowel coarticulation across consonants, and of Style in vowel coarticulation. In consonant coarticulation, the most constrained fricatives [ʃ] and [s] showed greater coarticulatory resistance than less constrained consonants. In vowel coarticulation, the most constrained [i] was the most resistant, followed by [ɑ], with the least constrained [u] showing the strongest coarticulatory effects. Overall, casual speech elicited greater coarticulation in vowel coarticulation, while speech rate had no significant effect.
Crucially, a vowel × style interaction in vowel coarticulation indicated that a significant style-driven change was limited to the least articulatorily constrained [u]. This finding suggest that highly constrained segments were less affected by style shifts.
Our results provide support for the DAC model, showing that articulatory constraints systematically condition coarticulatory variation such that highly constrained segments like fricatives and [i] remained relatively stable, whereas less constrained segments were more susceptible to contextual influence. Global factors shaped coarticulation, with clear speech reducing coarticulation, while speech rate had little effect. Importantly, the vowel × style interaction demonstrates that the influence of global factors like style is not uniform but depends on the articulatory constraints of the particular segment. These findings highlight that coarticulation emerges from the interaction of local segmental constraints and broader communicative goals, refining our understanding of how both segment-specific and global factors jointly shape speech variability