The Effect of a Human Potential Lab Experience on Perceived Importance of Goals and Awareness of Strengths in Non-Traditional Aged Undergraduates

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a positively oriented group experience (human potential lab) on the awareness of personal strengths and perceived importance of goal setting in non-traditional aged undergraduates. The research questions that were posed were: 1) Does participation in the human potential lab experience increase the perceived capability to achieve goals in non-traditional aged undergraduates? 2) Does participation in the human potential lab experience increase the perceived importance of short-term goals to overall success in non-traditional aged undergraduates? 3) Does participation in the human potential lab experience increase the perceived importance of long-term goals to overall success in non-traditional aged undergraduates? 4) Does participation in the human potential lab experience increase awareness of strengths in non-traditional aged undergraduates? Results of ANOVA analysis across pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments indicated that participating in a positively oriented group experience was positively related to an increase in awareness of strengths, perceived ability to achieve goals, and perceived importance of both short and long-term goals to overall success. The data also strengthened the position of existing research, supporting conclusions regarding the goal orientation of adults, the efficacy of positive psychology interventions, and the life-span development of adults

Implementing Strengths-Based Programs for Adult Students

The influx of non-traditional aged, adult students into the student population poses a unique opportunity to colleges and universities throughout the United States. The needs of the adult student population differ greatly from their traditional counterparts, suggesting that institutions must adjust and adapt to the increased adult student population. This article presents justification for programs aimed at the interpersonal needs of adult students and details one possible implementation. The impact on student success and persistence are briefly discussed

Psychomotor stimulant self administration as a function of dosage per injection in the Rhesus monkey

The relationships between drug dosage per injection and response rate, and drug dosage per injection and total daily drug intake were ascertained in Rhesus monkeys which self-administered cocaine, pipradrol, methylphenidate and phenmetrazine intravenously. The study demonstrated the monkeys would self-administer all of these compounds over a wide range of dosages. Furthermore, the magnitude of reinforcement, i.e., dosage per injection, and the rate of responding in self-administering these compounds were inversely related. However, total daily drug intake was independent of the dosage per injection over a wide range of dosages. The results indicate that either the subjects can compensate for large changes in unit dosage so that daily drug intake remains stable or that a direct effect of these compounds functions in limiting their self-administration.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46379/1/213_2004_Article_BF00401789.pd

Transhiatal esophagectomy in the profoundly obese: implications and experience.

BACKGROUND: Historically, obesity contraindicated an abdominal approach to the esophagogastric junction. The technique of transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) evolved without specific regard to body habitus. The dramatic increase in obese patients requiring an esophagectomy for complications of reflux disease prompted this evaluation of the impact of obesity on the outcomes of esophagectomy to determine whether profound obesity should contraindicate the transhiatal approach. METHODS: We used our Esophagectomy Database to identify 133 profoundly obese patients (body mass index [BMI] > or = 35 kg/m2) from among 2176 undergoing a THE from 1977 to 2006. This group was matched to a randomly selected, non-obese (BMI, 18.5 to 30 kg/m2) control population of 133 patients. Intraoperative, postoperative, and long-term follow-up results were compared retrospectively. RESULTS: Profoundly obese patients had significantly greater intraoperative blood loss (mean, 492.2 mL versus 361.8 mL, p = 0.001), need for partial sternotomy (18 versus 3, p = 0.001), and frequency of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (6 versus 0, p = 0.04). The two groups did not differ significantly in the occurrence of chylothorax, wound infection, or dehiscence rate; length of hospital stay or need for intensive care unit stay; or hospital or operative mortality. Follow-up results for dysphagia, dumping, regurgitation, and overall functional score were also comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: With appropriate instrumentation, transhiatal esophagectomy in obese patients has similar morbidity and outcomes as in non-obese patients. Obesity, even when profound, does not contraindicate a transhiatal esophagectomy.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57503/6/Scipione 2007.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57503/5/Benign BMI Control.txthttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57503/4/Benign BMI CS07.txthttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57503/3/CA BMI Control no pt id.txthttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57503/2/CA BMI 35 CS.tx

