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An Investigation: How Long-Term Meditation Practices Serve As Change Agents For Positive Parenting
Full text linkThis research study investigated, analyzed, and compared stress, depression, and anxiety levels between parents who are long-term meditation practitioners and those who are not. By exploring questions related to the impact of mindfulness on parental stress levels, parent-child interactions, emotional awareness, self-regulation, and nonjudgmental acceptance, the research sheds light on the transformative potential of long-term meditation practices for mindful parenting. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative insights to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. The research included quantitative data from three self-report instruments and qualitative data from five case studies to explore the impact of meditation on parental mental well-being. The results showed the sample demographic (N=84) that currently practiced long-term meditation demonstrated significantly higher levels of mindful parenting on the Interpersonal Mindfulness Parenting (IEM-P) mean scale (M = 3.83, SD = .49) compared to the non-practicing participants (M = 3.58, SD = .33), with notable differences on the awareness, present-centered attention and nonreactivity subscales (p \u3c .05). Although, there was no statistical difference between groups in terms of stress, anxiety and depression; there was a trend towards lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression among long-term meditation practitioners. This investigative research on effective parenting practices offers insights benefiting parents, educators, and mental health professionals in helping families face the growing challenges of parenthood, providing a foundation for future interventions and support mechanisms to enhance the well-being of parents and children alike. Keywords: long-term meditation practice, mindfulness, mindful parenting, parent, parent-child relationship, parental stress, non-judgmental acceptance, self-regulation, transformational parentin
Evaluation of Avenanthramide-A as a skin penetration enhancer: In vitro and in vivo testing on permeation of Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and Diclofenac sodium from topical gels
No full textTopical and transdermal drug delivery are favored to deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients directly to the skin as an alternative to oral administration for systemic effects. In either case, the active molecules must cross the stratum corneum and epidermis to reach the site of action. The stratum corneum serves as a primary barrier limiting compounds from fully penetrating the skin. Therefore, it is necessary to add penetration enhancers to topical formulations to enhance drug delivery through the skin. Often, penetration enhancers are also irritant to the skin. Earlier research in our pharmaceutical laboratory showed that an addition of colloidal oatmeal, produced through fine grinding of oat kernels (Avena sativa), significantly improved the overall permeability of fingolimod hydrochloride from a topical gel formulation. Although, there was a need to further investigate which component of colloidal oatmeal potentially leads to permeation enhancement with minimal irritant effects. Colloidal oatmeal is all-natural powder containing a mixture of components and majorly antioxidants like Avenanthramides (AVAs) with a long history of promising effects in dermatology. AVAs are low molecular weight phenolic alkaloids which had never been examined before for penetration enhancement. Avenanthramide-A (AVA-A) extract was readily available from a Canadian biotechnology company to put to the test. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether AVA-A, one of the major AVA found in oat kernels, alongside AVA-B and AVA-C which are also prevalent in oat grains, may possess permeation-enhancing properties. In our study, Klucel 2% hydroxypropyl cellulose topical gels were prepared in laboratory with a high-speed homogenization technique using conventional excipients and active ingredients; magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) and diclofenac sodium (DCF). MAP or DCF 2% gels were found to be homogeneous, stable and maintained a consistent appearance with time. AVA-A at varying concentrations of 1%, 5% and 10% was added in prepared gels to assess its capability in MAP or DCF permeation enhancement through the skin compared to a control gel containing 0% AVA-A. In vitro studies were carried out with Franz diffusion cells. In vitro release testing studies used a cellulose membrane and in vitro permeation testing studies used an excised dorsal porcine ear skin. In vitro permeation testing studies showed MAP or DCF gels containing 5% or 10% AVA-A significantly (p\u3c 0.01) increased percutaneous permeability compared to control gels. Topical gels containing 10% AVA-A showed the highest in vitro permeation. In vitro studies presented a starting point that AVA-A may be a potential permeation enhancing agent. To further confirm in vitro findings, gels were evaluated in vivo in New Zealand albino rabbit model using dermal microdialysis technique to measure cutaneous pharmacokinetics of the actives. In vivo studies showed MAP gel containing 5% AVA-A increased dermal maximum concentration and area under the curve by 2.11 ± 1.81-fold and 4.02 ± 2.77-fold respectively. On the other hand, DCF gel with 5% AVA-A showed an increase by 2.56 ± 2.39-fold and 4.13 ± 3.48-fold respectively. MAP and DCF gels containing 10% AVA-A displayed an increase in dermal maximum concentration and area under the curve by 2.02 ± 1.60-fold and 1.83 ± 1.54-fold respectively, and 2.09 ± 2.00-fold and 3.71 ± 2.77-fold respectively. Topical gels containing 5% AVA-A showed the highest in vivo permeation. Addition of 10% AVA-A in vivo decreased the permeation of MAP or DCF, probably due to the rabbit skin developing resistance to the permeation of actives at higher AVA-A concentration. Besides, our study also estimated DCF disposition function within the dermis termed ‘dermal unit impulse response’ via retrodialysis/microdialysis (dermal infusion) approach. Comprehensively, both in vitro and in vivo studies showed MAP or DCF 2% gels containing 5.00% or 10.00% AVA-A has significant (p\u3c 0.05) permeability characteristics for delivery of actives to the skin. In conclusion, AVA-A may be a promising skin penetration enhancer of natural origin
The force without faces: Asian culture and its invisible role in Star Wars
No full textM.A. ITP Thesis Paper Abstract:
This thesis paper – The Force without Faces - Asians Culture and Its Invisible Role in Star Wars – analyzes the relationship between George Lucas\u27 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) and the works of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa\u27s Seven Samurai (1954) and The Hidden Fortress (1958), along with Flash Gordon (1936). The Western idea of a borrowed culture plays a significant role in crafting one of the most successful franchises in Hollywood history. Following Joseph Campbell\u27s The Hero with a Thousand Faces and other theorists, George Lucas takes the audience on a journey through space opera filled with imaginations in the galaxy far, far away...
M.A. ITP Thesis Production Abstract:
de L\u27Amour is a short film about Lily, a 19-year old Chinese-American girl working 2 jobs to help support her mother and baby sister while going to school. She is working towards the American dream of becoming a dancer on Broadway. Shooting with a Canon DSLR, it allows the production to move freely and seamlessly as the crew captures the vibrant life of New York City
The Effect of a Genomics Education Session on Nurses\u27 and Nursing Students\u27 Knowledge and Attitudes about Genomics in Practice
No full textINTRODUCTION: Precision health uses genomic information to individualize risk assessment for health conditions, personalize interventions, and promote health. Nurses are in a unique position to assist clients with understanding how genomics impacts their health and the health of their family members. Genetics information has been included in nursing education, however education on genomics and precision healthcare has not been consistently integrated into undergraduate nursing programs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of a Genomics Workshop for Nurses on knowledge and attitudes about using genomics in clinical practice.
METHODS: This quasi-experimental study assessed the impact of a 3-hour Genomics Workshop on 69 nursing students and faculty. Participants completed pre- and post-workshop surveys on genetic knowledge (GK) and attitudes towards genomics and precision medicine (AGPM).
RESULTS: No significant change in GK (p=.126) was found. However, a significant positive shift occurred in overall AGPM scores (p\u3c .001), and in social justice concerns subscale (p=0.22). Other AGPM subscales, like perceived benefits and privacy concerns, showed no significant change.
CONCLUSION: The study concludes that brief genomics education can positively influence nurses\u27 attitudes towards its clinical application. Integrating such education into nursing programs, as advocated by the American Nurses\u27 Association, is crucial. Further research should explore effective methods to enhance genomic knowledge and address specific attitude subscales, optimizing its inclusion in nursing curricula
Empowering Urban Youth as Environmental Stewards Through Citizen Science and Environmental Education Programs in Marine Park, Brooklyn, New York
No full textINTRODUCTION: As climate change intensifies, urban populations face unique challenges, such as the Urban Heat Island effect, pollution, and habitat degradation, which demand urgent attention. Over half of the world’s population lives in cities, yet many of these people are often excluded from environmental conservation discussions. Marine Park, Brooklyn, a neighborhood with over 25,000 residents, exemplifies this gap. Urban areas like Marine Park often face specific environmental issues, making active environmental stewardship even more critical. This is where citizen science and environmental education programs can play an important role in empowering urban youth to become environmental stewards.
METHOD: My research seeks to answer the question: How can organizations use citizen science and environmental education programs to encourage and empower urban youth to become environmental stewards in Marine Park, Brooklyn, New York? For this study, I performed an interdisciplinary mixedmethods case study on 6 youths aged 13-18 years, who live in Marine Park. The survey gathered data on their attitudes, behaviors, and pre-existing knowledge of the environment. Additionally, I used observational research to document their engagement in citizen science and environmental education programs, providing a comprehensive understanding of how these programs can impact youth in urban settings.
