106 research outputs found
Ep025 about writing children's book, and teaching children about history and folklore in fun and exciting ways.
No full textCharis Cotter is an award-winning children’s writer, actor and storyteller who has worked extensively in schools telling Newfoundland ghost stories and encouraging students to collect local ghost stories from their communities. In 2013 she published The Ghosts of Baccalieu, a book of traditional ghost stories by students from Tricon Elementary in Bay de Verde. Her latest storytelling presentation, The Ghosts of Grates Cove, is an hour of ghost stories from one of the most haunted places in Newfoundland, Conception Bay North. We discuss Charis’ work as an author, how she teaches children facts through games and fun, school programs, and ghost stories
A National Representative, Cross-Sectional Study by the Hellenic Academy of NeuroImmunology (HEL.A.NI.) on COVID-19 and Multiple Sclerosis: Overall Impact and Willingness Toward Vaccination
No full textBackground: In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the constant needs of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and their caregivers were urgently highlighted.Aim: The present study aims to capture the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in several aspects of the quality of life of PwMS, in perception and behavior to COVID-19 and multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as concerning healthcare, working conditions, and the willingness toward COVID-19 vaccination.Methods: This study is an initiative of the Hellenic Academy of Neuroimmunology (HEL.A.NI.) and it has been included in the MS Data Alliance (MSDA) Catalog, which can be accessed after creating an account on . Two online questionnaires were administered: (i) impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life, behavior, and healthcare of PwMS (Questionnaire A) and (ii) vaccination against COVID-19 (Questionnaire B). People with MS were invited to participate by the Hellenic Federation of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (HFoPwMS).Results: Three-hundred-ninety PwMS responded to Questionnaire A, whereas 176 PwMS provided answers for Questionnaire B. Older age, longer disease duration, and higher MS-related disability were associated with the increased perceived sensitivity toward severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, as well as the increased perceived severity of COVID-19 upon potential infection. A significant proportion of PwMS experienced restricted access to MS-related health professionals, disease-modifying therapy (DMT) prescription, and/or to MS-related laboratory examination due to the pandemic. Subgroups of PwMS reported exacerbated symptoms (i.e., chronic MS-related symptoms, fatigue and/or worsening of pre-existing fatigue, and sexual dysfunction and or/worsening of pre-existing sexual dysfunction). Overall, the majority of the participants reported either a strong willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or a likeliness to undergo vaccination. Being aware of the HEL.A.NI. recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccination for PwMS were reported to increase the willingness of the participants to receive the vaccine.Conclusions: Our results highlight the necessity of scientific and patient organizations in taking joint action to increase awareness on health-related issues during the pandemic and to provide accurate and up-to-date guidance for PwMS. Online information and communications technology (ICT) tools for polling public belief and behavior may prove valuable as means of retaining active routes of communication between stakeholders.We would like to acknowledge Vasiliki Maraka and Moira Tzitzika of the Hellenic Federation of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (HFoPwMS) for rapidly and effectively bringing the initiative into public awareness via appropriate publicity measures, as well as the members of the General Assembly of the Hellenic Academy of Neuroimmunology (HEL.A.NI.) for reviewing the questionnaires and supporting the initiative
Dante's Beatrice ("dolce amica") and Petrarch's Laura ("dolce nemica") : "charis" and poetry
