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Fairy Tales and Substance Use Disorder: An Art Therapy Method
No full textThis paper describes the development of an art therapy method that uses fairy tale imagery in a group session with adults diagnosed with substance use disorder. This method was developed to allow individuals to process past traumatic experiences through the use of metaphor. After implementation of the method, there were noticeable themes that highlighted increased defense mechanisms, as well as group universality. There are recommendations for improvement of the method, as well as reflection of the process and insight for future exploration and research.M.A., Art Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201
Communication Impressions: A Printmaking Method for Children in an Elementary School Setting
No full textThe development of this method investigated how printmaking processes can be implemented into art therapy practices in an educational system for youth to address social and emotional communication. This was investigated through the blending of child-based group therapy approaches, school-based art therapy models, hybrid contemporary printmaking practices, art therapy printmaking, and Expressive Therapies Continuum frameworks. This method adapted how printmaking tools, techniques, and materials are used with school youth to be safe and accessible for social and emotional engagement, as well as addressed multiple developmental levels of student youth through specified printmaking processes. The elementary school setting was a fixed structure in which the printmaking method was facilitated through scheduled time frames for set up, safety, and therapeutic processing. The general student body, including particular students in the Art Therapy program, had a specific community culture of educational focus, behavioral expectation and social language that influenced the development of the method. Printmaking was the chosen adaptable media due to its historical and contemporary impact as a communication form for people. It shares information to others, celebrates practices in a collective holding space for individual and collaborative efforts, and the indirect process and product of the artmaking strengthens new perspective of one’s own creativity and understanding.M.A., Art Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201
Comprehensive Analysis of Subtelomeres by Genome Mapping and Sequencing
No full textDetailed comprehensive knowledge of the structures of individual long-range telomere-terminal haplotypes are needed to understand their impact on telomere function, and to delineate the population structure and evolution of subtelomere regions. However, the abundance of large evolutionarily recent segmental duplications and high levels of large structural variations have complicated both the mapping and sequence characterization of human subtelomere regions. Here, I use a highly automated whole genome mapping technology in nano-channel arrays to analyze large terminal human chromosome segments extending from chromosome-specific subtelomere sequences through subtelomeric repeat regions to terminal (TTAGGG)n repeat tracts. I analyzed 154 human genomes from 26 populations to present a comprehensive look at human subtelomere structure and variation. The results catalog many novel long-range subtelomere haplotypes and determine the frequencies and contexts of specific subtelomeric duplicons on each chromosome arm, helping to clarify the currently ambiguous nature of many specific subtelomere structures as represented in the current reference sequence (hg38). The organization and content of some duplicons in subtelomeres appear to show both chromosome arm and population-specific trends. Based upon these trends, I estimate a timeline for the spread of these duplication blocks. The highly repetitive and variable short repeat elements (SREs) in subtelomeric regions present the significant challenges to complete the sequence assembly, as many additional copies of the blocks found through these methods are lacking in the current human reference. More often, the sequence reads (even the long PacBio reads) are aligned to the wrong locations in SRE regions as evidenced by high sequencing read coverage, and unusual allele distribution patterns in the aligned reads. Reads belonging to chromosomes lacking a reference copy of a block have been aligned to copies on other chromosomes that are present in the reference. I present a method for realigning and assigning these sequence reads to correct SREs. Long PacBio sequencing reads from each reference copy of these SRE blocks were pooled into consensus haplotypes based on allele distributions and combinations. Haplotypes were reassigned to the correct chromosome arms by evaluating their similarity to the reference copies of the block. I also used 10x Genomics Linked-Read sequencing data to assign the haplotypes to the extra SRE copies that are not present in hg38 by linking unassigned consensus haplotypes to the unique, single copy regions of the chromosome arms. This work also provides a better foundation for clinical diagnostics and understanding variants in subtelomeric regions.Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering -- Drexel University, 201
Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics Associated with Hospital Acquired Clostridium difficile Infections at Hahnemann University Hospital: Identifying Risk Factors For Use of Indications to Receive a Clostridium difficile vaccine and for the Development of a Generalizable Predictive Prevention Tool