RESULTS: The main findings from this research are that all 6 youth participants reported a positive shift in their perspective on nature after volunteering with Marine Park Alliance, an environmental NGO, with many expressing a deeper appreciation, awareness, and motivation to act. Also, 5 out of 6 participants reported specific intentions to reduce personal waste, volunteer more, and participate in conservation efforts.
CONCLUSION: This shift highlights the transformative impact these programs can have on urban youth, increasing their connection to the natural world. My research and findings are evidence that organizations should prioritize environmental education programs and citizen science initiatives if they want to have an impact on urban youth and the environment
Treatment Delivery Method and Wellbeing: The Mediating Role of Internalized Stigma in Veterans with Serious Mental Illness
No full textINTRODUCTION: As the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift towards teletherapy, the present study sought to evaluate the comparative efficacy of treatment delivered via telehealth within the context of the Brooklyn VA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), an intensive, recovery-oriented outpatient program for Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI). The existing literature has suggested promising outcomes for telehealth as an alternative to in-person treatment at less intensive levels of mental health care. However, the efficacy of these modalities within intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), such as PRRCs, has received relatively little research attention.
METHOD: To address the gaps in longitudinal research on telehealth efficacy and change in stigma and wellbeing at higher levels of care, this study employed a retrospective chart review to assess changes in internalized stigma and wellbeing among 106 Veterans engaged in PRRC treatment. By analyzing this data, the study aimed to establish whether treatment delivery method (ranging from entirely virtual to entirely inperson) appears to influence changes in self-reported internalized stigma and wellbeing in Veterans receiving at least 3 months of treatment. A simultaneous multiple regression was conducted to assess the mediated relationship between these variables.
CONCLUSION: Regression analyses did not indicate a significant effect of treatment delivery method on change in stigma or change in wellbeing (b = -0.13, p = 0.90), indicating that remote treatment may be a viable alternative to in-person care for Veterans in need of higher levels of care. The analysis did reveal a significant relationship between change in internalized stigma and change in wellbeing (b = -4.52, p \u3c 0.001), indicating that internalized stigma may be a worthwhile target of treatment within this population
Glioblastoma Drug Sensitivity Prediction Using AI-Based Radiogenomic and Pharmacogenomic Methods
No full textINTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant, treatment-resistant brain cancer and thus deserves new innovative personalized medicine approaches. Artificial intelligence (AI) will likely transform with the addition of radiogenomics, a correlation between tumor genetics and imaging biomarkers on the basis of MRI information, and pharmacogenomics, and drug response prediction by genetic screening. By correlating multimodal MRI scan radiomic features with drug-response profiles and genetic signatures, the research proposes an AI system to forecast patient-specific drug sensitivities.
METHOD: The research will apply multimodal AI models to combine both datasets, collection learning methods for pharmacogenomic analysis, and deep learning models like convolutional neural networks for extracting radiomic features. Retrospective datasets (e.g., GDSC and TCGA) will be applied for comparing prediction performance of the model, and prospectively obtained clinical data will be applied for validation. Survival analysis, ROC-AUC values in case of binary classification, and accuracy will be key measurements of evaluation. Clinical benefit in terms of AEUR is anticipated from the creation of an AI-based decision-support device that will possess the potential to guide personalized therapy, decrease toxicity, and enhance patient survival. The detection of new non-invasive imaging biomarkers corresponding to some gene mutations and drug responses is a second objective of the project. Cloud optimization, multi-institution data training, and advanced normalization techniques will altogether alleviate problems of computational complexity, data heterogeneity, and generalizability of the model.
CONCLUSION: This finding could substantially transform precision oncology of brain cancer therapy by integrating radiogenomics with pharmacogenomics and AI. In order to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare expenditure, the proposed AI model can also function as a clinical tool to enhance therapeutic strategies. For practical application, further validation from clinical collaborations and regulatory approval will be needed
Virtual Reality as a Therapeutic Intervention for Adolescent Mental Health
No full textINTRODUCTION: Adolescents face significant barriers in accessing traditional mental health services, including stigma, limited availability, and lack of engagement. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, virtual reality (VR) presents a promising solution to bridge the gap between adolescents and effective mental health treatment. This research examines the potential of VR as a therapeutic intervention for adolescents experiencing anxiety, PTSD, and depression. Grounded in Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory, this study explores how VR enhances therapy engagement, reduces stigma, and fosters emotional regulation.
