Going Viral: A Qualitative Analysis of the Anti-Vaccine Movement & Social Media

In the recent years of the rise of Web 2.0, health information has become more accessible. With this shift has come a reliance on social media to inform and educate the masses on vaccines. With the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine, the conversation surrounding vaccines moved to the forefront of the United States’ zeitgeist from late 2021 to early 2022. In this research, I conducted a case study on the communication surrounding vaccines on social media while examining specific Facebook groups that advance the misinformation surrounding vaccines. I examined over 300 posts from four public Facebook groups in order to determine how the Covid-19 vaccines and vaccines in general were being discussed. Through qualitative content analysis, multiple strategies were revealed that illuminated how the masses on Facebook utilize social media to participate in anti-vaccination culture

FOCUS

Research shows that creativity and innovation lead to business success. To find out just how creative Boise’s economy is, Boise State student Ryan Cooper devised a creativity index that ranks Boise, Seattle and Portland in a number of key areas that are believed to contribute to their economic success. Find out how Boise stacks up to its neighbors. Cover photo of Cooper (right) and business professor Nancy Napier, director of Boise State’s Centre for Creativity and Innovation, by John Kelly.https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/focus/1013/thumbnail.jp

FOCUS

From research on preventing skin cancer to molecular level studies of Alzheimer’s disease, health-related research has emerged as a new area of excellence at Boise State University. Starting on Page 28, this issue of FOCUS looks at ideas being generated in Boise State labs with potential to impact human health. Professors and students are collaborating with regional medical centers, conducting joint projects with universities in Idaho and around the country, and winning multidisciplinary grants from top-tier funding agencies.https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/focus/1002/thumbnail.jp

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING: A VISUAL ARTS PERSPECTIVE

As unsupervised, after-school time increases for America’s youth, negative and risky opportunities await them. Recent studies find that as many as 15.1 million children in the United States are left unsupervised after school. Unsupervised children are significantly at risk for truancy, poor academics and risk-taking behavior. These negative forces have been targeted by many intervention efforts over the years, primarily through after-school programs. The literature defines quality programs as those with distinct elements connected to positive outcomes such as student achievement, motivation/engagement, critical/creative thinking, social competencies, and communication. Such outcomes are also evident in arts-related literature and connected to specific exposure to the visual arts. While benefits of arts programs are well documented, less is known about visual arts programs, especially those offered outside of school. To respond to this gap in the literature, this study investigated a visual-arts after-school program for middle school students. The research questions were a) what are the demographic characteristics of student participants in a visual arts-based after-school program? and b) what possible impact does attendance in an arts-based after-school program have on its mentors? To answer these questions, data were collected on participants’ gender, age, grade, ethnicity, free/reduced lunch, Title 1 eligibility, discipline records, family status, program and school attendance. Participating high school mentors’ perceptions were measured through a survey with scaled and open-ended items. When compared with all students in the district, participants were disproportionately female. On other demographic measures no significant differences were found. Mentors (n=16) described benefits including academic skill development, social and personal identity, intrapersonal and peer relations, positive environment, stress relief, and inspiration. Implications for the development of youths’ social capital, for future research and for practice are offered

An original composition, ...And It Was Good For Orchestra and a new century, a new audience : concert music\u27s evolution into pop and the music producer as maestro

The first part of this dissertation is a musical composition for full orchestra titled, ...And It Was Good. The work\u27s title refers to the biblical text that follows each day of God\u27s creation, God saw all that he had made, and it was good. The architecture for the single movement work is framed within seven sections, each representing a different day of the biblical creation story. An arch form is used and each section is marked by a different tonal center taken from a whole tone scale beginning on F. The composer employs several songs from various world religions and manipulates them to form new melodies and rhythmic motives throughout the work. The second part of this dissertation is an account of the career of the pop music producer, David Foster. Throughout his expansive career, David Foster has made significant contributions to the pop music canon, specifically within the power ballad form and within the genre of classical crossover. Classical crossover music fuses important elements of popular music\u27s form and sentimentality with serious concert music\u27s romantic lyricism and orchestration. This new hybrid genre has proven remarkably successful within the music industry and the pivotal role of David Foster cannot be understated. As a record producer, songwriter, and arranger, David Foster has reintroduced music from the past, applying new layers of context to many older works. His appropriation of preexisting songs into the more modern pop genre has produced new works of pop art that feature fresh layers of context

