Graduation Ceremonies

Due to the pandemic, many students around the world did not get to attend their own respective graduation ceremonies. MythSoc provided those present a chance to have a real graduation amongst fellows and peers

Welcome to Mythcon!

Mythcon 52 Opening Ceremonies presented by Megan Abrahamson and Leslie Donovan

New Mexico Speculative Fiction Authors

New Mexico is not only a place of many enchanting sunsets and landscapes, but also home to many authors of speculative fiction. Join us in this roundtable as we discuss and introduce a few works of fantasy and science fiction by New Mexico-linked writers that our roundtable members have found particularly interesting, enjoyable, or mythopoeic. Just a few New Mexico speculative fiction writers you may have heard of are Roger Zelazny, George R. R. Martin, Diana Gabaldon, Suzy McKee Charnas, James S. A. Corey, Stephen R. Donaldson, Rebecca Roanhorse, Daniel Abraham, Fred Saberhagen, Walter Jon Williams, Melinda Snodgrass, S. M. Sterling, Jane Lindskold, Sheri S. Tepper, and of course Rivera Sun (our Mythcon Guest of Honor). While we will not have time to discuss all those listed, we will lead what we expect to be a lively, interactive discussion with attendees about the mythopoeic riches New Mexico authors offer

Item Response Theory Analysis of the Western Aphasia Battery

The purpose of this investigation was to improve the validity of the Western Aphasia Battery for measuring aphasia severity and change over time by examining its fit to an item response theory (IRT) measurement model. The advantages of IRT include interval scaling, potential for equating scores across aphasia tests, and more veridical reporting of score reliability. Despite reasonable overall fit to the model, a small number of WAB items demonstrated substantial misfit, suggesting that they do not productively contribute to the measurement of aphasia severity. Potential explanations for this misfit, and implications of IRT for aphasia testing will be discussed

Have Anglo-Catholics lost their vision for mission agencies? : an empirical enquiry among newly ordained clergy in Britain

Attitude toward Christian mission agencies was investigated in a sample of 827 Anglican clergy ordained in the UK from 2002 to 2006. The Scale of Attitude Toward Mission Agencies (SATMA) consisted of six items related to the work that agencies do, and whether clergy wished to engage with this work. It had a high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.80). After controlling for theological liberalism or conservatism, attitudes were most positive among evangelicals and least positive among Anglo-Catholics. Both liberal and conservative Anglo-Catholic clergy showed less positive attitudes toward mission agencies than did other clergy

Maintaining Indiana\u27s Urban Green Spaces: A Report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment

Cities use green infrastructure, including forests, community gardens, lawns and prairies, to improve the quality of life for residents, promote sustainability and mitigate the effects of climate change. These and other kinds of green spaces can decrease energy consumption, increase carbon storage and improve water quality, among other benefits. More than 70 percent of Hoosiers reside in urban settings, and green infrastructure can provide significant economic advantages. In Indianapolis, for example, urban forests provide a $10 million annual benefit through stormwater control, carbon sequestration, energy reduction and air pollution filtration. However, just like human-built infrastructure, urban green infrastructure will be subject to the impacts of a changing climate, and its management must be considered as Indiana gets warmer and precipitation patterns change. This report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment (IN CCIA) applies climate projections for the state to explore the potential threats to urban green infrastructure, and considers potential management implications and opportunities

Implications of climate change for managing urban green infrastructure in Indiana

Urban areas around the world are increasingly investing in networks of urban forests, gardens, and other forms of green infrastructure for its many benefits, including enhanced livability, sustainability, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Proactive planning for climate change requires anticipating potential climate change impacts to green infrastructure and adjusting management strategies accordingly. We apply climate change projections for Indiana to assess the possible impacts of climate change on common forms of urban green infrastructure, and identify management implications. Projected changes in Indiana’s temperature and precipitation could pose numerous management challenges for managing urban green infrastructure, including water stress; pests, weeds, disease and invasive species; flooding; frost risk; and timing of maintenance. Meeting these challenges will involve managing for key characteristics of resilient systems (e.g. biodiversity, redundancy) as well as more specific strategies addressing particular climate changes (e.g. shifting species compositions, building soil water holding capacity). Climate change also presents opportunities to promote urban green infrastructure. Unlike human built infrastructure, green infrastructure is conducive to grassroots stewardship and governance, relieving climate change-related strains on municipal budgets. Many online resources for adapting urban green infrastructure to climate change are already available, and emerging research will enhance understanding of best management practices

Knowledge of and perceived need for evidence-based educational materials about antipsychotic medication safety by nursing home staff

Background: Given the widespread overuse of antipsychotic medications among US nursing home (NH) residents, we sought to identify knowledge of and perceived need for the AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Research Summary Guide (CERSG) “Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs”. Methods: We conducted a baseline needs assessment with 12 NHs participating in a randomized controlled trail evaluating evidence dissemination strategies. Using a mixed method approach, we conducted in-depth assessments of knowledge, attitudes, and practice behavior using telephone interviews with NH leadership (administrators, directors of nursing [DON], and medical directors), and questionnaires with NH leadership, consultant pharmacists and direct care staff. Interviews were transcribed, verbatim responses were coded independently by 2 project staff. The coding scheme was revised after each round until substantial agreement (85%) was reached. Results: Interviews revealed that 70% of medical directors and 46% of DON and administrators believed that antipsychotics decreased agitation and controlled harmful behavior; 50% of medical directors and 7% of DONs & administrators reported knowledge of the increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to atypical antipsychotics. Half of administrators and DONs expressed interest in receiving information for NH staff pertaining to understanding dementia and dementia-related behaviors, 42% believed families would benefit from information about antipsychotic use for dementia-related behaviors. Questionnaire results were similar. When leaders were asked to list any risks associated with antipsychotic use for residents with dementia, only 17% reported death as a possible adverse event; licensed nursing staff (RN and LPNs) reported death 5% of the time. Over half of consultant pharmacists identified that their biggest barrier to improving medication use in challenging NHs was physician resistance to accepting recommendations. Conclusions: The responses of the NH leaders, staff and consultant pharmacists suggest widespread knowledge gaps regarding antipsychotic benefits and risks, and suggest a need for increase evidence dissemination and broad organizational change

Measurement Properties of the Functional Outcomes Questionnaire for Aphasia

Aphasia often results in negative social, emotional, and financial consequences endorsing rehabilitation efforts that influence communication beyond the level of impairment. The FOQ-A assesses the impact of aphasia treatment on functional communication, extending measurement into activity and participation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the measurement properties of the FOQ-A in a sample of 127 individuals with moderate to severe aphasia subsequent to stroke. Results of Rasch analysis indicate that the FOQ-A is unidimensional, has good internal consistency, and contains adequate person separation for measuring change after rehabilitation; however, revisions to the scale may improve its usefulness