No full textTematem artykułu jest analiza dwóch najsłynniejszych postaci kobiecych w literaturze włoskiej, Beatrycze i Laury i roli, jaką ich charis, rozumiana jako uroda, wdzięk, ale także piękno wewnętrzne, czy nawet łaska w – przypadku Beatrycze – oraz pełen sprzeczności obraz wewnętrzny Laury rzutujący na stosunek poety do niej, odegrały w twórczości Dantego i Petrarki i w pojmowaniu przez nich celów poezji. Przedmiotem zainteresowania nie są historyczne cechy osobowości Beatrycze i Laury (nie wiemy nawet, czy ta ostania istniała naprawdę), a jedynie ich wyobrażenie literackie, obecne w różnych dziełach obu twórców. W analizie o charakterze interpretacyjnym autorka artykułu odwołuje się do "Vita Nuova" i "Divina Commedia" Dantego oraz do "Secretum" i "Rerum vulgarium fragmenta" Petrarki. Auto-dekonstrukcji miłosnej iluzji młodszego poety zostaje przeciwstawiony ewolucyjny wymiar miłości Alighierego: oba te zjawiska decydująco wpłynęły na rozwój ich twórczych osobowości.The article contains an analysis of two most famous female characters in Italian literature: Beatrice and Laura and the role which their charis performed in the oeuvre of Dante and Petrarch. The author also analyses the poets’ understanding of the functions of poetry. Charis was described as beauty, grace, but also internal beauty, or even mercy – as in the case of Beatrice, and an internal image of Laura full of contradictions which affected the relation of the poet to her. The object of the research is not the historical attributes of Beatrice and Laura (we even do not know whether the latter actually existed), but their literary representations existing in different works of both authors. In the interpretative analysis the author refers to "Vita Nuova" and "Divina Commedia" by Dante and "Secretum" and "Rerum vulgarium fragmenta" by Petrarch. The auto-destructive amorous illusion of the younger poet has
been juxtaposed with the evolutionary dimension of affection by Alighieri: both phenomena decisively influenced the development of their artistic work
Implementation of a class-wide intervention to teach behavioral expectations in Head Start
No full textChildren and teachers were recruited from two Head Start programs in a Midwestern city to participate in this study focused on behavioral expectations. Using a multiple probe design across four classrooms, the impact of scripted stories, role play, and prompts was examined. Teachers were trained on how to implement effective strategies to teach behavioral expectations to young children. Although a functional relation was not established, teachers implemented the evidence-based strategies with high fidelity which resulted in adherence to behavioral expectations for two child participants.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2017-12-01The student, Charis Price, accepted the attached license on 2015-11-19 at 16:13.The student, Charis Price, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2015-11-19 at 16:36.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2015-11-30 at 11:13.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #8812 on 2016-03-02 at 14:06:00Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-02T20:23:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Spatiotemporal analysis of the emotional state of elderly people who have undergone cognitive and physical training
No full textResearch on aging suggests that cognitive and emotional functions evolve on different trajectories along the adult lifespan. In general, cognitive functions deteriorate with age, while emotional functions are more stable or may even be enhanced in older adults (e.g. emotional regulation). Older adults exhibit a so called positivity effect in their attention and memory, by prioritizing the processing of positive compared to negative information. Several lines of literature support the phenomenon of successful aging, i.e. the maintenance of enhancement of a sense of emotional well-being and life satisfaction in view of the losses associated with age. It is obvious, that aging can have an insulating effect against affective disturbances and at least some of the affective disorders. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand the emotional functions along the adult lifespan not only for achieving the successful aging, but also for maintaining mental health. The research presented is considered timely and effectively sets the stage for future extensions, as it takes place at a time when, at least in the Western world, the aging of the population, also known as the 'graying' of the Western world, is a demographic phenomenon characterized by reduced fertility, reduced mortality rate and a higher life expectancy. The present doctoral thesis attempts to contribute to scientific research by investigating the spatiotemporal processing of emotion through neurophysiological recordings. The initial aim was to advance our understanding on specificity of the neural substrates associated with emotion in young adults. This step is the foundation for the subsequent understanding of the emotional changes (e.g. loss of specificity, de-differentiation) related to the physical or pathological neurophysiological changes that accompany aging. Finally, the interest shifted in investigating the potential neuroplastic changes induced by a combined scheme of cognitive and physical training as indices of deceleration of the pathological processes of the aging brain.