Can a comprehensive transition plan to barefoot running be the solution to the injury epidemic in American endurance runners?

Fossils belonging to the genus Homo, dating as far back as two million years ago, exhibit uniquely efficient features suggesting that early humans had evolved to become exceptional endurance runners. Although they did not have the cushion or stability-control features provided in our modern day running shoes, our early human ancestors experienced far less of the running-related injuries we experience today. The injury rate has been estimated as high as 90% annually for Americans training for a marathon and as high as 79% annually for all American endurance runners. There is an injury epidemic in conventionally shod populations that does not exist in the habitually unshod or minimally shod populations around the world. This has led many to conclude that the recent advent of highly technological shoes might be the problem. Although current literature has been inconclusive, there are two main limitations in virtually all of the studies: 1) transition phases of less than three months and 2) transition phases without rehabilitation exercises. These two aspects are key to the treatment of the structural consequences on the muscles and tendons of the foot and calf that habitually shod individuals have faced. This study includes a discussion of the cumulative consequences that lifelong shoe usage has on the development of the feet and lower legs. I propose a 78-week study that addresses the limitations of past studies by implementing a gradual, 32-week, multi-shoe transition complemented by an evidence-based rehabilitation program. I believe that this approach will restore strength and elasticity to muscles and tendons that have been inhibited by lifelong usage of overconstructed shoes and adequately prepare runners for the increased demand brought on by a­­­­­ changing running mechanic. This comprehensive, multifaceted transition plan to a fully minimalist shoe will provide novel insight into the ongoing barefoot debate. Can this approach finally demonstrate the proposed benefits of losing the shoes

Problem Solvers or Problem Creators: The Problem Solvers' Caucus and Polarization in the United States House of Representatives

In 2017, No, Labels, an organization dedicated to a return to bipartisan behavior in the United States House of Representatives spurred the creation of the Problem Solvers’ Caucus. The caucus established bylaws to encourage collaboration between parties, including forcing a bipartisan voting bloc and requiring each prospective caucus member to bring a member of the opposite party to join as well. Upon its creation, the caucus had different reputations—some thought it a refreshing group with a promising future, while others were skeptical about the group’s true motives. Despite any criticisms of the way caucus members conduct themselves, it is important to recognize how imperative its proclaimed goal is: a return to a Congress that collaborates, works through differences, and creates lasting, sustainable policy for our nation. In my thesis, I first explore the history of caucuses and the formation of the Problem Solvers Caucus. Then, I look at the bipartisan measures and methods of lawmaking the caucus is employing in order to steer the House to bipartisan behaviors. I next attempt to find the caucus’s effect on its members by examining the DW-Nominate Scores and Lugar Bipartisan Scores of members of the Problem Solvers’ Caucus before and after its creation to ensure that members are truly exhibiting bipartisan voting behavior as compared to the rest of the House. Ultimately, I find that the caucus and its members truly are more moderate and bipartisan non-caucus members, but that membership in the caucus has no significant effect on the level of bipartisanship in the House overall. Finally, I discuss the implications of my findings, and what it could mean for the future of our democracy.Plan II Honors Progra

Qualitative Study of a Mindfulness-based Smoking Cessation Treatment among Racially/Ethnically Diverse Adults

Introduction: Research suggests that mindfulness-based treatment may improve smoking cessation outcomes; however more research is needed to understand and improve these interventions for diverse populations. Historically, racial/ethnic minorities and low-income individuals have been underrepresented in mindfulness studies. It is critical to understand experiences with mindfulness training among diverse and underserved populations. Aim: The current study examined qualitative data from a diverse group of participants who received Mindfulness-Based Addiction Treatment (MBAT) for smoking cessation. The study provides insight about how mindfulness-based training is experienced by individuals of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, races and ethnicities and provides suggestions of ways in which to improve the program. Methods: Participants were 28 adult smokers (50% Black or African American, 32.1% Caucasian, 14.3% more than one race; 57.1% annual income \u3c $30,000) who received eight weekly 2-hour MBAT group sessions and nicotine patches to help them quit smoking. Participants then engaged in individual in-depth interviews describing their experiences and suggestions to improve the program. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and managed using NVivo 11. A team of coders reviewed the transcripts to identify salient themes. Results: Relevant themes included benefitting from practicing mindfulness and finding it helpful for quitting smoking; using mindfulness to cope with cravings and stress; expressing preferences for specific forms of mindfulness practices (e.g., body scan, walking meditation, yoga, etc.); discussing barriers and least preferred forms of mindfulness practice; describing mindfulness in their own words; appreciating social support offered through the group; and providing suggestions to improve the program including the use of technology (e.g., mobile apps and YouTube tutorials). Overall, participants indicated a high level of interest in continuing to practice mindfulness on their own and shared strategies for incorporating it into their daily lives. Most assessments of MBAT were favorable and the atmosphere was typically reported as supportive and non-judgmental, but some reported disruptive intragroup dynamics. When probed for ways to improve the program, participants consistently suggested offering more days and times for group sessions in order to accommodate different schedules, and using technology to enhance the program. Many wanted the program to continue beyond eight weeks. Discussion: Overall, mindfulness-based training was endorsed by individuals of diverse backgrounds (i.e., racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic) as being helpful and beneficial for smoking cessation. Greater accessibility and incorporating technology in the program were the predominant suggestions for program improvement

