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Adolescent Mental Health: A Community Needs Assessment
Get PDFDepression among adolescents has been trending upward with approximately 3.2 million adolescents aged 12-17 having at least one major depressive episode in the United States (U.S.) in 2016. The incidence of depression also rises with age among adolescents, with depressive episodes at 4.8% for 12-year-olds, 11.8% for 14-year-olds, and as high as 18.5% in adolescents aged 17 years. Interventions aimed at understanding mental health needs of adolescents and reducing barriers to care are essential to improve overall health outcomes for this population.
The goal of this community needs assessment was to better understand adolescent mental health and determine the needs of adolescents who experience mental health problems in rural areas. A qualitative approach was used to elicit the perspectives of adolescents, healthcare providers, educators, and parents regarding the mental health needs of adolescents in rural North Dakota. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of ten participants from the four target groups.
Facilitators to maintaining mental health were identified as support from family/friends, healthy diet, adequate sleep, limiting social media, avoiding video games, and physical activity. Barriers to discussing and accessing mental healthcare included stigma, confidentiality/privacy, shortage of mental health professionals, lack of routine discussion, lack of a standardized curriculum in schools, time, lack of understanding by adolescents, and healthcare provider/parent relationship.
Based on the interview results, recommendations were made to school administrators and clinic personnel to address the needs of adolescents in rural areas with mental health problems. Recommendations for school administrators included a universal approach to address students about mental health and implementation of a mentor program. The clinic received recommendations for implementation of telehealth services to expand capabilities and implementation of youth-friendly services to create a more welcoming environment for adolescents.
The results of this community needs assessment revealed that adolescents identify anxiety and depression as top health priorities; however, barriers, such as fears of judgement, stigma associated with mental health, and lack of access to care, may prevent them from seeking care. Further research is needed to identify resources and interventions to improve the overall health and well-being of adolescents in rural areas
X-Ray Induced Mutagenesis in Sunflower Pollen
Get PDFThe identification of new sunflower hybrids that have desirable traits depends on the availability of adequate genetic resources. A critical part of sunflower breeding is to find and recombine genetic variability into inbred lines that address modern agricultural challenges. Such genetic variation can come from standing genetic variation, crop-wild relatives, or via mutagenesis, transformation, and gene editing. The use of one standard mutagenesis resource in sunflower has not yet been established but has the potential to enrich genetic variability in this crop, provide for collaborative study, and thus assist with breeding for desirable traits. This project aims to generate a mutagenesis population and methodology for sunflower using x-ray radiation. By using a 50-Gray dose of radiation from a medical linear accelerator, mutagenesis was successfully induced in sunflower at an effective, yet non-lethal level. This paper outlines the methodology behind this project and the resulting mutants
The Link Between Gut Microbiota Metabolism and Host Gluconeogenesis by Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
Get PDFThe gut microbiota (GM) plays a beneficial role in host metabolism. In mammals, the GM ferments dietary fiber into short chain fatty acids (SCFA), like propionate, that improves glucose metabolism. Rats fed a propionate diet increased intestinal gluconeogenic (IGN) gene expression, which was blocked by treatment with the neurotoxin, capsaicin, suggesting a neuronal-dependent mechanism. We hypothesized that the gut neuropeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), links GM derived propionate to IGN expression. We fed VIP deficient mice a 5% propionate chow diet (n=60) for 2 weeks and measured mRNA levels for GN genes by dPCR. Basel intestinal and liver GN mRNA expression was dysregulated by the loss of VIP. GN mRNA levels in liver were differentially altered in males versus females fed a propionate diet in a VIP-dependent manner. We conclude that VIP regulates basal intestinal and hepatic GN mRNA expression and mediates propionate induced GN mRNA changes in liver
The Effect of Hemp Byproduct Supplementation on Beef Quality
Get PDFThe supplementation of hempseed cake (hemp byproduct) could be considered an alternative protein and fiber source for ruminants such as cattle. Hempseed cake might be a successful alternative feed source due to cattle?s digestive abilities. Yet, the physiological effects caused by cannabinoids in hemp (cannabidiol [CBD] and (-)-?9-tetrahydrocannabinaol [THC]) are of concern. However, hemp with much less than 0.3% THC on a dry matter basis can remain a potential alternative feed ingredient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of hempseed cake inclusion in a late finishing ration on carcass characteristics, meat quality characteristics, retail shelf-life, proximate analysis, and fatty acid profile of muscle food obtained from commercial beef heifers
Estimating the Number of Genes That Are Differentially Expressed in Two Dependent Experiments or Analyses
Get PDFMany researchers have used the intersection method to compare the results of differential expression analysis between two or more gene expression experiments. Some methods have been proposed to estimate the number of genes commonly differentially expressed in two independent gene expression experiments or analyses, but there has not been a method for estimating this number using dependent experiments or analyses other than the intersection method. In this thesis project, we propose a method for estimating the number of differentially expressed genes in two dependent experiments or analyses. Simulation studies are performed to compare the proposed to existing methods and an analysis of a real gene expression data set is performed to illustrate the use of the proposed method
Led Astray: How Command Influence Contributed to the Atrocities of the US-Dakota War of 1862-1865