Η έρευνα για τη γήρανση υποδηλώνει ότι οι νοητικές και οι συναισθηματικές λειτουργίες ακολουθούν διαφορετικές τροχιές δια μέσου της διάρκειας της ενήλικης ζωής. Σε γενικές γραμμές, οι νοητικές ικανότητες εξασθενούν, ενώ οι συναισθηματικές λειτουργίες είναι πιο σταθερές ή μπορεί ακόμη και να ενισχυθούν στους ενήλικες μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας (π.χ. συναισθηματική ρύθμιση). Οι ενήλικες μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας σε σύγκριση με τους νεότερους ενήλικες, παρουσιάζουν μια θετική επίδραση (positivity effect) στην προσοχή, και τη μνήμη τους, με μείωση της επεξεργασίας των αρνητικών σε σχέση με τα θετικά ερεθίσματα. Υπάρχει ένα μεγάλο σώμα βιβλιογραφίας που υποστηρίζει το φαινόμενο της επιτυχούς γήρανσης (successful aging), δηλαδή της διατήρησης ή ακόμα και ενίσχυσης μιας αίσθησης συναισθηματικής ευημερίας και ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή εν όψει των απωλειών που σχετίζονται με την ηλικία. Είναι φανερό, ότι η γήρανση μπορεί να έχει μια μονωτική δράση ενάντια σε συναισθηματικές αναστατώσεις και κατά τουλάχιστον κάποιων συναισθηματικών διαταραχών. Επομένως, είναι απαραίτητη η καλύτερη κατανόηση των συναισθηματικών λειτουργιών σε όλη τη διάρκεια της ζωής όχι μόνο για την επίτευξη της επιτυχούς γήρανσης, αλλά και για την διατήρηση της ψυχικής υγείας. Η έρευνα που παρουσιάζεται θεωρείται επίκαιρη και ουσιαστικά θέτει τις βάσεις για μελλοντικές προεκτάσεις, καθώς πραγματοποιήθηκε σε μια εποχή που, τουλάχιστον στο Δυτικό κόσμο, η γήρανση του πληθυσμού, επίσης γνωστή ως το ‘γκριζάρισμα’ του Δυτικού κόσμου, είναι ένα δημογραφικό φαινόμενο που χαρακτηρίζεται από τη μείωση στη γονιμότητα, τη μείωση του ποσοστού θνησιμότητας, καθώς και ένα υψηλότερο προσδόκιμο ζωής. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή επιχειρεί να συμβάλει στην επιστημονική έρευνα μελετώντας τη χωροχρονική επεξεργασία του συναισθήματος μέσω νευροφυσιολογικών καταγραφών. Αρχικός στόχος υπήρξε η ανίχνευση καθώς και κατανόηση της εξειδικευμένης λειτουργίας των νευρωνικών υποστρωμάτων που σχετίζονται με το συναίσθημα σε νεαρά ενήλικα άτομα. Το στάδιο αυτό αποτελεί το θεμέλιο λίθο για την μετέπειτα κατανόηση των συναισθηματικών μεταβολών (π.χ. μείωση της εξειδίκευσης, από-διαφοροποίηση) που επιφέρουν οι φυσικές ή και παθολογικές νευροφυσιολογικές αλλαγές που σχετίζονται με τη γήρανση. Τέλος, διερευνήθηκε η συσχέτιση μεταξύ των ενδεχόμενων νευροπλαστικών αλλαγών που επιφέρει ο συνδυασμός νοητικής και σωματικής άσκησης και της επιβράδυνσης των παθολογικών διεργασιών της γήρανσης του εγκεφάλου
Combination of Pretreatment with White Rot Fungi and Modification of Primary and Secondary Cell Walls Improves Saccharification
No full textPlant cell walls have protective and structural functions conferring resistance to degradation. The lignin and hemicellulose network surrounding the cellulose microfibrils is insoluble unless subjected to harsh treatments. As lignin, pectin and xylan are effective barriers to cellulose extraction and hydrolysis, reducing their presence in cell walls improves saccharification. Microorganisms that can depolymerise lignin are of extreme interest to the biofuel industry. White rot fungi can be effective in pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass prior to saccharification. Here, we show the cumulative effects of pretreating biomass with two white rot fungi, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes cingulata, on tobacco lines with reduced lignin or xylan, caused by suppression of the CINNAMOYL-CoA REDUCTASE, CINNAMATE-4-HYDROXYLASE, TOBACCO PEROXIDASE 60 or UDP-GLUCURONATE DECARBOXYLASE and on Arabidopsis thaliana with reduced de-esterified homogalacturonan content, obtained by overexpressing a pectin methyl esterase inhibitor or constitutively expressing the Aspergillus nigerPOLYGALACTURONASE II gene. Tests were extended to fresh material from an Arabidopsis mutant for a cell wall peroxidase. We demonstrate that fungal pretreatment is a reliable method of improving cellulose accessibility in biofuel feedstocks, fresh material and cell wall residues from different plants. These results contribute to the understanding of the consequences of primary and secondary cell wall perturbations on lignocellulosic biomass accessibility to white rot fungi and on saccharification yield. A comparison of the effects of P. chrysosporium and T. cingulata on tobacco saccharification also highlights the limitation of current knowledge in this research field and the necessity to systematically test culture conditions to avoid generalisations. © 2014 The Author(s)
