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“Elegy for a Flower” - Remote Orchestral Session/Score-focused Film
Get PDFWithin the many aspects of a film exists the epicenter that is visual storytelling. Music production within film always becomes a point of discussion after the fact, as composers will use their musical expertise to aid the established vision of the filmmaker. Despite music technology having evolved to recreate the sound of an orchestra, the role of music remains the same. However, what if the roles were reversed? Through this endeavor, I sought out to find the impact of a multimedia work when music becomes the primary focus of storytelling. Explored in the past by Disney\u27s Fantasia and Phillip Glass\u27 Koyaanisquatsi , I decided to create an experimental film of my own. After writing a symphonic piece for orchestra, I utilized the fluidity within the music to begin storytelling. Gathering fellow peers and faculty from Dodge College, we embarked on adding visual/sound elements that complemented the ebb and flow of the music. These visuals consisted of beautiful closeup and landscape drone shots, as well as sound design to enhance the immersion of the shots. On the music side, to create a demo, I made use of \u27sample libraries\u27 — pre-recorded audio replicas of instruments. However, for music to create emotion, there had to be authentic emotion behind the performance. Thus, I contracted \u27Budapest Scoring\u27, a Hungary based orchestra that specializes in recording music for film. It would be an understatement not to mention that their performance brought my composition to new heights. Working virtually with an orchestra of such magnitude required meticulous sheet music preparation, as well as professionalism to steer the ship of the session. To be a professional film composer, it is my responsibility to not only know the entire process of bringing music to life, but also telling a story. In the end, the collaborative/filmmaking process allowed me to answer my question. In the end, creating an innovative take on cinematic storytelling granted me further enlightenment as a musical narrator
A Content Analysis of Common Relationship Challenges Among People Who Practice Polyamory
Get PDFApproximately 1 out of 9 people in the U.S. have engaged in polyamory (Moors et al., 2021), a relationship type in which all involved agree to have multiple romantic and/or sexual partners. Despite the commonness of polyamory, there are many misconceptions about the polyamorous experience. However, research has yet to examine common challenges that people engaged in polyamory endure. The goal of the present qualitative study was to identify the disadvantages and stressors of polyamory in order to shed light on the unique experiences of people in these relationships. 219 adults who were currently in a polyamorous relationship were asked what are the disadvantages of polyamory and asked to report a maximum of five responses. The research team developed a codebook of 14 identified themes (e.g., jealousy, emotionally demanding type of relationship, stigma and negative evaluations, and health concerns). Two independent coders were trained on the codebook and iterative feedback was provided after the first 30 participants\u27 data were coded. After coding 763 responses with an inter-rater reliability of 78%, the top four challenges were identified. Time management issues were the most common challenge identified by participants, making up 21.1% of responses. Stigma, jealousy, and emotionally demanding type of relationship were also most commonly identified in the data. The goal of this study was to identify common disadvantages of engaging in a polyamorous relationship. The results of the present study will benefit mental health professionals who are attempting to treat and support individuals who engage in polyamory, as many of these challenges may be presenting concerns in a therapeutic setting. Additionally, people engaging in polyamory may receive validation and comfort knowing that they are not alone in these struggles
Short-Term Benefits from Manual Therapy as an Adjunct Treatment for Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness Symptoms: A Preliminary Prospective Case Series
Get PDFPersistent dizziness and balance deficits are common, often with unknown etiology. Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (3PD) is a relatively new diagnosis with symptoms that may include dizziness, unsteadiness, or non-vertiginous dizziness and be persistent the majority of time over a minimum of 90 days. The purpose of this case series was to investigate short-term outcomes of reducing dizziness symptoms using a manual therapy intervention focused on restoring mobility in the fascia using a pragmatically applied biomechanical approach, the Fascial Manipulation® method (FM®), in patients with 3PD. The preliminary prospective case series consisted of twelve (n = 12) patients with persistent complaints of dizziness who received systematic application of manual therapy to improve fascial mobility after previously receiving vestibular rehabilitation. The manual therapy consisted of strategic assessment and palpation based on the model proposed in the FM® Stecco Method. This model utilizes tangential oscillations directed toward the deep fascia at strategic points. Six males (n = 6) and females (n = 6) were included with a mean age of 68.3 ± 19.3 years. The average number of interventions was 4.5 ± 0.5. Nonparametric paired sample t-tests were performed. Significant improvements were observed toward the resolution of symptoms and improved outcomes. The metrics included the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and static and dynamic balance measures. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores decreased (i.e., improved) by 43.6 points (z = −3.1 and p = 0.002). The timed up and go scores decreased (i.e., improved) by 3.2 s (z = −2.8 and p = 0.005). The tandem left increased (i.e., improved) by 8.7 s (z = 2.8 and p = 0.005) and the tandem right increased (i.e., improved) by 7.5 s (z = 2.8 and p = 0.005). Four to five manual therapy treatment sessions appear to be effective for short-term improvements in dizziness complaints and balance in those with 3PD. These results should be interpreted with caution as future research using rigorous methods and a control group must be conducted