If You Build It, They Will Come: A Study of Imperial Design in Victorian Britain

The Crystal Palace (1851) and Paddington Station (1854) utilized imperial design in their construction as a tool to infuse the British public with pride in the empire. This study considered how the buildings were discussed in the press and other descriptive materials, such as guidebooks and architectural critiques to provide a general perception of how imperial propaganda utilized descriptions of imperial design to garner support for the empire. The study concluded that the impact of imperial design as propaganda for the empire was influenced by the function of the buildings. Attitudes towards imperial design varied, hinting at a division in Victorian society on the issue of empire

Historic Resources Study of Pullman National Monument, Illinois

This Historic Resource Study is a Baseline Research Report for Pullman National Monument. This HRS summarizes the historical writings about Pullman, provides context for the significant themes identified in its founding document, collates collections of primary documents and historical resources that are important sources of information on those themes, and recommends questions that will require additional study. These cultural resources include primary historical materials in archives and oral history collections, as well as architectural, archaeological, museum collections, or landscape resources. While this report includes new historical narrative based in original archival research, other sections present synthetic reviews of existing publications. National Park Service staff will use this document and included resources as they make management decisions and design interpretive programming. In addition to this report and its appendices—which are only published digitally—the research team deposited its entire library with the monument staff, including nearly 2,000 references and thousands of pages of digitally-imaged archival documents

A Study of Product Dissection’s Impact on Engineering Creativity

Designers typically interact with products during the early stages of design to gain an understanding of the solution space. However, few studies have been conducted to understand how these practices affect idea generation which thereby limits our understanding of the utility of these methods. Therefore, the current study was conducted to understand designer-product interactions in order to develop recommendations for their use during the design process

The Preferences For Creativity Scale (PCS): Identifying The Underlying Constructs Of Creative Concept Selection

The current study was developed to investigate the factors that affect preferences for creativity during the engineering design process through the development of a psychometric scale, the Preferences for Creativity Scale (PCS). This study also explores the impact of student designer\u27s scores on the PCS to their behavior during a creative concept selection activity

Diamondoid naphthenic acids cause in vivo genetic damage in gills and haemocytes of marine mussels

Diamondoids are polycyclic saturated hydrocarbons that possess a cage-like carbon skeleton approaching that of diamond. These ‘nano-diamonds’ are used in a range of industries including nanotechnologies and biomedicine. Diamondoids were thought to be highly resistant to degradation, but their presumed degradation acid products have now been found in oil sands process-affected waters (OSPW) and numerous crude oils. Recently, a diamondoid-related structure, 3-noradamantane carboxylic acid, was reported to cause genetic damage in trout hepatocytes under in vitro conditions. This particular compound has never been reported in the environment but led us to hypothesise that other more environmentally relevant diamondoid acids could also be genotoxic. We carried out in vivo exposures (3 days, semi-static) of marine mussels to two environmentally relevant diamondoid acids, 1-adamantane carboxylic acid and 3,5-dimethyladamantane carboxylic acid plus 3-noradamantane carboxylic acid with genotoxic damage assessed using the Comet assay. An initial screening test confirmed that these acids displayed varying degrees of genotoxicity to haemocytes (increased DNA damage above that of controls) when exposed in vivo to a concentration of 30 μmol L−1. In a further test focused on 1-adamantane carboxylic acid with varying concentrations (0.6, 6 and 30 μmol L−1), significant (P < 0.05 %) DNA damage was observed in different target cells (viz. gills and haemocytes) at 0.6 μmol L−1. Such a level of induced genetic damage was similar to that observed following exposure to a known genotoxin, benzo(a)pyrene (exposure concentration, 0.8 μmol L−1). These findings may have implications for a range of worldwide industries including oil extraction, nanotechnology and biomedicine