Investigating risk factors for postpartum psychosis in bipolar disorder

Risk of postpartum psychosis (PP) is high in bipolar disorder (BD), however, factors influencing this risk are poorly understood. In particular, whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), anxiety disorders and a range of within-pregnancy factors increase risk of PP in BD is yet to be examined. Of within-pregnancy factors that have been investigated, most have been assessed retrospectively. Prospective studies examining risk of PP in BD are scarce. The main aims of this thesis were to a) examine the relationship between ACEs, anxiety disorders and the lifetime occurrence of PP in BD and b) investigate potential within-pregnancy risk factors for PP in BD using a prospective follow-up design. ACEs, anxiety disorders and lifetime occurrence of PP were assessed via semi-structured interview and self-report questionnaires in 504 parous women with DSM-IV BD-I. Withinpregnancy potential risk factors (including medication, sleep, obstetric and psychosocial factors) were assessed prospectively in 103 pregnant women with DSM-5 BD (n=84 BD-I/SA-BD; n=19 BD-II/BD-NOS) via semi-structured interview in late pregnancy (baseline); perinatal psychopathology was assessed via interview at 12-weeks postpartum. All data were supplemented by clinician questionnaires and/or psychiatric case-notes. Neither history of ACEs (p-values of 0.06-0.95) nor anxiety disorders (of any type; p=0.47, phobias; p=0.23, panic; p=0.53) were significantly associated with the lifetime occurrence of PP. 21% women in the prospective sample experienced PP within 6 weeks of delivery. In unadjusted analyses, an episode of mania/affective psychosis during pregnancy (p=0.001; OR 11.67, 95% CI 2.61-52.21) and loss of at least one complete night of sleep across labour/delivery (p=<0.01; OR 5.35, 95% CI 1.50-19.11) significantly increased risk of PP. After adjusting for known lifetime correlates of PP, mania/affective psychosis in pregnancy remained a significant predictor of PP (p=<0.01; OR 16.49, 95% CI 2.76-98.48). Further adjustment revealed prophylactic mood stabilising medication in the postpartum period had little influence in moderating risk of PP (p=0.61; OR 0.67 95% CI 0.14-3.16). No significant associations were found between withinpregnancy psychosocial or psychological factors and PP. This prospective study demonstrated that risk of PP is high in women with BD, despite use of prophylactic mood stabilising medication. History of ACEs or anxiety disorders did not influence lifetime risk of PP. Mania/affective psychosis with onset during pregnancy significantly increased risk of PP, over and above associations with known lifetime risk factors. Sleep loss associated with labour may act as a final common pathway in the triggering of PP. If replicated, these findings have clinical implications for managing risk of PP in women with BD. The role of neurobiological and medication related factors in the pathophysiology of PP requires further investigation in larger samples

Aviation Stress Management: A Holistic Approach to Aviation Education and Training

We understand aviation professionals require excellent training to optimally perform and execute highly specialized skillsets, intellectually, physically, and psychologically. Within the aviation industry, individuals are trained to operate, maintain, and manage, multi-million-dollar assets, yet are lacking the basic knowledge and fundamentals of their own body, including the stress response. According to a 2019 stress ranking survey, pilots rank 3rd for highest stress professions while transportation industry workers ranked 8th. Historically, aviation professionals have been left to address symptoms of stress to their own accord, impacting personal health and organizational safety. However, with the collaborative influence of health education, transportation safety, and medical research, the experiences related to stress and effective stress management can be positively supported and integrated into the educational process. By empowering students to effectively learn from, understand, and make effective choices around managing their response to stressors, they will be able to make choices in support of personal health and well-being directly influencing and enhancing skillsets, productivity, and job performance. In efforts to reduce educational stress and to better equip our future leaders in aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has embedded an aviation stress management course into the Air Traffic Management Curriculum, with anticipation to eventually integrate stress management education across campus programs. We believe a holistic approach to aviation education, including stress management education will have a positive impact on our next generation aviation industry professionals

Identification of nitrifying bacteria contained in a commercial inoculant using molecular biology techniques

