The use of image analyzing software for muzzle to target distance determination.

Muzzle to target distance can be an important aspect in criminal investigations. For most distance determination opinions to be of value to an investigation, the range must be stated such that it gives meaningful information and the resulting bracket of muzzle to target distance must also be defended during courtroom testimony. Current measurement tools lead to subjective opinions by examiners. With objective measurements, examiners can provide improved investigative conclusions that may be defended in court with quantifiable data. Due to the rapid advancement in software technology in recent years, the ability exists to analyze targets with more accurate measurements. Currently, test targets are measured by approximate methods which utilize a high degree of subjectivity. This study examined the application of Image J, image analyzing software, for use in determining muzzle to target distance. This research examined objective data to include particulate density and Gunshot residue dispersion and carried out a statistical replicate study to determine the number of targets needed at a given distance for each gun and ammunition combination. One pistol, revolver, rifle and shotgun were selected for this study. Test targets were shot five times at distances of: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 inches for the pistol, revolver and rifle, and at distances of: 4, 8, 12 and 16 feet for the shotgun. Visual and chemical examinations were performed on test targets using standard protocol procedures, published through the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Distance Determination Training Module (2011). The targets were digitally photographed through each step and analyzed using the aforementioned protocol and Image J, image analyzing software. Comparisons were made between the National Institute of Justice model and Image J. Data were obtained and reported using the image analyzing software for particulate count and GSR dispersion

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Regarding Teachers\u27 Attitudes and Efficacy toward Students with Disabilities in an Inclusion Classroom Environment

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to understand elementary-level general education teachers’ attitudes and efficacy regarding teaching students with disabilities in an inclusion classroom environment. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory guided this study of teachers’ relationships with their attitudes and efficacy levels with educating students with disabilities in the inclusion classroom environment. The research questions addressed the teachers’ attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in the inclusion classroom environment. Ten teachers from local elementary public schools participated in individual interviews, and 4 engaged in a focus group interview. The individual and focus interviews were recorded, digitally transcribed with a qualitative computer software program, and examined to determine rich codes and themes. Five themes emerged from data analysis—addressing challenges of teaching students in the inclusion environment, addressing benefits of teaching students in the inclusion environment, effectiveness of professional development or training opportunities, general education teachers’ perceptions of their self-efficacy, and administrators’ support in the inclusion environment—showing the benefits, challenges, and participants’ thoughts of teaching in the inclusion classroom environment. The participants outlined the importance of professional development and administration support to teach students with disabilities in the inclusion classroom setting. Overall, the themes provided a rich and nuanced understanding of the attitudes, experiences, and efficacy of general education teachers in teaching students with disabilities in the inclusion classroom environment

The Role of Humor as a Character Strength in Positive Psychology

In positive psychology, humor has been identified as one of twenty-four character strengths considered ubiquitously important for human flourishing. Unlike the other strengths, humor was a late addition to this classification system and its status as a strength continues to be somewhat controversial. Therefore the purpose of this thesis was to explore how humor fits within positive psychology. Four studies were conducted to achieve this goal. Study 1 involved a cross-sectional design and compared the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths - Humor Scale (the humor measure used in positive psychology, which assumes that humor is a unitary and positive construct) with the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ; a widely used multidimensional measure of humor) that assesses both adaptive and maladaptive styles of humor in their ability to predict well-being. Additionally, this study and Study 2 explored the ability of humor to predict well-being over and above the effects of gratitude, another more well-studied character strength. The results indicated that the HSQ was a better predictor of happiness, resilience, and morality than was the positive psychology humor scale and that humor added further variance to the prediction of well-being beyond the effects accounted for by gratitude. Study 3 extended these findings by using a longitudinal daily diary methodology to explore the relationships between daily humor styles, gratitude, and well-being. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses revealed interesting differences in associations between positive and negative humor styles and well-being at the within-person and between-person levels and in interactions between these levels. For example, at the between-person level, self-defeating humor was correlated with all four outcome measures whereas at the within-person level, this style was unrelated to satisfaction with life, positive mood, and altruism. The cross-level interactions indicate that when this style is used infrequently, it does not appear to be detrimental with respect to well-being. However, when used habitually, it seems to be particularly associated with negative outcomes. Finally, Study 4 involved a longitudinal experimental manipulation to test two new positive psychology humor exercises designed to improve well-being. The first exercise was a more traditional humor exercise that did not require participants to distinguish among humor types whereas the second exercise taught participants to distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive humor (with the expectation that reduced maladaptive humor use would follow). While results indicated that there were no differences among interventions (traditional humor, humor styles, and a well-studied gratitude exercise) with respect to changes in well-being, all three interventions produced significant improvements in positive mood compared to a control group. Possible explanations for these findings and implications for future research are discussed

A Necessary Monster? Vladimir Putin\u27s Political Decisions Regarding the Secession of Chechnya and the Second Chechen War (1999-2009)

