Arabic beyond Arabic

Arabic is the best and the most complicated language of all time!” Even though this statement seems like an exaggeration, it is what I grew up hearing; from my Arab parents as a child, my Arab teachers as a student, and my Arab customers as a salesperson. The Arabic language has a significant role in Arabs’ identity, yet most Arabs only scratch the surface and do not fully grasp the embedded meaning of the language. I have long been fascinated by the relationship between language and community as well as how it translates to design - specifically, the relationship between Arabs and Arabic. When it comes to designing with Arabic, most of the spotlight is directed towards Calligraphy; in a lot of cases the Arabic language is not considered a priority but is applied to a design as a secondary element. The inherited pride that Arabs have towards their language is immense, yet the design language does not match it in complexity. The strong connection that most Arabs have towards Arabic results in disagreements amongst each other regarding the linguistics of the language. This thesis aims to uncover these behaviors and connections with the language by taking a critical design approach using interaction design to reveal hidden and apparent features of Arabic. This research encourages questioning current design methods and proposes alternative approaches by taking Arabic beyond its stereotypical aesthetical value and over onto its linguistic and behavioral significance

Small-xx evolution of jet quenching parameter

Concept of transverse deflection probability of a parton that travels through strongly interacting medium, recently introduced by D'Eramo, Liu and Rajagopal, have been used to derive high energy evolution equation for the jet quenching parameter in stochastic multiple scatterings regime. Jet quenching parameter, ${\hat q}(x)$, appears to evolve with $x$, with an exponent $0.9{\bar \alpha}_s$, which is slightly less than that of $x {\cal G} (x)$ where ${\cal G} (x)$ is the gluon distribution function.Comment: Version accepted in Phys. Lett.

PETA\u27s Objectification of Women

Over the last few decades, advertisements have objectified and sexualized women as a tactic to attract men into supporting causes and buying products. This research project focuses on the advertisements published by the animal rights group, PETA, People for the Ethical Treatments of Animals, and its deliberate use of degrading images of women to support its cause. PETA advertisements juxtapose barely clad women with animals or animal references, making the viewer see women as animalistic, out of control, and in need of taming or saving. Research shows that the results of such negative advertising tactics are correlated with increased aggression in male viewers, as well as increased acceptance of rape attitudes among men. Sexualized and objectified images take away from the purpose of the animal rights movement, making the audience reluctant to support the cause. Furthermore, these advertisements seriously jeopardize and undermine the women\u27s fight for equality in our culture.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1066/thumbnail.jp

The Mediating Effects of Positive Cognitions on Autism Caregivers\u27 Depression and Their Children\u27s Challenging Behaviors

Caregivers of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are prone to depression and psychological problems, which have an impact on their children\u27s challenging behaviors. Positive cognitions include specific positive thinking patterns that enhance one\u27s ability to effectively manage daily activities and promote mental health. The purpose of this research is to test the mediating effects of positive cognitions on the relationship between caregivers\u27 depression and their children\u27s challenging behaviors among 117 caregivers of persons with ASD. Positive cognitions were found to have mediating effects on the relationship between caregiver\u27s depression and their children\u27s challenging behaviors in this sample of caregivers of persons with ASD. Nurses are in a strategic position to include in their interventions those strategies that strengthen positive cognitions in order to improve the caregivers\u27 positive cognitions and well-being, which, in turn will have an impact on their children\u27s challenging behaviors

Online Positive Thinking Training Intervention for Caregivers of Individuals with ASD: Necessity, Acceptability and Feasibility

Background: More than 3.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Caring for children with ASD can be stressful and can be detrimental to the well-being of the caregivers (CGs). However, the adverse effects of caregiving on the well-being of CGs may be avoided with appropriate interventions. CGs of persons with ASD might benefit from a positive thinking training (PTT) intervention to help them cope with the stress of caregiving. However, the necessity, acceptability and feasibility for PTT in ASD CGs have not been studied. Objective: To examine the necessity, acceptability and feasibility of a six-week online PTT intervention designed to improve the well-being of the CGs. Design: Random assignment of ASD CGs to one of two conditions: (1) PTT online intervention or (2) Control group. Results: The mean score on the depressive cognition scale (DCS) was 20, indicating a high need of PTT to all enrolled CGs. High depressive cognitions in ASD CGs were associated with lower positive thinking (r = −.39; p Conclusions: Examination of the fidelity and effectiveness of the PTT are the next steps in the refinement of this intervention

Positive Thinking Training Intervention for Caregivers of Persons with Autism: Establishing Fidelity

More than 3.5 million in the US are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and caregivers experience stress that adversely affects their well-being. Positive thinking training (PTT) intervention can minimize that stress. However, before testing the effectiveness of PTT, its fidelity must be established. This pilot intervention trial examined fidelity of an online PTT intervention for ASD caregivers with a random assignment of 73 caregivers to either the online PTT intervention or to the control group. Quantitative data [Positive Thinking Skills Scale (PTSS)] and qualitative data (online weekly homework) were collected. The mean scores for the PTSS improved for the intervention group and decreased for the control group post intervention. Evidence for use of PTT was found in caregivers\u27 online weekly homework. The findings provide evidence of the implementation fidelity of PTT intervention and support moving forward to test PTT effectiveness in promoting caregivers\u27 well-being

Resourcefulness in African American and Caucasian American Caregivers of Persons With Dementia: Associations With Perceived Burden, Depression, Anxiety, Positive Cognitions, and Psychological Well-Being

Purpose Providing care to persons with dementia can have negative effects on caregivers\u27 physical and psychological well-being. This secondary analysis explored relationships among perceived burden, depression, anxiety, resourcefulness, and psychological well-being in 28 African American (AA) and 45 Caucasian American (CA) caregivers of persons with dementia. Design and Methods Descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to examine the hypothesized relationships in a sample of 73 caregivers. Findings CAs reported greater burden (t = −3.68, p \u3c .001), more anxiety (t = −2.66, p \u3c .01), depression (t = −2.21, p \u3c .05), and hostility (t = −2.30, p \u3c .05) than AAs. AAs reported higher scores than CAs on resourcefulness, positive cognitions, and psychological well-being. Practice Implications The study findings provided directions for the development of resourcefulness interventions to enhance the psychological well-being among dementia caregivers

Measuring Use of Resourcefulness Skills: Psychometric Testing of a New Scale

Highly resourceful individuals have been found better able to meet life\u27s challenges and to experience more positive health outcomes. Although psychometrically sound measures of resourcefulness exist and resourcefulness training trials show that the intervention increases adaptive functioning and enhances quality of life, there is no direct measure of intervention fidelity. This study examined the reliability and validity of an 8-item Resourcefulness Skills Scale (RSS), which measures the frequency with which intervention recipients use specific resourcefulness skills. The RSS was found to have acceptable internal consistency (� = .78), criterion-related validity (�\u27s = .50 and .52 with other resourcefulness scales), and construct validity (�\u27s =.38 and .53 with theoretically-related constructs). Factor analysis revealed two factors reflecting personal and social resourcefulness. Because the RSS queries respondents on their use of skills taught during resourcefulness training, it has potential usefulness as a measure for evaluating how well the training is translated into use of the skills in daily life