Nitrifying bacteria play an important role in aquatic and terrestrial environments through the nitrogen cycle. Nitrification, one of the processes of the nitrogen cycle, refers to the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate. This process requires two types of chemoautotrophic bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). These bacteria are essential in maintaining an optimal environment for plants and aquatic organisms, such as fish. Current applications of nitrifiers include: inoculants for aquariums, biofertilizers, and nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants. This study wants to identify a consortium of nitrifers that can be used to produce sufficient nitrate for plants in a hydroponic system. Previous studies have shown that Fritz-zyme turbostart 700, a commercial freshwater inoculant has had success in a semi-hydroponic system, zeoponics. Our lab’s preliminary data has shown that Fritz-zyme contains more than the specific nitrifying bacteria. In order to create the optimal consortium, it would be mandatory that we know exactly what bacteria we are working with. Using 16s rDNA universal primers and PGEM-T easy vector cloning kit, this study will amplify the 16s rDNA present in different enrichment samples and clone it into the PGEM-T easy vector E. coli plasmid. The cloned plasmids are transformed into competent E. coli cells and sequenced to identify the bacteria present in each sample. This study will determine whether the current enrichment techniques being used are sufficient to eliminate the heterotrophic and sporeforming bacteria present in the original Fritz-zyme

Reducing Aversive Interactions with Troubled Students

This paper is about the impact of staff in-service education on the quality of interactions between staff and students at an educational facility for at-risk youth operated by the Orange County Department of Education. Data on the use of punitive behavior management techniques was gathered before, during, and after staff training in the use of more positive approaches to responding to disruptive behavior. Staff members use of punitive techniques as physical restraint and suspensions was greatly reduced following the training

Race to the Finish: Political Discourse and the Racialization of Immigration in the 2016 Presidential Election

This dissertation examines the racialization of immigrants and immigration in US political discourse, using quotes from candidates and their campaigns that were reported in three national newspapers during the 2016 presidential election. Two research questions guide this dissertation: 1) How did the candidates running for president in the 2016 presidential election extend racial meaning (i.e. engage in the process of racialization) to the topic of immigration? 2) What discursive strategies did candidates in the 2016 presidential election employ to give legitimacy to their positions and their statements on immigration? The racialization of immigrants and immigration in the political discourse was accomplished primarily through linking and conflating all immigration in the United States with Mexican and Latino immigration in particular. Themes the border and crime and criminals were thematically tied together, often co-occurring, while crime and criminals and family and community were the primary theme/counter-theme in the discursive construction of immigrants. The minor themes values, weakness and strength, and common sense, sanity, and intelligence frequently surfaced in the data as well. This data contributes to the existing literature on race, immigration, and political discourse by illustrating how presidential candidates employed themes and discursive strategies in order to argue for the existence of a particular racialized “problem,” for which their potential election was sold as the “solution.

Preparing Teacher Candidates to Meet the Needs of English Language Learners: The TELLs Certificate

A report on the development and implementation of the Teaching English Language Learners (TELLs) certificate program at Miami University, in Oxford Ohio

Practice Report: Student Health Ambassadors at Residential Campuses Contribute to Safer Campus Living and Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In summer 2020 six residential institutions of higher education (IHE) and the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Western North Carolina chose a collaborative approach to mitigating COVID-19 infection rates on campus. This approach shares the practices and successes of this concerted effort with a focus on a large public, medium public, and small private IHE. The campuses promoted a healthy and safe culture through a rigorous and transformational learning experience and focused on engaging Student Health Ambassadors (SHAs) in applying the Diffusion of Innovations model to peer-topeer gain-framed messaging for health. Three institutions’ programs are presented and cross-case analysis is used to illuminate transferable promising practices. Promising transferable practices across the schools include: selecting the right students, strong institutional support, the three Ps (positive, proactive and prevention-focused), building leadership skills, and peer-led campus culture change. Transferable insights from the practices at three campuses focused on the role and impact of peer-to-peer student health ambassadors on campus to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

Establishment of Standards of Practice at the Monroe Regional Information Center

The Monroe Regional Information Center (RIC) is part of an education service agency that provides technology support for instructional and administrative technology services. The Monroe RIC services 19 component public school districts in Monroe County, NY. Various administrative and instructional services are offered through the RIC. The problem statement is the 19 component districts of the Monroe I and Monroe 2 BOCES have stated significant concerns regarding the leadership, communication, cost and equity of Monroe RIC services (Rockefeller Institute, 2005). The purpose of the research study was to examine the RIC through the eyes of three stakeholder groups: Component District Superintendents, District Technology Directors and the RIC employees. An online survey was utilized to identify the perceptual gaps between the districts and employees. Consistent with the findings of the 2005 Rockefeller Study, identified differences in perceptions were identified as communication. responsiveness and views related to sole service providers. This gap in perception continues to impede the success of the Monroe RIC. Recommendations for_the RIC include developing a set of measurable goals and outcomes developed by multiple stakeholder groups. This metrics should be used for annual review of RIC service deliverable and revision of current service delivery standards in order to meet the needs of the component districts