Abstract This thesis will examine Vladimir Putin\u27s controversial political decisions regarding the Second Chechen War justifying the conflict both inside and outside of Russia. It opens with Putin identifying with the United States after the terrorist activities of September 11, 2001 and how he used the American War on Terror to explain his own decisions regarding the Caucasus. For further understanding the paper looks at the history of Russian-Chechen relations to show how the centuries of hostility and mistrust culminated in two Chechen Wars within a ten year time period (1994-2004). It will also study the Russian view, held by Putin, which Chechnya was not declaring independence but was attempting to secede from the Russian Federation. It concludes with a look at Putin\u27s solution to the conflict, the Chechnization of the Second Chechen War, where the Russian military withdrew from the region to be replaced by Putin\u27s handpicked regime, the Kadyrovs

Supporting Marginalized Doctoral Counselor Educators

Graduate Theoretical Proposa

What about the men? Perinatal experiences of men of color whose partners were at risk for preterm birth, a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND:Preterm birth in the United States is associated with maternal clinical factors such as diabetes, hypertension and social factors including race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. In California, 8.7% of all live births are preterm, with African American and Black families experiencing the greatest burden. The impact of paternal factors on birth outcomes has been studied, but little is known about the experience of men of color (MOC). The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of MOC who are partners to women at medical and social risk for preterm birth. METHODS:This study used a qualitative research design and focus group methods. The research was embedded within an existing study exploring experiences of women of color at risk for preterm birth conducted by the California Preterm Birth Initiative. RESULTS:Twelve MOC participated in the study and among them had 9 preterm children. Four themes emerged from thematic analysis of men's experiences: (1) "Being the Rock": Providing comfort and security; (2) "It's a blessing all the way around": Keeping faith during uncertainty; (3) "Tell me EVERYTHING": Unmet needs during pregnancy and delivery; (4) "Like a guinea pig": Frustration with the healthcare system. Participants identified many barriers to having a healthy pregnancy and birth including inadequate support for decision making, differential treatment, and discrimination. CONCLUSIONS:This study shows novel and shared narratives regarding MOC experiences during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods. Healthcare providers have an essential role to acknowledge MOC, their experience of discrimination and mistrust, and to assess needs for support that can improve birth outcomes. As MOC and their families are at especially high social and medical risk for preterm birth, their voice and experience should be central in all future research on this topic

Using Formative Research and Audience-Centric Intelligence to Develop the #JustBe Digital Magazine: An mHealth Strategy to Improve Adolescent Sexual Health

Digital strategies may help to overcome challenges in providing contraception education to overlooked and key sub-populations (older teens, ethnic minority youth, LGBTQ youth, high school dropouts and males). However, many current digital strategies are not culturally specific and often have limited information on the most effective contraceptive methods. In this article, we describe the preliminary steps used to develop #JustBe, a user-centered digital strategy for ethnic minority older youth and young adults with a specific focus contraception, sexual health, consent, and healthy relationships. Technology-based strategies such as #JustBe offer advantages over traditional face-to-face methods by utilizing a confidential way to retrieve sexual health information that may be sensitive and potentially embarrassing. Questions still remain regarding the feasibility and long-term effects of mobile health interventions for contraception use

Acknowledgment and Treatment of Racial Microaggressions in the Therapeutic Environment

Poster Presentatio

Patterns of Change in Semantic Clustering in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: What Can it Tell Us about the Nature of Clustering Deficits

Semantic clustering has been used as a measure of learning strategies in a number of clinical populations and has been found to be deficient in individuals with Schizophrenia, but less attention has been paid to the dynamic use of this strategy over the course of fixed-order learning trials. In the current study, we examined this pattern of clustering use over trials in a sample of individuals with Schizophrenia, and explored whether the addition of this dynamic information would help us to better predict specific executive deficits. Results suggested that a decrease in semantic clustering across trials was associated with some executive deficits in the predicted manner. Nonetheless, the overall semantic clustering index generally proved more effective for the purposes, suggesting that in this population, the addition of dynamic information in strategy use is not likely to add considerably to clinical prediction and understanding

Quantifying microbial utilization of petroleum hydrocarbons in salt-marsh sediments using the ^(13)C content of bacterial rRNA

Natural remediation of oil spills is catalyzed by complex microbial consortia. Here we take a whole-community approach to investigate bacterial incorporation of petroleum hydrocarbons from a simulated oil spill. We utilized the natural difference in carbon-isotopic abundance between a salt marsh ecosystem supported by the ^(13)C-enriched C4 grass, Spartina alterniflora, and the ^(13)C-depleted composition of petroleum to monitor changes in the ^(13)C content of biomass. Magnetic-bead capture methods for the selective recovery of bacterial RNA were used to monitor the ^(13)C content of bacterial biomass during a two-week experiment. The data show that by the end of the experiment, up to 26% of bacterial biomass derived from consumption of the freshly-spilled oil. The results contrast with the inertness of a nearby relict spill, which occurred in 1969 in West Falmouth, MA. Sequences of 16S rRNA genes from our experimental samples also were consistent with previous reports suggesting the importance of {gamma}- and {delta}-Proteobacteria and Firmicutes in the remineralization of hydrocarbons. The magnetic-bead capture approach makes it possible to quantify uptake of petroleum hydrocarbons by microbes in-situ. Although employed here at the Domain level, RNA-capture procedures can be highly specific. The same strategy could be used with genus-level specificity, something which is not currently possible using the ^(13)C content of biomarker lipids