Get PDFDuring the US-Dakota War of 1862-1865, fighting and bloodshed targeted unarmed non-combatants on both sides. American memory has often fixated only on actions committed by Dakota peoples, Oceti Sakowin, that were deemed depraved. However, sane and level-headed US soldiers also killed and mutilated wounded warriors, as well as fired on women and children. The key elements that made disciplined American soldiers in the US-Dakota War commit atrocities against fallen enemies and noncombatants were the illegal and immoral actions passively permitted, acquiesced through slight penalties, and outright ordered by ranking army commanders prior to and during the campaigns. Commanders were able to influence their troops to behave differently than they did on Confederate battlefields, specifically by expanding the list of acceptable targets and actions their morality could and would accept
Investigating the Influences of Ingredients, W/C Ratio and Dispersion Methods for CNT Modified Smart Concrete
Get PDFCarbon nanotubes (CNT) have excellent electromechanical properties and can be added into cement using appropriate dispersive means to produce CNT-modified cement-based smart materials (CNTCS). This study investigates how the ingredients, W/C ratio and dispersion methods influence the sensing ability of the smart concrete. Three different dispersion methods were investigated: direct mixing, surfactant surface treated with NaDDBS, and the Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) surface modification. CMC surface modification method showed consistency for modified cement paste and cement-sand composite material. For CMC surface treatment method, 0.6 w/c ratio was found to be optimal compared to 0.4 and 0.5. Coarse aggregate was added with cement and sand for 0.6 w/c ratio, and consistent piezo electric response was observed under dynamic loading for CMC surface treated smart concrete. However, significant reduction of sensitivity was observed between the CMC surface treated CNT modified smart concrete compared to smart cement-sand composite and the smart cement paste
Understanding the Patterns of Microservice Intercommunication From A Developer Perspective
Get PDFMicroservices Architecture is the modern paradigm for designing software. Based on the divide-and-conquer strategy, microservices architecture organizes the application by furnishing it with a fine-level granularity. Each microservice has a well-defined responsibility and multiple microservices communicate with each other toward a common goal. A momentous decision in designing microservices applications is the choice between orchestration or choreography-based modes as the underlying intercommunication pattern. Choreography entails that microservices work autonomously while orchestration entails that a central coordinator directs the interaction between services. We arbitrate this decision from a developer?s perspective by empirically evaluating the properties of a benchmark system mapped into both orchestration and choreographed topologies. In this research, we document our experience from implementing and debugging this system. Our studies demonstrate microservices composed using orchestration exhibit desirable inherent characteristics that make microservice code easier to implement, debug, and scale
?It?s Like Bluetooth. I Felt Like I Was In Rhythm With Him:? An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the Lived Experiences of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY) in a Residential Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) Program
Get PDFHuman sex trafficking is a grave human rights violation that impacts the dignity of millions both globally and in the United States. The International Labor Organization estimates 4.5 million children are trafficked around the global at any given time (International Labour Organization [ILO], 2017). Within the United States, approximately two in five human trafficking offenses reported to federally funded human trafficking task forces from 2008 to 2010 involved the sex trafficking of minors (Banks & Kyckelhahn, 2011). Childhood traumas, including childhood sexual abuse and rape, emotional abuse, running away from home, and family members? involvement in sex work or friends who bought sex, significantly associated individuals with sex trafficking victimization (Fedina et al., 2019). Although research related to sex trafficking has grown significantly over the past several decades (Haney et al., 2020), there is a dearth of literature regarding effective therapeutic interventions for the healing of survivors. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) will be utilized to capture the unique and shared experiences of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY) in an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program at a therapeutic working ranch (TWR) in the mid-western United States. A discussion of the relationship with existing literature regarding CSEY, sex trafficking survivors, and EAP as well as implications for residential programs will be addressed
Championing the Lives and Works of American Women Artists: a Performance Guide to Libby Larsen?s Song Cycle Mary Cassatt (1844-1926): Seven Songs for Mezzo-soprano, Solo Trombone, and Orchestra (With 15 Projections of Cassatt?s Paintings) (1994)
Get PDFLibby Larsen (b. 1950), one of America?s leading composers, has written in nearly every genre of classical music. Among her catalogue of vocal music are choral works, operas, art song, and song cycles. Larsen?s song cycles are known for their texts that portray strong women and are written by female writers. Larsen?s declamatory text settings, which are influence by her training in Gregorian chant, capture the struggles and triumphs of these strong female figures. Her recitative-like melodies bring to life these women such as the artist Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) in Larsen?s song cycle Mary Cassatt (1844-1926): Seven songs for mezzo-soprano, solo trombone, and orchestra (with 15 projections of Cassatt?s paintings) (1994). In addition to her plainchant-influenced vocal melodies, Larsen utilizes the solo trombone to communicate Cassatt?s inner voice and projections of Cassatt?s paintings to demonstrate the artist?s evolution. The use of the trombone in this song cycle arose from the terms of the commission. The Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra and The Keller Foundation commissioned Mary Cassatt to be premiered by Fred P. Keller?s (b. 1944) wife, Linn Maxwell Keller (1943-2016). Fred Keller chose the trombone as the solo instrument because he thought it would be an interesting combination with mezzo-soprano and orchestra. Transcribed interviews published in journals, newspapers, and dissertations, my personal interview with Larsen, a review of biographical information about the composer, and my own analysis of the score will provide a thorough background of Larsen?s use of this ensemble in this song cycle. Few song cycles in modern repertoire are accompanied by a full orchestra and utilize a solo instrument as an equal partner to the voice. This dissertation will bring to the forefront an awareness of Mary Cassatt and will provide thorough background information about the composer and the artist and an analysis of the score to support performances of this song cycle