166 research outputs found
Nancy Hutson
No full textNancy J. Hutson is senior vice president of U.S. Exploratory Development and U.S. Development Sciences for Pfizer, Inc., in Groton, Conn. She is responsible for the progression of potential new drug candidates through the research and development process. She is also responsible for the U.S. Development Sciences organization, consisting of developmental research, drug safety evaluation, and the project management department. Hutson graduated cum laude in 1971 with a degree in biology and received her doctorate in physiology from Vanderbilt University in 1976. From 1976 to 1978 she was a post-doctoral fellow in clinical biochemistry at the Radcliffe Infirmary, University of Oxford, and from 1979 to 1981 she was assistant professor at the Pennsylvania State University\u27s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Hutson joined Pfizer in 1981 as a bench level scientist in diabetes research and led the company\u27s Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Research from 1985 to 1993. As vice president of strategic management for the Central Research Division, she headed Pfizer\u27s strategic planning for research and development efforts. She has served as a permanent member on the National Institute of Health Metabolism Study Section and received the Rosalind S. Yallow Research and Development Award of the American Diabetes Association. The author of numerous academic research papers, Hutson serves on the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of Connecticut and was honored in the YWCA\u27s 19th annual salute to women achievers in 1992. Hutson is married and lives in Stonington, Conn.https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/awards_distinguished/1044/thumbnail.jp
Neurodiversity & Placemaking in Exhibition Design
No full textof the place of art and culture in society, museums claim to have something for everyone. But, in reality, contemporary exhibition design is for a small percentage of the neurotypical population. Many visitors, especially the 10 to 15 percent of the global population who are neurodiverse, find contemporary exhibitions discomforting – from how subjects and themes are displayed, to the lack of inclusive design in environments. To ensure the exhibition-development process results in an experience that is safe, comfortable, and relevant for a neurodiverse audience, specific placemaking considerations need to be deliberately incorporated
Gaming as Therapeutic Modality for Military Veterans: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Program Design
No full textThis study synthesizes interdisciplinary evidence on game-based interventions for military veterans, mapping neurological mechanisms to clinically relevant outcomes while outlining design principles for community programs that leverage interactive media. The review characterizes how structured gameplay supports emotional regulation through attentional control, predictable feedback schedules, and reward-mediated learning that elevates motivation and mood; links to dopaminergic signaling and reduced rumination suggest plausible pathways for affective stabilization. Executive functions receive targeted engagement via strategy, puzzle, and action mechanics that demand working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, and rapid decision-making, providing ecologically valid practice with measurable transfer to daily functioning. Social architectures in multiplayer platforms and veteran-centered guilds reconstruct mission-oriented cohesion, improve perceived belonging, and decrease isolation, especially when paired with moderated peer support. Adaptive accessibility—exemplified by modular controllers, alternative input devices, and custom mappings—enables participation for veterans with mobility or sensory limitations and doubles as engaging adjunctive therapy for motor relearning and coordination. Virtual reality exposure systems operationalize graded, therapist-controlled re-engagement with trauma cues, combining presence, controllability, and biofeedback to enhance adherence and symptom reduction. Risk management addresses overuse, sleep disruption, and avoidance by embedding gaming within accountable routines, transparent goal-setting, and clinician or peer oversight. The article culminates in a translational framework—Veterans Play & Heal—that integrates creative game design workshops, therapeutic play sessions, adaptive equipment libraries, and museum or arts partnerships to align entertainment technology with rehabilitation, resilience, and identity reconstruction
Expanding the scope of interpersonal violence: An examination of violence, authority, and status within street harassment
No full textStreet harassment offers a unique opportunity to examine interpersonal violence among strangers and loose acquaintances. In this project, I conceptualized the issue of street harassment by foregrounding inequalities—positioning cultural understandings of gender, race-ethnicity, and sexuality—as central to the experience of harassment. Street harassment is analyzed using sociological and feminist theories in an effort to adequately contextualize the impact of these factors within the experience of harassment. Of particular importance to this project are the concepts of violence, authority, power, and control.