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Atmospheric Monitoring and Precise Spectroscopy of the HR 8799 Planets with SCExAO/CHARIS
No full textThe atmospheres of gas giant planets are thought to be inhomogeneous due to weather and patchy clouds. We present two full nights of coronagraphic observations of the HR 8799 planets using the CHARIS integral field spectrograph behind the SCExAO adaptive optics system on the Subaru Telescope to search for spectrophomometric variability. We did not detect significant variability signals, but placed the lowest variability upper limits for HR 8799c and d. Based on injection-recovery tests, we expected to have a 50% chance to detect signals down to 10% H-band photometric variability for HR 8799c and down to 30% H-band variability for HR 8799d. We also investigated spectral variability and expected a 50% chance to recover 20% variability in the H/K flux ratio for HR 8799c. We combined all the data from the two nights to obtain some of the most precise spectra obtained for HR 8799c, d, and e. Using a grid of cloudy radiative-convective-thermochemical equilibrium models, we found all three planets prefer supersolar metallicity with effective temperatures of ∼1100 K. However, our high signal-to-noise spectra show that HR 8799d has a distinct spectrum from HR 8799c, possibly preferring more vertically extended and uniform clouds and indicating that the planets are not identical. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Japan's delayed antinuclear power mobilization after 3.11
No full textThesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Political Science, 2013.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections."September 2013." Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 99-112).The meltdown of Fukushima Daiichi's nuclear plant was one of three disasters that rocked Japan on 11 March 2011, a day often referred to as "3.11." This nuclear accident led to increased attention to and disapproval of nuclear power among the Japanese public. However, despite widespread antinuclear sentiment, the public did not mobilize into sustained mass protests until June 2012. Using historical and contemporary comparisons, this thesis shows that Japan's 15- month delay in antinuclear mobilization was unusual. Both the 1979 Three Mile Island and the 1986 Chernobyl accidents had been quickly followed by mobilized protests. Moreover, the 3.11 Fukushima meltdown prompted mass protests in Germany almost immediately. Given these patterns, one would expect to have seen the Japanese mobilize earlier. The question that drives this thesis is: What led to Japan's 15-month delay in antinuclear power mobilization? Using social movement theory, I test to see whether low levels of grievance, limited availability of resources, or the lack of effective mobilizing structure and strategy help to explain this delay. Of the three explanations, I find the mobilization structure and strategy explanation to be best supported. Due to a history of overlooking antinuclear power issues in Japanese civil society, the early post-3.11 movement lacked longstanding true believers and activists, the two types of participants most effective at mobilizing. Furthermore, the use of social media platforms to organize the early protests may have contributed to why sustained protests were delayed. The empirical findings from this thesis allow us to examine more closely the devastation resulting from 3.11's nuclear meltdown and assess the strengths and weaknesses in Japanese civil society after the disaster. On a theoretical level, these findings may encourage us to question the relevance of grievance to mobilization, refine how resource availability is measured, and ask if the growing use of social media and other online tools should change the way we study social movement mobilization.by Lin Ern Charis Teo.S.M
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