Length, Weight, and Yield in Channel Catfish, Lake Diane, MI

Background: Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are important to both commercial aquaculture and recreational fisheries. Little published data is available on length-weight relationships of channel catfish in Michigan. Though there is no record of public or private stocking, channel catfish appeared in Lake Diane between 1984 and 1995 and it has developed into an excellent fishery. 
Materials and Methods: Sport angling provided 38 samples which were weighed and measured (fork length). Fillets were also weighed. The best fit estimates of parameters a and b in the model, W(L) = aLb, were obtained by both linear least-squares (LLS) regression (log(W) = log(a) + b log(L)) and non-linear least-squares (NLLS) regression. Best-fit parameters of an improved model, W(L) = (L/L1)^b, were also determined by NLLS regression; the parameter L1 is the typical length of a fish weighing 1 kg. The resulting best-fit parameters, parameter standard errors, and covariances are compared between the two models. The average relative weight for this sample of channel catfish is also determined, along with the typical meat yield obtained by filleting. 
Results: NLLS regression yields parameter estimates of b = 3.2293 and a = 0.00522. The improved model yields the same estimate for the exponent, b, and a length estimate (parameter L1) of 45.23 cm. Estimates of uncertainty and covariance are smaller for the improved model, but the correlation coefficient is r = 0.995 in both cases. LLS regression produced different parameter values, a = 0.01356 and b = 2.9726, and a smaller correlation coefficient, r = 0.980. On average, catfish in the sample weighed 106.0% of the standard weight, (Brown et al.) and the linear regression (no slope) of fillet yield vs. total weight suggests a typical fillet yield of 28.1% with r = 0.989.
Conclusion: Most of the fish in the sample were above the standard weight, heavier than the 75th percentile for their length. Channel catfish are doing well in Lake Diane and the population is well matched to the food supply. Management should attempt to maintain current population levels. In this case, the improved length-weight model, W(L) = (L/L1)^b, provided lower uncertainties in parameter estimates and smaller covariance than the traditional model.
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Social Information- Processing Variables Predict Hemoglobin A1c Trajectories in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes

Predicting long-term trajectories in HbA1c can inform interventions to improve health outcomes for those with type 1 diabetes (T1D) throughout the lifespan. Higher negative attributions of friends’ reactions (NAFR) while participating in health behaviors is related to higher anticipated adherence difficulties (AAD), higher diabetes-related stress (DS), and higher HbA1c, cross-sectionally. The purpose of the present study was to determine if these social information- processing variables can predict membership into empirically derived subgroups of longitudinal HbA1c trajectories in youth with T1D. One hundred ninety-five adolescents with T1D completed the Diabetes Stress Questionnaire and the Attributions of Peer Reactions scale. HbA1cs were extracted from medical records at three time points over one year. Growth mixture modeling was used to derive classes of HbA1c trajectories and determine if NAFR, AAD, and DS predict class membership, controlling for T1D duration. Three distinct classes emerged: High Decelerating HbA1c (intercept= 13.917, slope=3.768, quadratic=-2.867), Mid-High Decelerating HbA1c (intercept= 11.289, slope= nonsignificant, quadratic= .747), and Near-Optimal Accelerating HbA1c (intercept= 8.147, slope=-.376, quadratic=.590; ps \u3c.01). NAFR and T1D duration were not significant predictors of latent class membership. Increased AAD predicted increased odds of being in the Mid-High vs. Near-Optimal group. Increased diabetes-related stress predicted increased odds of being in the High vs. Near-Optimal group. Higher AAD in imagined social situations and higher DS were associated with suboptimal glycemic control trajectories. Incorporating this knowledge into clinical treatment can allow providers to minimize the deleterious effects of negative peer cognitions and stress on long-term health outcomes in youth with T1D

Tara Rodgers. 2010. Pink Noises: Women on Electronic Music and Sound. Durham and London: Duke University Press.

While the book's interview format does not always adequately convey the necessary context, its contribution remains significant. Rodgers addresses an unusually expansive range of topics with facility and respect to her interlocutors. Most importantly, her commitment to representing women from a variety of cultural, educational, and musical backgrounds who work in numerous genres shows both Rodgers's depth of musical knowledge and her strong commitment to feminism. Through these interviews, Rodgers makes a convincing case for reconsidering the representation of women as a central part of the history of electronic music

The Health Ramifications of Poorly Ventilated Cooking Areas in the Indigenous Populations of Guatemala

