Heart Rate Monitoring During Different Lung Volume Phases Using Seismocardiography

Seismocardiography (SCG) is a non-invasive method that can be used for cardiac activity monitoring. This paper presents a new electrocardiogram (ECG) independent approach for estimating heart rate (HR) during low and high lung volume (LLV and HLV, respectively) phases using SCG signals. In this study, SCG, ECG, and respiratory flow rate (RFR) signals were measured simultaneously in 7 healthy subjects. The lung volume information was calculated from the RFR and was used to group the SCG events into low and high lung-volume groups. LLV and HLV SCG events were then used to estimate the subjects HR as well as the HR during LLV and HLV in 3 different postural positions, namely supine, 45 degree heads-up, and sitting. The performance of the proposed algorithm was tested against the standard ECG measurements. Results showed that the HR estimations from the SCG and ECG signals were in a good agreement (bias of 0.08 bpm). All subjects were found to have a higher HR during HLV (HR$_\text{HLV}$) compared to LLV (HR$_\text{LLV}$) at all postural positions. The HR$_\text{HLV}$/HR$_\text{LLV}$ ratio was 1.11$\pm$0.07, 1.08$\pm$0.05, 1.09$\pm$0.04, and 1.09$\pm$0.04 (mean$\pm$SD) for supine, 45 degree-first trial, 45 degree-second trial, and sitting positions, respectively. This heart rate variability may be due, at least in part, to the well-known respiratory sinus arrhythmia. HR monitoring from SCG signals might be used in different clinical applications including wearable cardiac monitoring systems

A phenomenological approach to understanding the development of athletic training preceptors

Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only.This study has presented a comprehensive overview of athletic training preceptor development in District Four of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Clinical education coordinators (CECs) felt that preceptors with suitable resources and education would be able to positively affect athletic training students’ learning and educational outcomes. The educational program’s size and location influenced preceptor selection for CECs. Clinical education coordinators used a variety of methods to deliver the development sessions, and continually sought new, efficient ways to make it interesting, practical, and convenient for preceptors while focusing on the preceptors’ socialization with the athletic training program. The Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education (CAATE) may be able to provide guidance on adequate evaluation of preceptor development programs at it continues to refine and define athletic training education. Finally, this study concluded that CECs faced four major challenges: 1) time and buy-in of the preceptors, 2) development of the CECs role, 3) the CAATE’s role and development within clinical education and the support of CECs, and 4) legal issues were highlighted as a challenge to providing adequate clinical education experiences.Department of Educational StudiesThesis (D. Ed.

Standard Practice of Atmospheric Water Management Projects

Because it is viewed increasingly for its potential to augment the supply of fresh water as well as a reliable means for mitigating certain hazardous weather conditions, the use of weather modification technologies has flourished in recent decades. Consequently, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) some 25 years ago established working groups to develop manuals and other materials to guide the professional practice of seeding clouds to alter cloud processes for the increased production of rain water and snowpack as well as protection from deleterious weather events such as hail and dense fog

Human-specific transcriptional regulation of CNS development genes by FOXP2.

The signalling pathways controlling both the evolution and development of language in the human brain remain unknown. So far, the transcription factor FOXP2 (forkhead box P2) is the only gene implicated in Mendelian forms of human speech and language dysfunction. It has been proposed that the amino acid composition in the human variant of FOXP2 has undergone accelerated evolution, and this two-amino-acid change occurred around the time of language emergence in humans. However, this remains controversial, and whether the acquisition of these amino acids in human FOXP2 has any functional consequence in human neurons remains untested. Here we demonstrate that these two human-specific amino acids alter FOXP2 function by conferring differential transcriptional regulation in vitro. We extend these observations in vivo to human and chimpanzee brain, and use network analysis to identify novel relationships among the differentially expressed genes. These data provide experimental support for the functional relevance of changes in FOXP2 that occur on the human lineage, highlighting specific pathways with direct consequences for human brain development and disease in the central nervous system (CNS). Because FOXP2 has an important role in speech and language in humans, the identified targets may have a critical function in the development and evolution of language circuitry in humans