No full textClostridium difficile is a gut colonizing, gram-positive, sporulating, anaerobic bacteria that causes disease when toxins are released, leading to gastrointestinal inflammation and other associated side effects. C. difficile infections (CDIs) have been highly associated with age and length of inpatient hospital stay. Hahnemann University Hospital (HUH) serves a unique population of low income, minority, and young patients in a large, urban, tertiary acute care medical center providing this study a unique population of subjects to further test known risk factors of CDI and determine other potential risk factors that may not have been detected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We hypothesized that analysis of this cohort would reveal unique risk factors associated with patient characteristics and socioeconomic factors. Using a cross-sectional analysis of medical records from HUH, collected between 2014 and 2016, we analyzed 682 subjects in a 1:2 case-control ratio. Every lab confirmed Hospital-Acquired CDIs (228 subjects) were collected from medical records and considered as cases. Non-CDI controls (454 subjects) were randomly selected from the general hospital census and frequency matched for age and duration of inpatient visits. In the first aim, I conducted a test of proportions (chi-squared) to find if there are any significant differences between cases and controls by sex, race, ethnicity, where people were referred from, or insurance type--all potential confounders. This analysis demonstrated stark differences in insurance types (private versus nonprivate) between HA-CDI cases; 62% were Non-Private in comparison only 38% controls were Non-Private. CDI cases were more likely to be African American or Black, making up 53% of all HA-CDIs versus 48% of Controls. Just over half of all cases were males, the majority being between the ages of 46 and 64 years of age. Most patients with HA-CDI came from their homes before being admitted to HUH (66 %). These results do not reflect the CDC's findings that people over the age of 65 have a higher risk of developing CDI. Secondly, we analyzed potential environmental risk factors for HA-CDI in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey zip codes. In this analysis we collected zip code data on mean population, median household income, median age, household size, race, and education. These analyses showed no significant differences of any specific ecological factors, including neighborhood levels of poverty and education status when compared with Controls. This analysis showed that within Hahnemann's catchment area, HA-CDI risk factors do not reflect national trends but do reflect the local demographics. It also found that whether someone is on private versus non-private health insurance could be an indicator of risk for HA-CDI. In the discussion, I review why HA-CDI surveillance may be most effective at the local level focusing on the demographics of the patient population of that hospital. Risk factors considered to be generalized may not be when a hospital's population is not representative of the U.S. general population.M.S., Biomedical Science -- Drexel University, 201
Intentions to Implement: Predicting the Use of Pivotal Response Training (PRT) in Public School Autistic Support Classrooms
No full textWithin the last two decades, increased attention has been placed on the identification and implementation of evidence-based practices for students with autism in school settings consistent with federal legislation, regulatory guidance, case law, and the impetus to improve outcomes for such individuals. However, even with an increasing wealth of studies investigating the extensive research-to-practice gap as related to community and public school settings, there remains an additional gap in understanding what elements inspire teachers to implement interventions in their classrooms. The purpose of this mixed method phenomenological research study was to explore autism support teachers' intentions to use and their use of pivotal response training (PRT), a naturalistic evidence-based practice rooted in the principles of applied behavioral analysis. Applying Fishbein and Ajzen's (2010) reasoned action approach (RAA) as a guiding theoretical framework, this research examined how the determinants of intentions (attitudes, social norms, and behavioral control) predicted autism support teachers' intentions and use of this practice with students in their K-5 autistic support classrooms. Employing a QUANTITATIVE-phenomenology (QUAN phen) sequential explanatory approach, this three-phase research study first collected quantitative data to develop and test the associations between constructs, later expanding upon these findings through follow-up phenomenological interviews with a subset of participants to surface factors impacting teachers' ability to act on their intentions and add an additional layer of depth and explanation to the results. The RAA was successful in predicting autism support teachers' intentions to run one-on-one PRT, finding that behavioral control had the statistically strongest relationship with intentions and was a significant predictor of them. The relationship between intentions and use was not found to be statistically significant, suggesting additional factors impacted autism support teachers' use of PRT. Qualitative findings revealed the themes were related and distinctive to autism support teachers' strength of intentions and use of PRT. The findings from this mixed methods study suggest that improving autism support teachers' behavioral control over PRT would increase the strength of their intentions and use of PRT and includes recommendations for practice and future research.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201
Investment Decision Making in Improving Multiple Sales Channels
