Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
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Study of lip musculature during speech and nonspeech production tasks using EMG-based outcome measures.
No full textNon-speech Oral-Motor Exercises (NSOMEs) are oral activities that are thought to influence speech production without actually executing speech (Forrest, 2002). A recurring question among studies investigating the clinical utility of NSOMEs is the possible transfer of treatment effects of NSOMES to speech production (Hodge, 2002; Weismer & Liss, 1991). Despite the ongoing controversy, a majority of speech-language pathologists continue to use NSOMEs to treat speech production deficits. At present, there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the use of NSOMEs. So, it is critical that we continue to investigate the transfer effects of NSOMEs to speech production, if any through empirical approaches. The current study aimed to address this ongoing controversy by employing electromyography (EMG) as the outcome measure. A total of 24 participants in the age range of 19– 27 years participated in the current experiment. All the participants were involved in a series of speech production and comparable nonspeech tasks. Data was collected through EMG sensors that were affixed to participants’ four quadrants of the lips during the speech and nonspeech tasks. The outcome measure was maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), which is an objective measure of the muscle strength and is typically obtained during isometric muscle contractions (Meldrum, Cahalane, Keogan, & Hardiman, 2003). Statistical analyses revealed that there was a significant main effect of the task, lip quadrants, and the stimulus. However, these main effects were qualified by a significant interaction effect between the task and the lip quadrant. The findings suggest that lip musculature behaves differently during speech and nonspeech tasks as evidenced by the %MVC values. The results of this study have implications to influence the use of NSOMEs in clinical practice, and subsequently service delivery models in speech-language pathology
Factors contributing to academic self-efficacy and well-being in undergraduate students of color
No full textThe purpose of the present study was to explore how sense of belonging, psychological sense of community, and aspects of self-compassion were related to and predictive of academic self-efficacy and well-being in undergraduate college students of color. A total of 90 participants completed an online survey which included a brief demographic survey, the WHO-5 Well Being Index (Topp et al., 2015), the Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003a), the Sense of Belonging Scale-Revised (Hoffman et al., 2002), the Collegiate Psychological Sense of Community Scale (Lounsbury & DeNui, 1996), the Academic Self-Efficacy and Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulated Learning Scale (Chemers et al., 2001), the Adult Hope Scale (Snyder et al., 1991), the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 Item (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Correlational analyses and a series of multiple regression analyses were conducted. Sense of Belonging and Psychological Sense of Community, when considered together, significantly predicted Academic Self-Efficacy among undergraduate students of color in this study, but did not significantly predict Well-Being in this sample. Additionally, the three positive aspects of self-compassion, including Self-Kindness, Common Humanity, and Mindfulness, were significant predictors of Academic Self-Efficacy for the undergraduate students of color, but they were not significant predictors of Well-Being for this sample. The implications for academic and counseling service professionals, educators, and other college student professionals include supporting college students of color in building their sense of belonging and community to their college or university, and their self-compassion, in particular self-kindness, and other interventions to enhance their academic self-efficacy as well as their emotional well-being. Further research could explore factors that promote the academic self-efficacy and mental health among college students of color throughout their entire university career to facilitate their college and university experiences and successes
Variation of soil suction and application of remote sensing in evaluating unsaturated soil behavior within vadose zone
No full textMoisture movement in pavements and road embankments is receiving more attention in pavement and geotechnical engineering. Water from rainfall is the primary source of moisture in soils. Following a rainstorm event, large quantities of moisture can be absorbed by the soil when the water migrates into the soil mass. The passage of moisture has an impact on the mechanical performance and functionality of the pavement infrastructure. When the pavement infrastructure is built on expansive soils, water flow can cause damage to pavements due to the swelling and shrinking of expansive soils through adsorption and desorption of moisture. Such damage can result in severe financial loss; in fact, the estimated yearly cost of damage from expanding soil problems is $2.3 billion in the United States. Oklahoma contains large expanses of medium to highly expansive clays. The state's largest cities are located in these areas, and significant and costly highway systems have been built to support the population density. These areas have relatively high average annual precipitation, which worsens the expansive clay problems. The swelling or shrinking of expansive clays causes distortion and cracking in pavements, reducing pavement service life. Thus, it is critical to understand how water moves in road embankments of expansive soils subjected to seasonal rainfall and to predict the vertical movement of pavements built on expansive soils. This study used Oklahoma Mesonet measurements to develop a data-driven statistical model for estimating soil diffusivity and soil suction in order to predict the movement of expansive soils over time. The first component of the study used unsupervised learning and a nonlinear least squares model to estimate soil diffusivity. The second component of the study presents a mechanistic-numerical model for predicting equilibrium suction that considers the diffusion coefficient's effects and uses surface field suction measurements. The final component of the study utilized Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technique for effective displacement monitoring using time series of SAR data. The study investigated the performance of moisture barriers on two state highways in Oklahoma, where expansive soils are a major problem