The unusual UBZ domain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae polymerase η

Recent research has revealed the presence of ubiquitin-binding domains in the Y family polymerases. The ubiquitin-binding zinc finger (UBZ) domain of human polymerase η is vital for its regulation, localization, and function. Here, we elucidate structural and functional features of the non-canonical UBZ motif of Saccharomyces cerevisiae pol η. Characterization of pol η mutants confirms the importance of the UBZ motif and implies that its function is independent of zinc binding. Intriguingly, we demonstrate that zinc does bind to and affect the structure of the purified UBZ domain, but is not required for its ubiquitin-binding activity. Our finding that this unusual zinc finger is able to interact with ubiquitin even in its apo form adds support to the model that ubiquitin binding is the primary and functionally important activity of the UBZ domain in S. cerevisiae polymerase η. Putative ubiquitin-binding domains, primarily UBZs, are identified in the majority of known pol η homologs. We discuss the implications of our observations for zinc finger structure and pol η regulation.National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Grant ES-015818)National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Grant P30 ES-002109)American Cancer Society (Research Professorship

Keep Austin Safe: Studying Mutual Aid Organizing Following the 2021 Texas Energy Crisis

This thesis investigates mutual aid organizing in the Austin Texas area by examining an extensive literature review on the history and methodology of mutual aid as well as the dilemmas that might arise with it. The literature review discusses mutual aid strategy throughout the coronavirus pandemic and in response to various natural disasters as an alternative to formal disaster responders like charities or other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Mutual aid is applied to Austin Texas and its history of gentrification, addressing how gentrified neighborhoods and communities disproportionately suffered during the February 2021 electric outage in Texas. The analysis of this thesis suggests that an emergency preparedness strategy can be an effective method for mutual aid organizations to strategize according to Austin’s history of gentrification and environmental racism. A guiding philosophy of transformative justice can guide how the community strategizes and targets their action toward protecting every community member, including and most especially the ones most likely to be impacted by structural violence and discrimination

High School Curriculum Outline and Unit Plan for Unit 3: Researching and Referencing for the Comparative Study

Before beginning the International Baccalaureate Art program, most high school students will have already spent a significant amount of time studying a variety of art genres and will have a solid understanding of art terminology and methods. This is because the program is designed to build upon prior knowledge and experience. This is true for the majority of schools that participate in the IB program. It is common practice for educational institutions that provide tough programs to insist that students complete prerequisite coursework before they are allowed to enroll in the challenging programs that the institution provides. This is done with the intention of better-preparing students for the challenges that they would confront in the rigorous curriculum that is being followed. This curriculum is designed for schools and students who don\u27t fit that mold and who are given the opportunity to participate in a rigorous college preparatory program at a low-income, inner-city high school, with the goal that it will help more students become the first in their families to complete high school and go on to college. For this type of course, there are no prerequisites for IB art and because of this, most of the students who enroll in it have very little to no prior experience and only a very basic understanding of even the most fundamental aspects of art. The purpose of this semester-long course is to prepare these students to pass the comparative study section of the IB Art exam. Students will be asked to do things like conduct research, rate artworks, and make intellectual connections as each criterion of the study is presented in stages, with a focus on information literacy and research skills. In addition, students will be given both formative and summative assignments to gauge their progress and understanding throughout the course. The research report they produce is an informative and visually pleasing digital essay. Over the course of the semester, students of all skill levels can benefit from the comparative study by honing their investigative and analytical skills and developing a deeper appreciation for the arts

Episode 1 : Jon Bomar

The GSBSE is the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering and is centered at the University of Maine. It is a unique collaboration between six research sites across the state of Maine connecting 150+ affiliated faculty and over 50 graduates students. In an effort to capture the breadth and depth of the work done by those in the GSBSE, I sat down with Jon Bomar, 5th year Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. student. We talked about his project, the serendipitous nature of research, and the importance of the process and creativity