Investigating the utilisation of visual schedules within music therapy practice : a mixed methods thesis by publication

Visual schedules and other visual support materials are utilised within music therapy practice as a strategy to provide augmentative and alternative forms of communication for clients who require additional support. Writings on the use of these tools within music therapy have primarily focused on the population group of children on the autism spectrum; however, visual supports are being applied to a range of different population groups. A gap was identified in the published literature with regard to (a) the use of visual supports by Australian Registered Music Therapists (RMTs), (b) approaches for using visual schedules within practice, (c) research in using these tools with other population groups, for example families with complex needs, and (d) the contribution of the use of visual schedules when delivering music therapy online. Therefore, this doctoral research set out to investigate the utilisation of visual schedules within music therapy practice and contribute to the evidence-base by offering articles relevant to the noted gaps in the literature. This overall research project can be described as an iterative process including three phases: (1) ‘The Survey’, (2) ‘The Approach’, and (3) ‘The Application’; with the addition of ‘The Pivot’, a section addressing the issues of using these tools for online music therapy; and ‘The Focus Groups’, a section reporting on parental perceptions of visual schedule formats. Visual schedules serve an important function within music therapy practice as a strategy within the broader framework of augmentative and alternative communication. Although Australian Music Therapists were already utilising visual schedules and other visual support tools within their work, a systematic approach and model was needed in order to enhance the practice of using these tools and to add to the evidence-base. Within this research project, the MT-ViSA was developed. The application of this approach to a group program indicated it was beneficial for families with complex needs. The results suggest this approach may also benefit additional population groups. The implications for telehealth and clients with hearing impairment are yet to be fully explored. This research has advanced the understanding of the use of visual schedules and their contribution to improving music therapy practice knowledge. The findings provide a valuable contribution to informing improvements to enhance music therapy service delivery for a range of clients

Demonstrating Impact Through Replicable Analysis: Implications of an Evaluation of Arkansas\u27s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

The evaluation described in this article focused on the effectiveness of Arkansas\u27s Extension-based Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) but demonstrates an analytic approach that may be useful across Extension programs. We analyzed data from 1,810 Arkansas EFNEP participants\u27 entry and exit Behavior Checklists to assess reliability of the checklist tool and explore behavior changes. The results demonstrate continued effectiveness of Arkansas EFNEP in delivering impactful health-related programming. Details of our process may provide direction for program leaders in determining which programmatic areas need attention to improve outcomes and in identifying best practices within particular program areas

Groundsel bush (Baccharis halimifolia) extract promotes adipocyte differentiation in vitro and increases adiponectin expression in mature adipocytes

© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. An ethanolic extract of Baccharis halimifolia (groundsel bush, GB), which is a native Louisiana plant with documented use in Creole folk medicine, has been shown to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in cultured macrophages. Here, we examine the effects of GB on adipocyte development and function, as these processes are attractive targets for intervention in insulin resistance. Oil Red O neutral lipid staining, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunoblotting were used to measure GB effects on lipid accumulation, gene expression, and protein abundance, respectively. In differentiating 3T3-L1 adipocytes, GB enhanced lipid accumulation and increased expression of several adipogenic genes (GLUT4, aP2, ADPN, CEBPγ, FAS, and PPAR). Protein levels of two of these adipogenic markers (aP2 and adiponectin) were examined and found to be induced by GB treatment. In mature adipocytes, GB reduced the gene expression of resistin, a pro-inflammatory endocrine factor, increased the adiponectin protein levels in a time-dependent manner, and substantially attenuated the TNF-alpha-induced reduction in adiponectin. Inmacrophages, GB reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes thatwere induced by LPS. GB produces metabolically favorable changes in differentiating adipocytes, mature adipocytes, and macrophages in vitro, suggesting its potential use as a dietary supplement or nutraceutical to support metabolic health and resiliency

The Power of the Learning Community Model for the Development of Supervisor/Mentor

The article describes how learning communities, or communities of practice, are "groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly." How theological field educators share three distinguishing characteristics of a community of practice: domain, community, and practice

Weather Sensitive High Spatio-Temporal Resolution Transportation Electric Load Profiles For Multiple Decarbonization Pathways

Electrification of transport compounded with climate change will transform hourly load profiles and their response to weather. Power system operators and EV charging stakeholders require such high-resolution load profiles for their planning studies. However, such profiles accounting whole transportation sector is lacking. Thus, we present a novel approach to generating hourly electric load profiles that considers charging strategies and evolving sensitivity to temperature. The approach consists of downscaling annual state-scale sectoral load projections from the multi-sectoral Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) into hourly electric load profiles leveraging high resolution climate and population datasets. Profiles are developed and evaluated at the Balancing Authority scale, with a 5-year increment until 2050 over the Western U.S. Interconnect for multiple decarbonization pathways and climate scenarios. The datasets are readily available for production cost model analysis. Our open source approach is transferable to other regions