Portable near-infrared diffusive light imager for breast cancer detection
No full textWe present a frequency-domain near-infrared optical tomography system designed for breast cancer detection, in conjunction, with conventional ultrasound. It features fast optical switching, threewavelength excitations, and avalanche photodiode as detectors. Laser diodes at 660, 780, and 830 nm are used as light sources and their outputs are distributed sequentially to one of nine source fibers. An equivalent 130-dB isolation between electrical signals from different source channels is achieved with the optical switches of very low crosstalk. Ten detection channels, each of which includes a silicon avalanche photodiode, detect diffusive photon density waves simultaneously. The dynamic range of an avalanche photodiode is about 20 to 30 dB higher than that of a photomultiplier tube, thus eliminating the need for multistep system gain control. The entire system is compact in size (<0.051 m3) and fast in data acquisition (less than 2 sec for a complete scan). Calibration and the clinical experiment results are presented in the paper.Electrical and Computer Engineerin
“We are intimately connected with the earth”: Forager and wildcrafter constructions of nature and the future of food in Oklahoma’s foodscapes
No full textStudies on foraging argue that the practice is not merely associated with communities of the past. Sociological research examining foraging as a lifeway within the context of a wealthy nation, such as the US, is currently limited. Relying on 28 semi-structured interviews, more than 24 hours of observation, and 11 site-visits with foragers/wildcrafters across the state of Oklahoma, I highlight what is gained through the practice for practitioners, how they construct notions of nature, and explore their concerns and predictions on the future of food and nature. I accomplish this by asking: Why do people engage in foraging practices and how do foragers/wildcrafters construct the notion of nature within their foodscapes? What concerns do foragers/wildcrafters have regarding the future of food and nature and what solutions do they propose? Foragers and wildcrafters reveal their practices allow for both tangible and non-tangible benefits, including a deep connection with place and nature in the process of procuring wild edibles. Most practitioners consider humans as part of nature and uniquely view their surroundings as imbued with food and medicinal possibilities. Their constructions of nature make them critical of the function of current food systems and extractive industries within Oklahoma and on a global level. I employ literature on the social construction of nature, informed by existing literature on foraging as a practice, as well as critical discussions of food regimes and foodscapes. While participants make note of and take-on an array of solutions and strategies they carry out in their foodscapes, they also note a cultural shift is necessary to reframe how we construct nature in the dominant culture and adequately address environmental degradation and climate change. Despite concerns and even fears regarding the future of food, most participants remain optimistic due to their knowledge of the local landscape, their food consumption habits, and the resiliency of nature. Foragers’ knowledge of place and plant identification cause them to be intimately aware of local landscape dimensions and changes, making them experts in identifying concerns and potential solutions connected to larger food and nature futures
New stochastic pore-scale simulation and machine learning approach to predicting permeability and tortuosity of heterogeneous porous media
No full textA new 3D stochastic pore-scale simulation approach was introduced in this study to investigate how stochastic pore connectivity impacts the permeability and hydraulic tortuosity of heterogeneous porous media. Multiple three-dimensional pore microstructures with the same porosity, pore size distribution, and number of pores were created to examine the role that pore connectivity plays in permeability and hydraulic tortuosity of rocks. According to the findings of this study, stochastic pore connectivity has a sizeable influence on permeability but a comparatively insignificant influence on hydraulic tortuosity. In addition, there is a negative correlation between the amount of heterogeneity and the predictability of permeability based on hydraulic tortuosity. The study used four carbonate and five siliciclastic rock cores to validate the findings, and the predicted permeability was generally closer to the measured permeability than five popular empirical model equations. In addition, machine learning was utilized to optimize the workflow, which resulted in a reduction in the necessary number of pore-scale simulations by a factor of 157 and the reproduction of pore-scale permeability estimates was with a mean absolute percentage error of 10%. The conventional use of SEM and micro-CT technologies in generating pore microstructures was augmented through the addition of MICP data to capture high-resolution information in rocks at a representative scale. Pore microstructures generated through the approach were validated via a comparable permeability of the pore microstructure with the measured permeability of the rock sample modelled. The findings of this study has a broad range of geoscience applications including, petroleum exploration and production, carbon storage, environmental protection, and groundwater exploration
Investigation into transmission line radiation
No full textAn empirical study has been performed to investigate the radiation mechanisms that yield emissions from two-conductor transmission line circuits at microwave frequencies up to 8.5~GHz. The measured signal levels established by radiation from the test configurations within a reverberation chamber were compared with the levels radiated by a wideband dual-ridge antenna in the same environment. Three basic test configurations were considered, one in which the transmission line segment and full feed structure, including balun and feed plate, were contained within the chamber cavity, one in which the feed structure and feed plate could be isolated from the cavity, and a third with two distinct environments measurements of radiation from the feed structure and feed plate as well as radiation from the transmission line could be performed simultaneously.The measurements show that radiation from the line terminations dominates the emission within the cavity that contains it, including when only bulkhead SMA pin adapters were exposed to the cavity, independent of whether the line was a parallel-conductor, twin-lead line, or a twisted pair. Measured emissions from the two lines were only consistent with transmission line theory when the lines were passed through apertures in the chamber walls. The results suggest that the emissions can be modeled by adding a radiation resistance element at the connector location to standard transmission line theory