Factors in Decision Making of Political Candidates
Get PDFWhat factors impact the decision to run as non-partisan over one of the major US parties? It is essential to analyze this phenomenon to determine the real motivations of candidates and the party they represent because they impact society as a whole. The candidates\u27 ideologies and how the candidates feel representing the parties\u27 ideologies are the main reasons for choosing non-partisan over one of the major US parties. This occurs because humans tend to work where they feel comfortable and in places with the same values and ideologies as them. It is the same in the case of candidates; they look to represent a party with whom they share ideologies. The dataset is taken from the Campaign Finance in Local Elections: An Eleven City Study, 1989-2007, which provides essential data on local politics. Specifically, data shows that the likelihood of candidates running non-partisan might decrease based on the type of political office
Fair or Unfair? Chinese Undergraduates’ Perceptions of College Classroom Assessments
No full textThis study aimed to extend the research on fairness in classroom assessment by examining undergraduates’ fairness perceptions of and their emotional and behavioral responses to college classroom settings in relation to personal justice beliefs and fairness dimensions at a private university in China. Organizational justice theory offered the theoretical framework for identifying major factors influencing students’ general fairness perceptions and their emotional and behavioral consequences for learning. The research employed a survey-based quantitative approach through a correlational design to show associations among fairness-related variables in hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Adopting a translated and culturally adapted fairness survey of classroom assessment, this study collected 2,242 valid student data for detailed analysis. The findings of the study revealed male and female students differed in fairness judgments, while high personal belief in a just world led to high global fairness perceptions of classroom assessment. Further, three major justice dimensions all contributed to the prediction of fairness-relevant models to varying degrees: (a) interactional justice was most influential in the formation of general fairness perceptions and the elicitation of positive behavioral responses for learning, (b) distributive justice was most predictive of students’ feelings while playing a role across all fairness models and slightly moderating the impact of procedural justice on emotional and behavioral reactions, and (c) procedural justice was not so prominent as the aforementioned justice types, but it did affect fairness judgments. From a sociocultural perspective, the core values of benevolence and meritocracy in Confucianism could better explain Chinese students’ reliance on interactional and distributive justice for classroom-based fairness evaluations. Overall, the results aligned with or deviating from previous literature on fair classroom assessments afford valuable insights into the reconsideration of fairness beliefs, code of behavior, and relevant practices in the Chinese context. Additionally, the study provides practical implications for Chinese instructors, university leadership, and policymakers to move toward a fairer assessment environment while indicating future research directions in sampling, methodology, and potential fairness variables of interest for refining the empirical research
Factors Influencing College Students’ Learning Satisfaction With Educational Videos
No full textWith the development of digital education worldwide, the Chinese Ministry of Education has accelerated the pace of building online education platforms. Especially during the COVID-19 global pandemic from 2020‒2022, online education produced a large number of educational videos. Educational videos have become supplementary teaching resources for teachers in the classroom and independent digital learning materials for students outside of the classroom. However, the rapid production of educational videos to meet teaching needs has led to uneven video quality and caused complaints from students.
This study was conducted in a private university in China, aiming to explore the influencing factors of learning satisfaction with educational videos by analyzing questionnaire data from 964 undergraduate students. Understanding learning satisfaction helps educational video designers pay attention to video quality during the video production process, thereby better enhancing the learning experience. This research constructed a new satisfaction model for educational video learning based on existing technology acceptance models, supplemented by the customer satisfaction theory, the interactive theory of distance learning and cognitive theory of multimedia learning. The research explored the impact of video quality, learning motivation, learning barriers, learning self-efficacy, and interactive behavior on students’ learning satisfaction with educational videos.
The research results showed that image clarity, learning motivation, and interactive behavior have a significant positive impact on learning satisfaction, and video attachment tools have a significant negative impact on learning satisfaction. Teacher performance and video attachment tools have a significant impact on learning motivation and interactive learning behavior. Learning self-efficacy has no direct impact on learning satisfaction, but it has a significant impact on learning motivation and learning barriers. Learning barriers have no direct impact on learning satisfaction, but they have a significant impact on learning interactive behavior.
