Interior studies

Included In the thesis exhibition are pencil and charcoal drawings which emphasize the linear qualities of objects, and relationships between these objects and the spaces surrounding them. I have explored the forces that exist in a given composition in order to present an energetic, vibrant drawing -- one that draws the viewer toward it and causes his eye to move throughout the drawing. My subject matter is primarily interiors from the Victorian house where I grew up. In observing the positive and negative spaces of a composition, one soon concludes that one area is just as important as the other, and that a successful drawing places equal emphasis on what takes place in the spaces between inantimate objects as it does on the objects themselves. One must "feel" the structure of these spaces in between, as well as the solidity of a chair, table, or lamp. As a thorough study of a given composition is made, the drawing evolves as a harmony of several structured parts. A defined outer boundary in these drawings gives the observer an "entry" into the drawing and the space it sets up. The drawing is complete only when it invites one's glance, and then guides one's eye through an entire composition connecting a series of structured spaces. In addition to the more formal qualities of line, shape, and light that a drawing possesses, it is hoped that this group of drawings leaves its viewer with a glimpse of life's activities through intimate depictions of teacups, soft pillows, and plants. The drawings act as vehicles which allow observers to see and relate to small, and perhaps familiar, daily scenes, and therefore become more sensitive to their surroundings

Requiem

The Requiem which is the centerpiece of this document is a musical composition for mixed choir and organ, written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.M. in Music Composition. Additional instrumentation includes harp accompaniment for the setting of Psalm 23, and a handbell part for two of the anthems. This work is based on the text for Burial of the Dead (Rite Two) in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church, which is in the Public Domain. It also incorporates several Scripture texts, including Isaiah 25:6-9 (New International Version) and Psalm 23 (King James Version) and an anthem based on John 14:1-6. The full text may be found in Appendix A. An introductory chapter describes the process of researching other Requiems, deciding on a text, choosing the musical settings for each text, and bringing the work to completion. Musical examples highlight the use of creative dissonance, rhythmic and metric diversity and textural variation within the work. The Requiem will be performed at the morning services of First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro on November 7, 2010, which is All Saints Sunday. In addition to the Requiem, other pieces were composed for those worship services, including an organ prelude and postlude, an opening hymn (text and music) and two responses for choir and congregation. These are included in Appendix B

The Development Of A Theoretically Derived Visual Educational Tool For Communicating Benefits Of Exercise And Diet For Increasing Fertility In PCOS

Problem: There is a need to efficiently communicate health messages to women with PCOS in the management of their fertility. Background: PCOS is a common cause of infertility and creates uncertainty for women desiring a pregnancy. Health care providers do not effectively communicate the benefit of exercise and diet in increasing fertility. Interpersonal communication theory provides guidance for effective provider-patient communication. Methods: A quality improvement process included the review of the literature using the terms health communications, health education, picture based messages, framing theory, communication theory, AND PCOS for theoretical guidance. Four transcripts from an ongoing study related to PCOS were reviewed and analyzed for themes. The literature review and transcripts facilitated the development of the PCOS Fertility Education Tool (P-FET). Outcomes: Picture-based messages of PCOS treatment options with accompanying scripts were developed for future testing with people who live with PCOS and desire a pregnancy

An ultrasonic metallic Fabry–Pérot metamaterial for use in water

Fabry-Pérot ultrasonic metamaterials have been additively manufactured using laser powder bed fusion to contain subwavelength holes with a high aspect-ratio of width to depth. Such metamaterials require the acoustic impedance mismatch between the structure and the immersion medium to be large. It is shown for the first time that metallic structures fulfil this criterion for applications in water over the 200–800 kHz frequency range. It is also demonstrated that laser powder bed fusion is a flexible fabrication method for the ceration of structures with different thicknesses, hole geometry and tapered openings, allowing the acoustic properties to be modified. It was confirmed via both finite element simulation and practical measurements that these structures supported Fabry-Pérot resonances, needed for metamaterial operation, at ultrasonic frequencies in water. It was also demonstrated the the additively-manufactured structures detected the presence of a sub-wavelength slit aperture in water

Trapped air metamaterial concept for ultrasonic sub-wavelength imaging in water

Acoustic metamaterials constructed from conventional base materials can exhibit exotic phenomena not commonly found in nature, achieved by combining geometrical and resonance effects. However, the use of polymer-based metamaterials that could operate in water is difficult, due to the low acoustic impedance mismatch between water and polymers. Here we introduce the concept of “trapped air” metamaterial, fabricated via vat photopolymerization, which makes ultrasonic sub-wavelength imaging in water using polymeric metamaterials highly effective. This concept is demonstrated for a holey-structured acoustic metamaterial in water at 200–300 kHz, via both finite element modelling and experimental measurements, but it can be extended to other types of metamaterials. The new approach, which outperforms the usual designs of these structures, indicates a way forward for exploiting additive-manufacturing for realising polymer-based acoustic metamaterials in water at ultrasonic frequencies