In the first chapter (Chapter 1), street harassment is examined as a phenomenon. I consider the impact of cultural understandings of gender, race-ethnicity, and sexuality on interpersonal interactions in an effort to demonstrate the complexity and variability of street harassment. Through secondary qualitative analysis of over one thousand cases of street harassment and an analysis of street harassment survey data (Chapter 2), I examine what the experiences of street harassment reveal about social inequality in contemporary American culture. I explore violence (Chapter 3) as it is experienced by targets of harassment in four metropolitan cities across the United States and their nearby college towns. A key finding of this study is that among all sites, harassers exploited a number of socially significant features in order to maximize their power and control within interactions (Chapter 4). The trends in these data suggest that harassers amplify harm by capitalizing on shared ideas of authority (Chapter 5) and rely upon the knowledge that bystander intervention is rare (Chapter 6). Of note, authority figures, like police officers and security guards, sometimes leveraged their positions of authority by harassing targets while in uniform. In addition, police officers seemed to rely upon the masculinized Blue Wall of Silence to ensure that targets of harassment did not seek recourse for harassment. Other authority figures, like some transport operatives, used their knowledge of sensitive information, like one’s home address or control over a vehicle, to implicitly threaten harm. Furthermore, family members, friends, employers, and bystanders compounded the negative emotions associated with harassment by tacitly condoning harassment and shaming targets for their behavior.
By highlighting the similarities of techniques used to harass strangers and abuse intimate partners (Chapters 3 and 7), this research recognizes the need for street harassment to be considered on the continuum of violence and points toward the overlap in research on violence and experiences of street harassment. This research provides a new perspective on street harassment as a seemingly ubiquitous form of interpersonal violence and identifies avenues of future research that applies this framework (Chapter 7).Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2021-12-01The student, Ashley Hutson, accepted the attached license on 2019-10-17 at 17:40.The student, Ashley Hutson, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2019-10-17 at 17:45.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2019-10-23 at 13:57.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #14506 on 2020-02-28 at 17:21:11Made available in DSpace on 2020-03-02T22:12:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 113869
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Neurodiversity and Inclusivity in the Workplace: Biopsychosocial Interventions for Promoting Competitive Advantage
No full textResearch has demonstrated that diverse teams perform better and are more creative and innovative. As such, many firms in industry have established DEI programs, especially those where forward-thinking design cognition are competitive advantages. These efforts correspond with a global talent and worker shortage and align with the realization that neurodiverse populations are eight times as likely to be unemployed, while most actively desire and seek work opportunities. The technology sector has been the first to consistently identify, build, and promote programs supporting the neurodiverse population, leveraging a largely untapped resource. With an estimated 15-20% of the global population considered to be neurodiverse, greater attention is being paid to the different needs and skills of this growing and diverse. To promote a potential competitive advantage, and address the needs of a neurodiverse workforce, certain firms are adopting biopsychosocial interventions in the workplace, including integration of behavioral education, redesigning hiring, resource training for managers, and environmental adaptations
Toward a Unified Neuroaesthetic Framework for Art-Based Interventions in Substance Use Recovery - A Review
No full textArt-based interventions have gained increasing recognition as complementary strategies for substance use disorder (SUD) recovery and prevention, yet the field remains fragmented across clinical art therapy, community-based programs, and expressive digital practices. This article advances a unified neuroaesthetic framework that integrates sensory regulation, narrative integration, and interpersonal synchronization as the core mechanisms of healing. Drawing on recent U.S.-based empirical studies (post-2020), the paper synthesizes evidence from multiple modalities, including visual arts, music therapy, dance/movement practices, and digital storytelling, each demonstrating measurable effects on craving reduction, stress regulation, identity reconstruction, and social connection. Neuroscientific insights are central: findings highlight how creative engagement activates dopaminergic reward pathways, modulates amygdala-driven stress circuits, and fosters neuroplasticity in memory reconsolidation. Practical program models—ranging from inpatient music therapy groups and outpatient movement-based protocols to community photovoice projects and digital media workshops—illustrate the adaptability of arts interventions across prevention, after-treatment, and clinical tiers. Policy and funding implications are also discussed, including opportunities for integration into Medicaid waivers, SAMHSA recovery initiatives, and hospital-based innovation pilots. By bridging art and neuroscience, the proposed neuroaesthetic framework positions creativity not as ancillary recreation but as an evidence-based therapeutic modality that aligns with circuit-level dysfunctions in addiction. This interdisciplinary paradigm provides a scalable foundation for future research, training, and program development, reframing art as a neuroadaptive technology for healing in the context of substance use recovery and preventative care
Autism in Females: Understanding the Overlooked Diagnoses, Unique Challenges, and Recommendations