Protein SUMOylation and non-covalent SUMO interactions adapt to the stress of simulated microgravity
No full textMicrogravity, the condition experienced in space, is a stress on cells that can lead to a number of health risks for astronauts. One of the most profound effects of microgravity is on the cell's cytoskeleton, which is responsible for maintaining cell shape, structure, and function. Disruption of the cytoskeleton can lead several dysfunctions, including impaired cell division, DNA damage, and altered cellular functions.Despite the significant impact of microgravity on cell function, the molecular mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to this stress are poorly understood. SUMO, a small ubiquitin-like modifier, is known to play a role in the cellular stress response. SUMO can modify proteins through covalent attachment or non-covalent interactions, and it is involved in a wide range of cellular processes, including DNA damage repair, cytoskeleton regulation, and cell division.In this study, we investigated the role of SUMO in the cellular response to microgravity using the yeast model organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We used a combination of mass spectrometry and proteomics to identify SUMOylated proteins and proteins that interact non-covalently with SUMO in both normal gravity and simulated microgravity conditions.We identified 347 covalently SUMOylated proteins in yeast and determined that 18 of these proteins have altered SUMOylation levels following growth under simulated microgravity. We also identified over 1,500 proteins that interact non-covalently with SUMO, and 19 of these proteins have altered binding to SUMO under simulated microgravity growth conditions. Finally, we identified 34 proteins that are differentially expressed following growth in simulated microgravity. Many of these proteins are involved in cellular processes that are known to be disrupted by microgravity.Together, our results demonstrate that SUMO activities are altered by growth under microgravity conditions. SUMO modifications of proteins can alter the function and stability of these proteins, which could help cells to adapt to the challenging environment of microgravity. Our findings provide insight into the microgravity stress response which could be used to better understand how biological systems respond to microgravity
Psychedelic and religious experience
No full textMysticism and religious experience have been a contentious topic amongst philosophers and theologians for centuries. However, the use of psychedelics as a means to occasion religious experiences has only become an issue within Western philosophy in the past century. The controversy may be stated thus: cynics like R.C. Zaehner will claim that it is impossible for drug-occasioned religious experiences to have genuine religious value. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to determine if drug-occasioned religious experiences have legitimate religious value. First, I will provide a few definitions of religious experiences and psychedelic experiences, then I will discuss William James and W.T. Stace’s mystical beliefs. I will then provide Christopher Partridge’s treatment of Aldous Huxley’s philosophy and R.C. Zaehner’s attack on Huxley. After, I will describe Smith and his views on drug-occasioned religious experiences as well as the fruit they can produce. After Smith, I will discuss William Richard as he describes the modern implementation of drugs in religion. I will then conclude this essay by describing my personal beliefs on drug-occasioned religious experiences
Associations between social determinants of health and frequency of poor mental health days: A cross-sectional analysis of 2017 BRFSS
No full textIntroduction: In 2020, over 50 million adults in the US had a diagnosed mental illness. While the overall burden of illness among mental health disorders is great, studies continue to show increased mental health needs among US adults. Frequency of poor mental health days (FPMHD) has shown to be related to individual factors such as SES, race, and rural versus urban environments. Additionally, social determinants of health (SDOH) have been found to directly influence factors related to premature death. Assessing the disparities in mental health outcomes regionally and among sociodemographic variables may highlight predictors of mental health outcomes. Therefore, our objective was to examine the relationship between frequent (14+) poor mental health days and SDOH, and which states had the highest rates of FPMHD.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to extract data regarding poor mental health days and the SDOH module. We extracted sociodemographic variables to use as controls and constructed bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models to determine associations, via odds ratios, between SDOH and FPMHD. We visualized overall state-levels of FPMHD via a heatmap.Results: We found statistically significant associations between all SDOH variables in both the binary and multivariable regression models. The average number of poor mental health days per month was the highest in West Virginia (14.11 days), Oklahoma (12.94 days), and Mississippi (12.87 days). However, individuals in states that reported experiencing zero poor mental health days were the lowest in Oregon (58.7%), Utah (59.65%), and Arkansas (59.84%).Conclusion: Our study found that frequency of poor mental health days was significantly associated with all domains of SDOH. Providing expanded mental health care resources through the use of evidence based programs could improve average numbers of poor mental health days among US adults. Additionally, further investigation to identify the specific variables of each SDOH domain and their association with FPMHD is warranted to improve the efficacy and reach of available mental health resources