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Application of Reinforcement Learning Algorithm to Minimize the Dosage of Insulin Infusion
No full textThe control of insulin infusion pumps has been receiving attention from various sectors since artificial intelligence (AI) has been successfully applied to many optimal control problems. Data-driven control has become more popular with help of AI without dynamic model structure, but a white-box control would be more efficient if there exist an identified model structure. In the case of insulin pump control design, traditional mathematical glucose-insulin models will be very useful to find an optimal insulin infusion profile by applying AI technique. The objective of insulin pump control in this study is to minimize the total amount of insulin dosage while maintaining the plasma glucose concentration level within a healthy range by controlling the profile of insulin infusion rate. Reinforcement learning is used to address this dynamic glucose-insulin interaction problem with a goal of achieving minimum insulin dosage. Reinforcement learning in this study finds an optimal insulin infusion profile with minimum dosage that stabilizes a plasma glucose concentration from an initial hyperglycemic state to a basal level in a reasonable amount of time. Since diabetes is known as a chronic disease, minimal insulin dosage control may be important to decrease potential insulin resistance and play an important role in the long-term treatment of diabetes patients. An insulin infusion profile will next be generated in the presence of a meal disturbance to understand the ability of a proposed reinforcement learning algorithm to be insensitive to disturbances in glucose and act as a normal human pancreas. Numerical examples are provided of glucose-insulin dynamics models, and the proposed insulin infusion profiles are verified by comparing them with two optimal insulin infusion programs suggested by Fisher's study and a normal physiological plasma insulin response to a meal, respectively
The Effects of Power Settings and Liquid Flavors on the Gravimetric Filter Correction Factors and Real-Time Measurements
No full textPM2.5 or fine particulate matter are particles that are 2.5 µm in size or smaller that are produced by electronic cigarettes (ECIGs). These particles can travel in deep parts of the lungs. The popularity has increased among young adults and teens making users and people around them more exposed to these particles. There is very limited research on looking at the second-hand exposure ECIGS produce. This study is being conducted to gain a better understanding of PM2.5 exposure effects by conducting measurements using real-time aerosol instruments that can quantify the exposure and capture the vaping behavior. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of three factors on these filter correction factors, including frequency of inhalation, flavorants, and ECIG device power. The ECIG device that will be used is the SMOK Novo X, which allows users to change the flavorant and power. Secondhand PM2.5 exposure will be generated inside a controlled laboratory chamber using a diaphragm pump and a timer to simulate user secondhand vaping. The variability in PM2.5 measurements and the filter correction values will be compared between these devices. Each experiment will be repeated three times for statistical significance, and a total of 60 experiments will be conducted to capture the inner variability between these factors. This study found within the real-time mass concentration that the mass concentration increased as the wattage went up and flavorant had no effect. The filter correction factors found that the pDR can perform better than the SMPS+APS due to these machines volatilizing the aerosol in the gas phase. The aerosol size distribution proved that the increase in wattages also led to a higher concentration of aerosol particles. This is a very big public health concern, and this study proves that ECIG aerosol particles increase in size as wattage increases which can cause harmful secondhand exposure effects
Penny Pinchers Healthy Grocery Store Tour Leader Talking Points
No full textThis slide set was created by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in partnership with Pitt Partners for Health (PPH) to be printed and used as a guide for volunteers leading tours as a part of their Healthy Grocery Store Tours program. This comprehensive booklet provides background on the program; an overview of the tour schedule; an explanation of helpful grocery store shelf tags like Guiding Stars (at Food Lion), WIC tags, and unit prices; offers instruction on key messages and activities that should be shared with participants during each stop along the tour to make healthy food choices at the best price; and explains the $15 Grocery Store Challenge that will take place at the end
INTERSECTIONALITY AND BURNOUT IN MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS: NARRATIVES ACROSS THE NATION
No full textBurnout impacts up to 75% of medical residents in the United States. Although nearly half of active medical residents in the U.S. identify as individuals with intersecting underrepresented identities including racial, ethnic minority and sexual orientation, very little is known about their unique needs and factors that help retain them throughout medical residency. This article aims to begin filling the gap in the literature regarding how medical residents with intersecting underrepresented identities experience burnout during their residency education in the US and begin exploring protective factors that alleviate burnout rates. The data for this study came from 27 participants who were selected for qualitative interviews and the following themes emerged as having influence on how medical residents with intersecting underrepresented identities experienced burnout: Healthcare culture, additive stress, the role of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy and the influence of discrimination. Additionally, nine subthemes emerged from these themes. Medical residency programs and hospital systems should consider the ways in which their discrimination policies, wellness programs, and diverse leadership structure or the lack thereof impacts burnout rates in medical residents with multiple intersecting underrepresented identities
Our World, Our Fight: Teaching Advocacy and Activism as a Pivotal Practice for Talented Youth