No full textA supply chain, employing multiple sales channels, needs to continually enhance these channels for achieving competitive advantage. The purpose of this dissertation is to provide a systematic procedure for optimal investment decisions towards improving existing sales channels in a multi-channel multi-product retail setting. The research provides a channel-level benefit-cost analysis, as opposed to the common product-level profitability, through an integration of operations and marketing perspectives. The motivation for undertaking this study is the strategic investment decision, on the part of many established firms that typically utilize multiple channel structures, to enhance overall sale channel performance and, ultimately, improve the competitive position. In pursuing our objective, an analytic network process, that considers both customer priorities and demand correlations among channels, is suggested. Utilizing a proposed benefit-cost ratio metric for each channel, incorporating customer input information, as well as relevant operating costs, we outline a mathematical programming procedure for determining the optimal allocation of a limited investment budget among existing channels. Our suggested methodology is illustrated by several realistic numerical examples and some selected sensitivity analysis. The results show that the optimal allocation decision for the company changes as the desired level of service offered to the customers is varied. This finding is likely to be significant for real-world practitioners, from the standpoint of making effective investment decisions for channel improvement.Ph.D., Supply Chain Management and Logistics -- Drexel University, 201
Understanding the Desired Approach for Animating Procedurally
No full textOxford dictionary defines proceduralism as "A belief in the importance of instituting and following agreed procedure; strict or rigid adherence to a procedure as laid down (often with negative connotations)". Depending on the context, it's definition or the way its interpreted can be modified. In the field of animation, proceduralism is highly used to animate models dynamically, to behave like the life form the models imitate. The animation follows rules laid down by the animator. The process of Figuring out the right way to execute the animation might seem complicated but makes it worth it by rendering lifelike simulation of both organic and hard surface models which would otherwise be impossible to animate by keyframing. Physics based simulation(PBS) is a section of procedural animation which allows the models to animate and interact with the environment in accordance with the law of physics. The animator would require only basic knowledge of the principles of physics, biomechanics and human nature. By feeding the model which appropriate physics parameters like mass and force, a lifelike simulation can be achieved. The project involves the use of different animation platforms to utilize the different tools each provide, to test out different models. The chosen models are tested with the existing tools on these platforms. The models evolve through a series of trial and error until the suitable animation is achieved. The way I perceive proceduralism is a way to ease a process which could otherwise be complicated. By exploring different platforms and their similar yet different tools, I'd like to study and understand the better approach to simulating a given model.M.S., Design Research -- Drexel University, 201
Emergent Making: Material Expression, Character, Performance
No full textWhat makes an object special? Why do we have strong feelings towards these nonhuman things? Why do humans feel compelled to create objects and ultimately give them meaning? Through the act making can we find meaning in the objects, places, and events that we create and inspire us? Can we get at the root of what makes something special to inform new making practices either in design or art? The drive and passion of people to manipulate form, space, sound, smells, and taste and create new things is an old beautiful mystery, but how we go about doing it can determine the significance of the meaning imbued. Through our senses we have a reciprocal relationship to the ever-changing landscape of these things. It is in the activation of our senses that our world is painted and perceived. If we pay attention to landscape as a partner in this creation we have an opportunity to create new meaningful things and experiences that inspire us to look further into ourselves as well as gain a deeper appreciation for the nonhuman things that make up our existence. This project aims to discover the relationships in a making process and create a framework to guide designers and artists in their own practice of creating objects, spaces, and experiences that encourage us to challenge our own perceptions to inspire others through designed experiences. How does one create an experience that eliminates preconceived ideas to allow for the re-engagement of the senses? Through the idea of reciprocity in combination with the contemporary understanding of animism this book sets out to explore a new paradigm for making and perceiving with regard to design processes. It weaves together an emergent making process reliant on intuition and play, resulting in new object lead experiences. With these newly made objects and designed experiences the hope is to inspire awe. The objects and experiences are intentionally not named to allow for an open interpretation. By intentionally not naming an object or by keeping their name vague, we invite our conscious senses to experience “the spontaneous life of our sensing bodies”. The longer we can keep things abstract, the longer we will continue to interpret and experience with open minds. Imagine a person discovering an apple, or creating fire, or jumping in the ocean for the first time. Removing objects of their contextual history gives the viewer an opportunity to reengage the senses to define a new context, to give new meaning, and potentially provide a foundation for new ritual and new forms of thought.M.S., Design Research -- Drexel University, 201
Natural Genetic Variation and an Alternative Physiological State Modify Polyglutamine Aggregation and Toxicity in C. elegans