Guatemala is a Latin American country with a high level of social and economic inequality, which makes life in rural areas very difficult. 40% of the population is composed of indigenous groups that currently cook in unventilated brick lodgings, which prevent thick smoke from being released. Consequently, indigenous people suffer from severe respiratory health complications compounded by their lack of access to minimum health care facilities. Organizations such as the Highland Support Project (HSP) work to improve the livelihood of indigenous Guatemalans through transformational development by modifying social, economic, political and cultural systems. These new stoves that include chimneys can decrease the risk of having acute lower-respiratory illnesses. Improved-stove projects mitigate the negative effects of smoke on health and accommodate the different ethnic and cultural backgrounds of indigenous people.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1108/thumbnail.jp

Multicultural Orientation-Informed Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents Seeking Bariatric Surgery

Objective: The present paper details a pragmatic trial of a Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) intervention for adolescents seeking bariatric surgery. The intervention was developed within a multicultural orientation (MCO) framework to acknowledge families’ diverse sociocultural contexts and clinical needs. The intervention aimed to increase psychological flexibility, specifically by supporting values-consistent behavior change through openness to internal experiences and present moment awareness, within the context of seeking bariatric surgery. It was designed to be flexibly implemented across two sessions, one focused on increasing adolescent psychological flexibility, the other on increasing caregiver psychological flexibility. The present paper describes implementation and refinement of the intervention based on feasibility and acceptability of the adolescent portion and adolescent perspectives/outcomes. Method: Eleven adolescents participated in the clinical intervention. Adolescent-reported intervention acceptability was collected before, during, and after the intervention sessions. Self-report measures of psychological flexibility and health-related quality of life were also completed. Interventionists recorded post-session interviews discussing intervention implementation and refinement. Results: The intervention was acceptable as rated by adolescents, and it was feasible to implement in an interdisciplinary clinic. Self-report results are presented descriptively. Conclusions: This intervention was acceptable to adolescents, feasible to implement in an interdisciplinary clinic, and should be explored in additional samples and with further research. Themes from post-intervention intervention sessions are briefly summarized. Feasibility of the research study is discussed within an MCO framework. Ideas for future research and adaptation for other pediatric populations are presented

Borosilicate wetting on ceramic matrix composites and Si-based substrates

The oxidation of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) is a complex process due to the combined oxidation of ceramic fibers, matrix, and an interphase. In previous work, the oxidation of CVD SiC coated SiC/BN/SiC CMCs with a single uncoated face exposing the fibers, matrix, and interphase was studied at temperatures of 800, 1200, and 1300°C. The thermal oxidation of the exposed face was characterized to understand crack-sealing in CMCs during use. During thermal oxidation, the exposed face of the CMC was sealed by borosilicate glass formation. Oxide droplets were observed to form at BN/SiC interfaces. In this work, stand-alone borosilicate glass cylinders situated on SiC, Si, or SiO2 substrates were heated in air and visualized in situ using a heating microscope. Changes in oxide morphology, volatility, and wetting were characterized as a function of borosilicate and substrate composition. Results from stand-alone glasses were compared with the observations from exposed CMC faces to elucidate mechanisms of composite sealing during thermal oxidation

From Being Known in the Classroom to “Moments of Meeting”: What Intersubjectivity offers Contemplative Pedagogy

Despite recent advances in psychological theory and research, often empirical knowledge of intersubjectivity is not incorporated into teaching. In this paper we suggest that using the intersubjective space of the classroom can provide students with experiences of being known and “moments of meeting” which can result in transformative learning. Using a conceptual framework, we explore why being known is a relevant concept in education and contemplative pedagogy, and highlight student perspectives and an example from our own teaching. We suggest that contemplative pedagogical activities are inherently intersubjective, thereby providing opportunities for being known and educational moments of meeting

Investigation into the improvement of MoS2 functionalization, Small Molecule Transistors, and 2D Perovskites

Many types of materials make up the world, and one subset of these materials are colloquially called 2D. This dissertation encompasses a range of very thin materials and looks for ways to study their properties. First, a functionalization method for MoS2 is presented. By using chemical vapor deposition, MoS2 is able to be functionalized with various organic monolayers that do not harm the underlying electronic properties. Next, a study is presented on how new derivatives of TES-ADT can be used in OFETs. By working on improving the film quality, the electronic properties of these materials can be improved. Lastly, a different method for the preparation of 2D mixed perovskites is presented. Using the melt infiltration approach, different layer numbers of mixed perovskites can be prepared. This approach gives a way to look at and study the formation of mixed perovskites over time.Doctor of Philosoph

The Tilted Moonlight

This is a composition written as part of a term project in Dr. Palestrant’s Form and Analysis class