Rapid Cryogenic Electrical Characterization of Materials and Devices Using Gifford-McMahon Cryocoolers

Thin-film heterostructures are necessary building blocks for superconducting and phononic quantum computing devices. Many new generations of quantum hardware demand extensive materials research to optimize performances at cryogenic temperatures (below 10 K). Here, we demonstrate compact cryogenic measurement systems capable of reaching sub-10K temperatures in less than three hours with the ability to measure AC/DC resistance and dielectric properties of thin-film materials. Our platform utilizes Gifford-McMahon (GM) cryocoolers as effective tools for providing high throughput cooling-warming cycles. We successfully used the GM-based measurement systems to measure 1) the superconducting transition temperature for Nb thin films (Tc ~7.8 K), and 2) the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant in SiO2 thin films down to 10 K. The fast electrical characterization feedback will be critical in developing robust materials and components for cryogenic computing devices

A review of combined neuromodulation and physical therapy interventions for enhanced neurorehabilitation

Rehabilitation approaches for individuals with neurologic conditions have increasingly shifted toward promoting neuroplasticity for enhanced recovery and restoration of function. This review focuses on exercise strategies and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques that target neuroplasticity, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). We have chosen to focus on non-invasive neuromodulation techniques due to their greater potential for integration into routine clinical practice. We explore and discuss the application of these interventional strategies in four neurological conditions that are frequently encountered in rehabilitation settings: Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), stroke, and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Additionally, we discuss the potential benefits of combining non-invasive neuromodulation with rehabilitation, which has shown promise in accelerating recovery. Our review identifies studies that demonstrate enhanced recovery through combined exercise and non-invasive neuromodulation in the selected patient populations. We primarily focus on the motor aspects of rehabilitation, but also briefly address non-motor impacts of these conditions. Additionally, we identify the gaps in current literature and barriers to implementation of combined approaches into clinical practice. We highlight areas needing further research and suggest avenues for future investigation, aiming to enhance the personalization of the unique neuroplastic responses associated with each condition. This review serves as a resource for rehabilitation professionals and researchers seeking a comprehensive understanding of neuroplastic exercise interventions and non-invasive neuromodulation techniques tailored for specific diseases and diagnoses

Magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance arthrography and ultrasonography for assessing rotator cuff tears in people with shoulder pain for whom surgery is being considered