METHOD: This study employs a thematic literature review, synthesizing findings from 25 peer-reviewed sources published between 2010 and 2024. Research was collected from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Elsevier. Thematic analysis was used to identify key trends in VR therapy, including its effectiveness, accessibility, and integration into social work practice. Case studies and empirical findings highlight VR’s role in exposure therapy, social skill development, and personalized interventions. Additionally, this research examines how VR is being integrated into social work education to train future practitioners in innovative therapeutic approaches.
RESULTS: Findings indicate that VR therapy significantly improves treatment adherence and engagement among adolescents compared to traditional methods. VR-based interventions offer a safe, controlled environment for exposure therapy, allowing adolescents to confront fears gradually. Additionally, VR reduces stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment by providing private, immersive therapeutic experiences.
CONCLUSION: The research underscores the need for policy considerations to ensure equitable access to VR interventions, particularly for marginalized communities. Future studies should explore long-term effects and cost-effective implementation strategies to maximize the impact of VR in adolescent mental health care. By leveraging VR technology, social work practitioners can revolutionize therapeutic approaches, making mental health support more engaging and accessible for adolescents
Relationships Among Depression Symptomatology, Masculine Ideology, and Help-Seeking Attitudes in Adult Cisgender Men: A Moderated Moderation Model
No full textINTRODUCTION: In the United States and other Western countries, men are around three times more likely to die by suicide than women (World Health Organization, 2014). Despite this discrepancy, women in the United States are 1.6 times more likely to seek mental health treatment than their male counterparts (Wang et al., 2005). The current study examined how Traditional Masculine Ideology (TMI) and both internalizing and externalizing depression symptoms interact to influence men’s attitudes towards psychotherapy in the United States.
METHOD: The researchers looked at two aspects of attitudes towards seeking psychotherapy in a sample of adult cisgendered men (N = 245): 1) openness to seeking treatment for emotional problems and perceived value, and 2) need for seeking treatment. Two multiple regressions (moderated moderation models) were conducted to examine the interplay of these variables.
RESULTS: Internalizing depression symptomatology was associated with openness to seeking treatment, while TMI was associated with less openness to seeking treatment. Additionally, the presence of externalizing depression symptomatology was associated with a negative perceived value and need for treatment seeking. Furthermore, TMI inhibited men suffering from traditional depression symptoms (internalizing depression symptomatology) from seeking treatment, as TMI moderated the relationship between internalizing depression symptomatology and perceived value and need in seeking treatment. As TMI levels decreased, men suffering from internalizing symptomatology perceived more value and need in seeking treatment.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study should be used to understand how masculine gender socialization and prototypical masculine forms of depression (externalizing depression symptomatology) might limit men from seeking treatment, even when experiencing hopelessness
Borrelia Burgdorferi as a Cause of Fatal Necrotizing and Lymphoplasmacytic Myocarditis in a 6-Year-Old Female Labrador Retriever Dog
No full textA 6-year-old female (spayed) Labrador Retriever was submitted for necropsy after a fatal cardiopulmonary event. Most significant post-mortem findings were confined to the thoracic cavity. The lungs were enlarged, moist, diffusely red, and pliable, with subtle rib impressions more prominent on the caudal lobes. Sanguineous frothy fluid was present within the trachea and bronchi. The right ventricle was enlarged and presented multifocal, slightly shallow areas of reddish-brown discoloration, up to 1.5 cm in the largest dimension, on its epicardial surface. These foci, surrounded by poorly defined areas of pallor, were also found within the endocardium and extended deep into the underlying myocardium. Microscopically a severe necrotizing lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis with interstitial fibrosis was seen. Borrelia burgdorferi antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry (Rabbit anti Borrelia burgdorferi antibody) within the areas of myocardial inflammation. Lyme disease is endemic in the northeastern United States, and although seroprevalence in dogs from endemic areas is high, the disease is often subclinical. Clinical disease, when present, is manifested primarily by arthritis and nephritis. Lyme disease induced myocarditis in dogs, reported primarily in Europe, seems to be a rare occurrence. Lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis in this species is often interpreted as non-specific and likely the result of virus infections, mainly by canine parvovirus-2, canine distemper virus, or more rarely, West Nile virus. The finding of Borrelia burgdorferi antigens in the heart lesions of this dog suggests that Lyme disease associated myocarditis may be underdiagnosed and should be considered as a possible cause of heart disease in dogs from endemic areas