VCU/Monroe Park Fall Festival: Celebrating the Heart of VCU

The “VCU/Monroe Park Fall Festival” seeks to create a unifying comprehensive fall festival tradition for both VCU campuses. Our proposal responds to the VCU2020 strategic plan by creating a festival designed to highlight VCU/community partnerships and promote “One VCU”. Theme V of the strategic plan emphasizes “maintain[ing] VCU as a model for university-community partnerships” and “develop[ing] collaborations between businesses, government agencies, [and] communities …”. Individual units across the university will respond to these initiatives in countless ways, but unless we promote our community partnerships in a unified, centrally located, vibrant and celebratory way, much of what we do will remain invisible to our larger audience

Adapted motivational interviewing to improve the uptake of treatment for glaucoma in Nigeria: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease associated with irreversible visual loss. In Africa, glaucoma patients often present late, with very advanced disease. One-off procedures, such as laser or surgery, are recommended in Africa because of lack of or poor adherence to medical treatment. However, acceptance of surgery is usually extremely low. To prevent blindness, adherence to treatment needs to improve, using acceptable, replicable and cost-effective interventions. After reviewing the literature and interviewing patients in Bauchi (Nigeria) motivational interviewing (MI) was selected as the intervention for this trial, with adaptation for glaucoma (MIG). MI is designed to strengthen personal motivation for, and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring a person's reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion. The aim of this study is to assess whether MIG increases the uptake of laser or surgery amongst glaucoma patients where this is the recommended treatment. The hypothesis is that MIG increases the uptake of treatment. This will be the first trial of MI in Africa. METHODS: This is a hospital based, single centre, randomized controlled trial of MIG plus an information sheet on glaucoma and its treatment (the latter being "standard care") compared with standard care alone for glaucoma patients where the treatment recommended is surgery or laser.Those eligible for the trial are adults aged 17 years and above who live within 200 km of Bauchi with advanced glaucoma where the examining ophthalmologist recommends surgery or laser. After obtaining written informed consent, participants will be randomly allocated to MIG plus standard care, or standard care alone. Motivational interviewing will be delivered in Hausa or English by one of two MIG trained personnel. One hundred and fifty participants will be recruited to each arm. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants undergoing laser or surgery within two months of the date given to re attend for the procedure. MIG quality will be assessed using the validated MI treatment integrity scale. DISCUSSION: Motivational interviewing may be an important tool to increase the acceptance of treatment for glaucoma. The approach is potentially scalable and may be useful for other chronic conditions in Africa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN79330571 (Controlled-Trials.com)

International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force consensus report on epilepsy definition, classification and terminology in companion animals

Dogs with epilepsy are among the commonest neurological patients in veterinary practice and therefore have historically attracted much attention with regard to definitions, clinical approach and management. A number of classification proposals for canine epilepsy have been published during the years reflecting always in parts the current proposals coming from the human epilepsy organisation the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). It has however not been possible to gain agreed consensus, “a common language”, for the classification and terminology used between veterinary and human neurologists and neuroscientists, practitioners, neuropharmacologists and neuropathologists. This has led to an unfortunate situation where different veterinary publications and textbook chapters on epilepsy merely reflect individual author preferences with respect to terminology, which can be confusing to the readers and influence the definition and diagnosis of epilepsy in first line practice and research studies. In this document the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force (IVETF) discusses current understanding of canine epilepsy and presents our 2015 proposal for terminology and classification of epilepsy and epileptic seizures. We propose a classification system which reflects new thoughts from the human ILAE but also roots in former well accepted terminology. We think that this classification system can be used by all stakeholders

Holey-structured tungsten metamaterials for broadband ultrasonic sub-wavelength imaging in water

Metamaterials exhibiting Fabry–Pérot resonances are shown to achieve ultrasonic imaging of a sub-wavelength aperture in water immersion across a broad bandwidth. Holey-structured metamaterials of different thickness were additively manufactured using a tungsten substrate and selective laser melting, tungsten being chosen so as to create a significant acoustic impedance mismatch with water. Both broadband metamaterial behavior and sub-wavelength imaging in water are demonstrated experimentally and validated with finite element simulations over the 200–300 kHz range

Behavioral activation interventions for well-being: A meta-analysis

One of the most promising ways to increase well-being is to engage in valued and enjoyable activities. Behavioral activation (BA), an intervention approach most commonly associated with the treatment of depression, is consistent with this recommendation and can easily be adapted for non-clinical populations. This study reports on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies to examine the effect of BA on well-being. Twenty studies with a total of 1353 participants were included. The pooled effect size (Hedges's g) indicated that the difference in well-being between BA and control conditions at posttest was 0.52. This significant effect, which is comparable to the pooled effect achieved by positive psychology interventions, was found for non-clinical participants and participants with elevated symptoms of depression. Behavioral activation would seem to provide a ready and attractive intervention for promoting the well-being of a range of populations in both clinical and non-clinical settings