Background Shoulder pain is a very common symptom. Disorders of the rotator cuff tendons due to wear or tear are among the most common causes of shoulder pain and disability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) and ultrasound (US) are increasingly being used to assess the presence and size of rotator cuff tears to assist in planning surgical treatment. It is not known whether one imaging method is superior to any of the others.Objectives To compare the diagnostic test accuracy of MRI, MRA and US for detecting any rotator cuff tears (i.e. partial or full thickness) in people with suspected rotator cuff tears for whom surgery is being considered.Search methods We searched the Cochrane Register of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS from inception to February 2011. We also searched trial registers, conference proceedings and reference lists of articles to identify additional studies. No language or publication restrictions were applied.Selection criteria We included all prospective diagnostic accuracy studies that assessed MRI, MRA or US against arthroscopy or open surgery as the reference standard, in people suspected of having a partial or full thickness rotator cuff tear. We excluded studies that selected a healthy control group, or participants who had been previously diagnosed with other specific causes of shoulder pain such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Studies with an excessively long period (a year or longer) between the index and reference tests were also excluded.Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently extracted data on study characteristics and results of included studies, and performed quality assessment according to QUADAS criteria. Our unit of analysis was the shoulder. for each test, estimates of sensitivity and specificity from each study were plotted in ROC space and forest plots were constructed for visual examination of variation in test accuracy. Meta-analyses were performed using the bivariate model to produce summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity. We were unable to formally investigate potential sources of heterogeneity because of the small number of studies.Main results We included 20 studies of people with suspected rotator cuff tears (1147 shoulders), of which six evaluated MRI and US (252 shoulders), or MRA and US (127 shoulders) in the same people. Many studies had design flaws, with the potential for bias, thus limiting the reliability of their findings. Overall, the methodological quality of the studies was judged to be low or unclear. for each test, we observed considerable heterogeneity in study results, especially between studies that evaluated US for the detection of full thickness tears and studies that evaluated MRA for the detection of partial thickness tears. the criteria for a positive diagnostic test (index tests and reference standard) varied between studies.Meta-analyses were not possible for studies that assessed MRA for detection of any rotator cuff tears or partial thickness tears. We found no statistically significant differences in sensitivity or specificity between MRI and US for detecting any rotator cuff tears (P = 0.13), or for detecting partial thickness tears (P = 1.0). Similarly, for the comparison between MRI, MRA and US for detecting full thickness tears, there was no statistically significant difference in diagnostic performance (P = 0.7). for any rotator cuff tears, the summary sensitivity and specificity were 98% (95% CI 92% to 99%) and 79% (95% CI 68% to 87%) respectively for MRI (6 studies, 347 shoulders), and 91% (95% CI 83% to 95%) and 85% (95% CI 74% to 92%) respectively for US (13 studies, 854 shoulders). for full thickness tears, the summary sensitivity and specificity were 94% (95% CI 85% to 98%) and 93% (95% CI 83% to 97%) respectively for MRI (7 studies, 368 shoulders); 94% (95% CI 80% to 98%) and 92% (95% CI 83% to 97%) respectively for MRA (3 studies, 183 shoulders); and 92% (95% CI 82% to 96%) and 93% (95% CI 81% to 97%) respectively for US (10 studies, 729 shoulders).Because few studies were direct head-to-head comparisons, we could not perform meta-analyses restricted to these studies. the test comparisons for each of the three classifications of the target condition were therefore based on indirect comparisons which may be prone to bias due to confounding.Authors' conclusions MRI, MRA and US have good diagnostic accuracy and any of these tests could equally be used for detection of full thickness tears in people with shoulder pain for whom surgery is being considered. the diagnostic performance of MRI and US may be similar for detection of any rotator cuff tears. However, both MRI and US may have poor sensitivity for detecting partial thickness tears, and the sensitivity of US may be much lower than that of MRI. the strength of evidence for all test comparisons is limited because most studies were small, heterogeneous and methodologically flawed, and there were few comparative studies. Well designed studies that directly compare MRI, MRA and US for detection of rotator cuff tears are needed.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, BrazilParker Institute, DenmarkOak FoundationTeesside University, UKUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthopaed & Traumatol, BR-04038032 São Paulo, BrazilMonash Univ, Sch Publ Hlth & Prevent Med, Dept Epidemiol & Prevent Med, Monash Dept Clin Epidemiol,Cabrini Hosp, Malvern, AustraliaUniv Birmingham, Birmingham, W Midlands, EnglandUniv Teesside, Hlth & Social Care Inst, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, EnglandUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthopaed & Traumatol, BR-04038032 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Defining the Nitrogen Requirement for Guayule Growth in a Semi-Hydroponic System and Root Growth of Transplants and Direct-Seed Plants

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is a desert adapted shrub, and a source of domestic natural rubber. Guayule requires fewer production inputs (namely water, fertilizer, and pesticides) to produce economic yields than typical crops grown in the southwestern United States. This is of immense importance due to the recent reduction in access to Colorado River water for irrigation in Central Arizona. Growers are now making decisions to alter crop rotations and fallow large portions of their land. This low water use crop may provide an attractive alternative cropping solution. While guayule has been grown at some level in the US since the early 1900’s there are still many questions around the most economical practices for its production. The first study in this thesis clarifies the role of nitrogen fertilizer in guayule growth and developed a field tool for diagnosing nitrogen deficiency. The second study developed a clearer understanding of the different root systems guayule produces when grown by transplanted seedlings versus direct-seeding into the soil. Together they increase our understanding of how to best grow this crop