No full textAutism Spectrum Condition (ASC) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects individuals of both sexes. However, females with ASC frequently remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to a range of factors, including gender bias in the medical profession, societal expectations, and a lack of knowledge about the unique challenges they face. For instance, the gendered subset of the population often struggles with social interaction and communication, relying more on analytical thinking, which can lead to difficulty in generating acceptable responses and behaviors. At the same time, females are more adept at masking their innate behaviors associated with the condition and hyper-focus on intense, immediate friendships. Compared to males, females with may also present with fewer repetitive and ritualistic behaviors and internalize emotions such as anxiety and depression, thus leading to a higher risk of suicide. Diagnosis inequality with males may be due to overshadowing by co-existing conditions, gender bias, and a lack of understanding of female-associated interests. Strategies for supporting females with the condition include providing concrete and visual information, offering incremental steps to structure transitions, understanding their aversion to change, offering guided choice options, and using social stories and factual evidence to help work through fears. Increasing awareness of the unique challenges faced by females with autism is crucial in improving support and understanding for them. Further research and training for clinicians and supportive resource materials for families and the wider community are necessary to reduce the impact of ASC on females and improve their quality of life
Enhancing Workplace Neuro Health and Productivity: The Synergy of Wearable Technology with Biophilic and Oxygenation Strategies
No full textIn the contemporary workplace, where a staggering 62% of employees reported experiencing burnout in 2023 according to a Medium article, the integration of wearable technology with biophilic and oxygenation strategies emerges as a vital Neurohemal initiative. This approach is particularly relevant for supporting neurodivergent individuals, as well as those recovering from stroke and long-COVID, in the context of return-to-office mandates. The article underscores the significance of research on increased hydrostatic pressure in circulation, particularly its impact on spinal and spinal cord blood flow during water immersion. This insight lays the groundwork for innovations like non-wet water massage devices, which could significantly aid in neurological recovery, thereby facilitating smoother reintegration into the workplace. Moreover, the fusion of biometrics with medical technology in wearables is explored, with a focus on enhancing interoception and proprioception. This technological synergy is key in activating the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), inducing a relaxed state conducive to effective digestion and oxygenation, crucial in mitigating workplace stress. The concept of ‘Interoceptive in Water’ is examined for its potential to improve blood flow and overall bodily function. In addition, the article advocates for the introduction of oxygenation bars in office spaces. These bars would offer a dedicated environment for enhanced oxygen intake, vital for cognitive function and stress alleviation, benefitting neurodivergent individuals, stroke survivors, and long-COVID patients. Wearables capable of detecting and correcting low oxygen or circulation issues are highlighted as essential tools for fostering a more inclusive, productive, and healthier workplace, thereby contributing to the overarching goal of NeuroHealth in the professional sphere
Resonant Perceptions: Exploring Autistic Aesthetics through Embodied Cognition
No full textThis study investigates the nuanced realm of aesthetic preferences among individuals with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) compared to neurotypical individuals, addressing a significant gap in understanding the diverse perceptual experiences within the neurodiverse community. The impetus for this study stems from the growing recognition of neurodiversity and the need to appreciate how individuals with ASC uniquely experience and interpret their environment, particularly in the context of aesthetics. Employing a dual-method approach, the research integrates data from comprehensive surveys and in-depth interviews to construct a comparative analysis of aesthetic preferences and experiences. Participants encompassed a broad demographic spectrum, ensuring a diverse and representative sample. The results are revelatory, highlighting stark contrasts in aesthetic appreciation and sensory processing between the ASC and neurotypical groups. Individuals with ASC exhibited distinct aesthetic inclinations, differing markedly from neurotypical preferences across various sensory stimuli. These findings are not indicative of mere deviations from a normative baseline but rather represent a rich, alternative perspective of sensory and aesthetic experience intrinsic to the neurodiverse population. This study not only enhances our understanding of autistic aesthetics but also signals the necessity for future research to embrace and incorporate these divergent preferences, underscoring the importance of neurodiversity in enriching the collective human experience of beauty and art
Neurological Foundations and Technological Interventions for Dyslexia: Advancements and Challenges
No full textDyslexia, a complex neurological condition affecting reading and language processing, is intricately tied to variations in brain structure and function. This article explores the neurological underpinnings of dyslexia, emphasizing phonological, visual, and attention-related impairments. Furthermore, the analysis highlights various types of dyslexia—phonological, surface, rapid automatized naming, and visual—while addressing their neurological correlations. It also investigates the relationship between dyslexia and other neurodivergent conditions, such as autism and ADHD, focusing on the neurological overlap and differences. To mitigate the challenges associated with dyslexia, advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and eye-tracking are discussed for their diagnostic and intervention potential. These tools allow for immersive assessments, personalized interventions, and dynamic text adjustments tailored to dyslexic individuals’ needs. The article also delves into the systemic barriers to dyslexia diagnosis and intervention, advocating for insurance coverage reforms and alternative financial tools like Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and ABLE accounts. By providing a comprehensive overview of dyslexia’s neurological and technological dimensions, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the condition and explores how emerging innovations can address both diagnostic and intervention gaps
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