No full textTeaching advocacy and activism is a pivotal practice for talented youth. Advocacy is broadly defined as championing a cause, from self-advocacy and community/local issues to sociopolitical and global awareness contexts. Activism is the shared struggle for the “inalienable right of all people to human be—to be liberated from any project of violence that treats… persons…less than fully human” (Valdez et al., 2018, p. 247). This chapter first builds background in the three characteristics of pivotal practices: authentic, cognitive, and holistic. Each of these characteristics has a Pivotal Practice in Play section, providing the reader with an exemplar of grassroots activism or advocacy using relevant examples that readers can connect with from history, collective peace movements, Dolores Huerta, and Ella Baker. Finally, the chapter ends with a discussion and a present-day case study about this pivotal practice through an intersectional lens, and how teaching advocacy and activism impacts and is impacted by identity and agency
THE SWEET SPOT OF MENTORING MINDS AND BUILDING SUPPORT
No full textThe Focus of Practice (FoP) of this Participatory Action Research (PAR) project was to develop mentors' knowledge, skills, and dispositions to identify and implement equitable classroom practices through coaching conversations with beginning teachers. The study examined what happens when mentors shift from essential check-ins with beginning teachers to meaningful coaching conversations around equitable practices. The setting was two elementary schools located in eastern North Carolina. During 21 months, I met with two school-based Lead Mentors who were co-practitioners and conducted three PAR cycles. The goal of each PAR cycle was to employ methodologies from community learning exchanges and engage the Co-Practitioner Research (CPR) group in a plan of action that improved what was currently taking place in schools. A new plan was implemented, followed by observations of Beginning Teacher (BT) Mentors and the effect within the context or setting of their classroom. The BT Mentor then conducted observations within the classroom of the BTs they directly supported using the same equitable practices, the Calling-On Tool. Explicitly, each lead mentor invited a BT mentor and the beginning teacher they supported to participate in using the Calling-On Tool. Lastly, both Lead Mentors and BT Mentors along with the BTs they directly supported reflected on their practices and the impact of equitable practices in the classroom, which revealed mentors need (a) knowledge of building safe environments that allow for belonging, (b) skills to implement equitable instructional practices that support learning for every child, and (c) the disposition that demonstrates behaviors impact positive relations. As a result, I developed a framework that creates a sweet spot for the mentor to support the beginning teacher by providing a sense of belonging that builds safety and trust in an equitable environment
Burnout Among Ambulatory Nurse Managers: Insights from Qualitative Focus Groups
No full textExecutive summary for the completion of the DNP program.D.N.P
What's Wrong with a Rumor? Workplace Undermining and Customer-Oriented Outcomes
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the customer-oriented outcomes of supervisor and co-worker undermining, specifically, examining the differential impact of supervisor and co-worker undermining on customer- and service-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and customer-directed counterproductive workplace behavior (CWB). Positive and negative affectivity were assessed, the latter being a commonly utilized control variable within social undermining literature, to identify their moderating impact. Results indicate that supervisor and coworker undermining do not share a significant relationship with customer and service-oriented OCB, and were not adequate in predicting their presence alone. After adding positive and negative affect, the relationship was significant, with positive affect predicting both engagement in service-oriented OCB, as well as customer-oriented OCB. Supervisor and coworker undermining, were, however, significant and positive indicators of engagement in customer-directed CWB, with negative affect also emerging as a strong predictor. Results suggest that, although customer- and service-oriented OCB were not associated to supervisor or coworker undermining, customer-directed CWB was significantly associated and should be investigated further to unravel the temporal relationship between undermining and engagement in customer-directed CWB, and also to isolate the presence of negative affect in this relationship
Equitable classrooms require equitable practices : how do teachers develop and implement culturally responsive teaching practices to support equitable classrooms?
No full textThe participatory action research (PAR) aims to build educators' culturally responsive teaching capacity to support equitable classrooms. The study focuses on the culturally responsive teaching development and decision-making process of a middle school principal, three Language Art teachers, and the culturally responsive teaching influence to create equitable classrooms. The group will work closely, learn together in the professional learning community, and intentionally select and plan diverse and inclusive text and culturally responsive teaching activities. The research participants will use community learning exchange (CLE) protocols to build trust and relationships, first among each other and then with the staff. The principal's culturally responsive teaching development will guide the principal into planning and facilitating a CLE among the group, and eventually, the group will plan and facilitate a CLE with the staff
Exploring Text Animation in Motion Graphics
No full textMotion graphics are an essential element in the fast-growing modern world of media. They are an effective way to catch people's eyes in a visually fascinating way. In this project, I research the different variations of text animation within motion graphics, seeking to enhance my skills in this dynamic field. Introduced to motion graphics during a project for Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, I embarked on a journey of self-learning and experimentation. Recognizing a need to improve text animation techniques, the project's focus lies in exploring diverse methods of animating text elements using Adobe After Effects. By studying principles of design animation and storytelling, I aim to develop a portfolio showcasing various text animations, emphasizing effective communication and engagement strategies. Through research, experimentation, and application, I was able to refine my skills in text manipulation and Adobe After Effects proficiency, ultimately elevating the quality and impacting my motion graphics endeavors