No full textMany human diseases are caused by mutations that induce misfolding and aggregation of the affected proteins, and are thought to result from failures in proteostasis. Pathways involved in maintaining proteostasis, when activated in model organisms, can suppress protein aggregation, but their activation can also have detrimental effects on organism’s physiology. Therefore, it is imperative to identify physiologically compatible targets of these pathways. Prominent characteristics of protein aggregation diseases include cell-specific susceptibility to the toxic effects of a ubiquitously expressed mutant protein and the variation in disease onset among individuals with the same mutant aggregation-prone protein. These characteristics suggest there are genetic or physiological modifiers which modulate both the susceptibility of cells and individuals to protein aggregation and the age of disease onset. Using a model expressing muscle-specific polyglutamine-containing transgene (Q40), we asked how natural genetic variation among wild isolates of C. elegans modulates the behavior of aggregation-prone proteins, and whether the adaptive physiological state, dauer, can protect against protein aggregation. Identifying the genetic modifiers of protein aggregation and their mechanism may point to new potential therapeutic targets. A large modifier locus from one wild isolate, DR1350, was identified that caused two genetically separable phenotypes: an overall increase in Q40 aggregation and a switch in susceptibility (referred to as Swis) of muscle cells to aggregation. I found that increased Q40 aggregation was caused by variants in a regulatory region of atg-5 that caused increased activation of autophagy. Although autophagy is thought to clear aggregation, I found that direct activation of autophagy increased aggregation in muscles but decreased it in the intestine. These findings show that interaction between autophagy and protein aggregation is dependent on the cellular environment. In the second part of this dissertation, I investigated the Swis phenotype, where the head muscles that are the most resistant to aggregation in the laboratory strain became the most susceptible in the wild DR1350 strain. A suppressor screen combined with genome sequencing revealed a nonsense mutation in UNC-54 (myosin), which suppressed the Swis phenotype. These findings provide the first evidence for myosin controlling susceptibility to polyglutamine aggregation, and provide insight into possible mechanisms for cell vulnerability. To identify physiological modifiers of protein aggregation that can activate proteostasis pathways without detrimental consequences, I employed the C. elegans alternative physiological program dauer diapause. Because dauer animals are protected against multiple proteotoxic stresses, but are able to return to normal development, I tested whether activation of dauer diapause can suppress Q40 aggregation. Surprisingly, activation of dauer did not suppress Q40 aggregation, but instead uncoupled aggregation from its associated muscle dysfunction. I found that [alpha]-crystallin chaperone HSP-12.6 can delay the muscle dysfunction when expressed in aging animals, without causing detrimental effects. Thus, physiological activation of an organisms’ proteostasis pathways can identify intrinsic modulators of protein aggregation toxicity. Unexpectedly, HSP-12.6 does not coaggregate with Q40, but may maintain myofilament structure during cellular stress, suggesting a novel mechanism for a small heat-shock protein. Collectively, these findings advance our understanding of modifier pathways of protein aggregation and provide insight into potential targets that can be modulated without negatively affecting the organism.Ph.D., Biological Sciences -- Drexel University, 201
Exploring Early Career Elementary Teachers Perceptions about their Preparedness and Professional Support in a Pennsylvania School District
No full textAs early career elementary teachers (ECETs) teachers have a direct impact on student achievement, it is necessary for universities and school districts to implement programs that support the first years of teaching. ECETs express frustration with the significant demands of teaching. Further, ECETs are severely disadvantaged by the lack of available support and assistance, which are necessary for them to manage their first years in the classroom. The problem explored in this study is that ECETs' perceptions of their preparedness and the induction supports offered are relatively unknown in a school district in southeastern Pennsylvania. This lack of knowledge could affect retention of ECETs. Exploring ECETs' preparation and supports could lead to higher levels of retention. Therefore, this researcher seeks to understand the experiences and perceptions of ECETs and the supports that they receive through educator preparation, mentorship, and professional development. The following central questions and two research questions drive this study: Central Questions: How do ECETs perceive their first years of teaching? How do these ECETs perceive the supports offered by District U, a school district in southeastern Pennsylvania? RQ1. What teaching supports offered to early career elementary teachers are perceived to be the most helpful toward retaining ECETs at District U? RQ2. How do early career elementary teachers describe their teaching support needs during the first years of teaching at District U? Up to 30 ECETs will complete the modified First Year teacher survey created by Vital. Then three to five ECETs will partake in semi-structured interviews with the researcher. The researcher will retrieve archival data pertaining to District U's induction programs designed to support their ECETs. Surveys, interviews, transcriptions, and pertinent documents will be analyzed. The data may highlight a great need for districts to sustain this ECET support through educator preparation, mentorship, and professional development.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201