Image Processing and Artificial Intelligence for Detection and Interpretation of Ultrasonic Test Signals

Detection of flaws is an important industrial concern. For example, aircraft and nuclear-power reactor owners and regulatory authorities need effective means of detecting flaws that could pose a threat to public safety. Operators of costly equipment require information on service-induced flaws to be able to make run-or-retire decisions. As the cost of parts and concerns for public safety increase, the importance of flaw detection and size estimation has likewise escalated

The effects of stimulants and depressants on cocaine self-administration behavior in the Rhesus monkey

The effects of acute intramuscular pretreatment with several dosages of a variety of centrally acting compounds on intravenous cocaine self-administration behavior were ascertained. Pretreatment with morphine and pentobarbital produced no change in this behavior until dosages (2.0 mg/kg and 15.0 mg/kg respectively) were administered which grossly depressed grooming, exploratory, and locomotor activity behaviors, d -amphetamine (0.5–4.0 mg/kg) and phenmetrazine (2.0–12.0 mg/kg) pretreatment produced a dose-related decrease in cocaine self-administration. Trifluoperazine in dosages of 0.01–0.1 mg/kg increased the frequency of this behavior; whereas, higher dosages (0.2, 0.4 mg/kg) grossly depressed behavior. Imipramine (10–50 mg/kg) produced a dose-related decrease in cocaine self-administration. Potential mechanisms of these drug—behavior and drug—drug interactions are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46388/1/213_2004_Article_BF00421274.pd

The Making of a Self-Neglect Severity Scale

Research in elder self-neglect has lagged behind that of other forms of mistreatment, despite the fact that self-neglect is the most common allegation reported to Adult Protective Service agencies throughout the US. The lack of a gold-standard to measure self-neglect has hampered efforts to study this phenomenon. Researchers designed the Self-neglect Severity Scale (SSS) based on interviews with Adult Protective Service workers and a national expert panel. The SSS is based on observation and interview and is administered in the home to include an environmental assessment. It was piloted, extensively field tested and then revised. The CREST SSS was developed using survey data and consultation with experts in the field. This instrument utilizes observer ratings, interview responses, and assesses subjects physical and environmental domains. It also assesses functional status as it relates to health and safety issues. After field and pilot testing the SSS was finalized and is currently undergoing reliability and validity testing. The CREST SSS was developed as a state scale to provide a common language for describing cases of self-neglect. It is the first self-neglect severity scale available to researchers. If found to be both reliable and valid it can be used in future intervention studies

Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making

As educators face increasing pressure from federal, state, and local accountability policies to improve student achievement, the use of data has become more central to how many educators evaluate their practices and monitor students’ academic progress (Knapp et al., 2006). Despite this trend, questions about how educators should use data to make instructional decisions remain mostly unanswered. In response, this guide provides a framework for using student achievement data to support instructional decision making. These decisions include, but are not limited to, how to adapt lessons or assignments in response to students’ needs, alter classroom goals or objectives, or modify student-grouping arrangements. The guide also provides recommendations for creating the organizational and technological conditions that foster effective data use. Each recommendation describes action steps for implementation, as well as suggestions for addressing obstacles that may impedeprogress. In adopting this framework, educators will be best served by implementing the recommendations in this guide together rather than individually

Amygdala involvement in self-blame regret

Regret-related brain activity is dependent on free choice, but it is unclear whether this activity is a function of more subtle differences in the degree of responsibility a decision-maker exerts over a regrettable outcome. In this experiment, we show that trial-by-trial subjective ratings of regret depend on a higher subjective sense of responsibility, as well as being dependent on objective responsibility. Using fMRI we show an enhanced amygdala response to regret-related outcomes when these outcomes are associated with high, as compared to low, responsibility. This enhanced response was maximal in participants who showed a greater level of enhancement in their subjective ratings of regret engendered by an objective increase in responsibility. Orbitofrontal and cingulate cortex showed opposite effects, with an enhanced response for regret-related outcomes when participants were not objectively responsible. The findings indicate that the way the brain processes regret-related outcomes depends on both objective and subjective aspects of responsibility, highlighting the critical importance of the amygdala