The final results of the research summarized three dimensions of learning satisfaction with educational video: (a) affective response, (b) behavioral response, and (c) video quality. The practical implications of the research provided some insights for video designers to optimize the quality of educational video design, for teachers to develop their skills in using and producing educational videos
Perceptions of Metabolic Syndrome Management Utilization in relation with Patient Characteristics and Health-related Quality of Life
No full textChallenges in managing MetS include untreated risk factors and ineffective management, resulting in poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A significant factor contributing to these challenges is the underutilization of management services, possibly due to patients\u27 perceptions of disease management resource utilization (PMU). Therefore, understanding patients\u27 PMU is crucial for improving health outcomes. The study investigated PMU, explored PMU predictors, and investigated the impact of PMU and patients’ demographics on HRQoL. Using a cross-sectional design, data on perceptions of healthcare, medication, and pharmacy service utilization, prior experience with pharmacy services, demographics, and HRQoL were collected from adult individuals with obesity and comorbidities using validated tools. Purposive sampling was used to select 706 eligible respondents using criteria such as age, body mass index (BMI), and diagnosed comorbidities from the Southern states of the United States, including Washington, DC. Statistical analysis, including Kruskal Wallis, was used to investigate the distribution of PMU and HRQoL across demographics. Also, ordinal regression was used to build proportional odds models to predict PMU and HRQoL. Lastly, process macro mediation analysis through Haye’s Model 4 was used to explore the direct and indirect influence of PMU and other demographics on HRQoL. The respondents had an average of three comorbidities, a median age of 58, and an average BMI of 36.7 kg/m2. A proportion of 68.6% were between 45 and 64-years-old, while 71.1% were female. Only 32.6% of respondents had good PMU, with factors such as prior experiences with pharmacists, personality, gender, and education influencing perceptions. Mobility, usual activities, and pain/discomfort were prevalent dimensions affecting respondents\u27 health status, with only 4 in 10 individuals having good HRQoL in the Southern region. The study highlighted significant associations between HRQoL and factors such as age, race, geographical areas, household income, comorbidities, prescription drugs, BMI, and PMU. Notably, respondents with good PMU were more likely to have better HRQoL, indicating the importance of patient perceptions in healthcare utilization and health outcomes. Lastly, prior experiences with pharmacists indirectly influenced HRQoL through PMU, suggesting the need for healthcare providers to augment service delivery to enhance patient experiences, promote perceptions, and ultimately improve HRQoL
U.S Presidents in Africa After the Cold War: In Search of a Reason
Get PDFAfrica has often ranked low in priority when it comes to U.S. foreign relations. Often, the presence of a threat to U.S. interests in Africa sparks a redirection of U.S. leaders to Africa. The Cold War was one of such periods. This work looks at U.S. leaders after the Cold War, focusing on George W. Bush, whose policies in Africa are considered the most impactful and resource consuming. Scholars have, however, failed to put Bush’s approach to Africa in a broader historical perspective. Existing literature has analyzed Bush’s policies in Africa using programs such as the Millenium Challenge Account (MCA), initiatives such as the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), economic policies like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and military initiatives like the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
In trying to understand the motivations for Bush’s policies in Africa and put it in a broader historical perspective, this work draws on official documents such as the National Security Strategy documents, the Presidential Decision Directive, and Presidential Review Directive documents, which show historical continuities in U.S. policy towards Africa. The U.S. has often stated Africa’s importance in terms of market access, great power rivalry, and the promotion of democracy. However, a review of presidential documents reveal another major continuity in U.S. approaches to Africa in the post-Cold War period: a lack of an overarching, consistent strategy that addresses unique needs, risks, and opportunities on the continent
Identifying a Target Protein and Ligands for Autoimmune Disorders
Get PDFSystemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by unprovoked inflammatory responses that lead to tissue degradation. Patients suffering from SLE display an overexpression of master regulatory protein HIF-1 HIF-1is a transcription factor for pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A), which is highly involved in inflammatory reactions within the body. To search for a treatment for SLE, computer aided drug discovery techniques were utilized. The transcription factor complex for IL-17A was reconstructed through multiple protein docking techniques. The heteroprotein complex was profiled using 3D macromolecular visualization software and binding cavities within HIF-1 were calculated. Molecular docking simulations were run on the binding cavities of HIF-1in complex with 140,00 naturally occurring products from Coconut Database. Three suitable drug candidates for SLE were identified, all from different chemical classes and plant species
Real-World Dispensing of Buprenorphine in California During Prepandemic and Pandemic Periods
Get PDFIntroduction: The opioid overdose crisis in the United States has become a significant national emergency. Buprenorphine, a primary medication for individuals coping with opioid use disorder (OUD), presents promising pharmacokinetic properties for use in primary care settings, and is often delivered as a take-home therapy. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the scarcity of access to buprenorphine, leading to dire consequences for those with OUD. Most existing studies, primarily focused on the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak, highlight the challenges in accessing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs), particularly buprenorphine. However, these studies only cover a relatively short timeframe. Methods: To bridge this research gap, in our study, we utilized 33 months of California’s prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data to provide insights into real-world buprenorphine dispensing trends since the onset of the pandemic from 2018 to 2021, focusing on outcomes such as patient counts, prescription volumes, prescriber involvement, days’ supply, and dosage. Statistical analysis employed interrupted time series analysis to measure changes in trends before and during the pandemic. Results: We found no significant impact on patient counts or prescription volumes during the pandemic, although it impeded the upward trajectory of prescriber numbers that was evident prior to the onset of the pandemic. An immediate increase in days’ supply per prescription was observed post-pandemic. Conclusion: Our findings differ in comparison to previous data regarding the raw monthly count of patients and prescriptions. The analysis encompassed uninsured patients, offering a comprehensive perspective on buprenorphine prescribing in California. Our study’s insights contribute to understanding the impact of COVID-19 on buprenorphine access, emphasizing the need for policy adjustments