Artemisia scoparia enhances adipocyte development and endocrine function in vitro and enhances insulin action in vivo

Background: Failure of adipocytes to expand during periods of energy excess can result in undesirable metabolic consequences such as ectopic fat accumulation and insulin resistance. Blinded screening studies have indicated that Artemisia scoparia (SCO) extracts can enhance adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in cultured adipocytes. The present study tested the hypothesis that SCO treatment modulates fat cell development and function in vitro and insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue in vivo. Methods: In vitro experiments utilized a Gal4-PPARγ ligand binding domain (LBD) fusion protein-luciferase reporter assay to examine PPARγ activation. To investigate the ability of SCO to modulate adipogenesis and mature fat cell function in 3T3-L1 cells, neutral lipid accumulation, gene expression, and protein secretion were measured by Oil Red O staining, qRT-PCR, and immunoblotting, respectively. For the in vivo experiments, diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing 1% w/w SCO for four weeks. Body weight and composition, food intake, and fasting glucose and insulin levels were measured. Phospho-activation and expression of insulin-sensitizing proteins in epididymal adipose tissue (eWAT) were measured by immunoblotting. Results: Ethanolic extracts of A. scoparia significantly activated the PPARγ LBD and enhanced lipid accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. SCO increased the transcription of several PPARγ target genes in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells and rescued the negative effects of tumor necrosis factor α on production and secretion of adiponectin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in fully differentiated fat cells. DIO mice treated with SCO had elevated adiponectin levels and increased phosphorylation of AMPKα in eWAT when compared to control mice. In SCO-treated mice, these changes were also associated with decreased fasting insulin and glucose levels. Conclusion: SCO has metabolically beneficial effects on adipocytes in vitro and adipose tissue in vivo, highlighting its potential as a metabolically favorable botanical supplement. © 2014 Richard et al

Optimization of the design of OMNIS, the observatory of multiflavor neutrinos from supernovae

A Monte Carlo code has been developed to simulate the operation of the planned detectors in OMNIS, a supernova neutrino observatory. OMNIS will detect neutrinos originating from a core collapse supernova by the detection of spalled neutrons from Pb- or Fe-nuclei. This might be accomplished using Gd-loaded liquid scintillator. Results for the optimum configuration for such modules with respect to both neutron detection efficiency and cost efficiency are presented. Careful consideration has been given to the expected levels of radioactive backgrounds and their effects. The results show that the amount of data to be processed by a software trigger can be reduced to the <10kHz region and a neutron, once produced in the detector, can be detected and identified with an efficiency of >30%.Comment: Elsevier preprint; 29 pages, 23 figure

Matter-affected neutrino oscillations in ordinary and mirror stars and their implications for gamma-ray bursts

It has been proposed that the annihilation process $\nu\bar{\nu} \to e^{-}e^{+} \to \gamma\gamma$ may be responsible for the generation of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The incipient neutrino--antineutrino pairs carry virtually all of the gravitational binding energy available from the central engine. However, gamma-ray bursters proposed to date are inevitably surrounded by an excess of baryons, leading to the "baryon-loading problem". In the light of growing evidence for neutrino oscillations, we discuss the implications of matter-affected oscillations for GRB energetics, and on the viability of "mirror" stars as GRB progenitors.Comment: 12 pages, RevTe

Adolescents’ responses to the promotion and flavouring of e-cigarettes

Objectives The purpose of the study is to examine adolescents’ awareness of e-cigarette marketing and investigate the impact of e-cigarette flavour descriptors on perceptions of product harm and user image. Methods Data come from the 2014 Youth Tobacco Policy Survey, a cross-sectional in-home survey conducted with 11–16 year olds across the UK (n = 1205). Adolescents’ awareness of e-cigarette promotion, brands, and flavours was assessed. Perceptions of product harm, and likely user of four examples of e-cigarette flavours was also examined. Results Some participants had tried e-cigarettes (12 %) but regular use was low (2 %) and confined to adolescents who had also smoked tobacco. Most were aware of at least one promotional channel (82 %) and that e-cigarettes came in different flavours (69 %). Brand awareness was low. E-cigarettes were perceived as harmful (M = 3.54, SD = 1.19) but this was moderated by product flavours. Fruit and sweet flavours were perceived as more likely to be tried by young never smokers than adult smokers trying to quit (p < 0.001). Conclusions There is a need to monitor the impact of future market and regulatory change on youth uptake and perceptions of e-cigarettes

The Collective Submitted Works from Honors 2030

Students in the Honors 2030, Inquiries in the Social and Behavioral Sciences course each participated in the URS 2020 as their final project for the course. Dr. Wilson worked with each student as a faculty mentor to create, draft, edit, approve and publish each of the final posters and papers submitted to the 2020 URS for the course