Understanding the Twitter Usage of Science Citation Index (SCI) Journals

This paper investigates the Twitter interaction patterns of journals from the Science Citation Index (SCI) of Master Journal List (MJL). A total of 953,253 tweets extracted from 857 journal accounts, were analyzed in this study. Findings indicate that SCI journals interacted more with each other but much less with journals from other citation indices. The network structure of the communication graph resembled a tight crowd network, with Nature journals playing a major part. Information sources such as news portals and scientific organizations were mentioned more in tweets, than academic journal Twitter accounts. Journals with high journal impact factors (JIFs) were found to be prominent hubs in the communication graph. Differences were found between the Twitter usage of SCI journals with Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) journals.Comment: Paper accepted for presentation at 21st International Conference on Asia-Pacific Digital Libraries (ICADL 2019

FLAMINGOS-2: The Facility Near-Infrared Wide-field Imager & Multi-Object Spectrograph for Gemini

We report on the design and status of the FLAMINGOS-2 instrument - a fully-cryogenic facility near-infrared imager and multi-object spectrograph for the Gemini 8-meter telescopes. FLAMINGOS-2 has a refractive all-spherical optical system providing 0.18-arcsecond pixels and a 6.2-arcminute circular field-of-view on a 2048x2048-pixel HAWAII-2 0.9-2.4 mm detector array. A slit/decker wheel mechanism allows the selection of up to 9 multi-object laser-machined plates or 3 long slits for spectroscopy over a 6x2-arcminute field of view, and selectable grisms provide resolutions from $\sim$ 1300 to $\sim$3000 over the entire spectrograph bandpass. FLAMINGOS-2 is also compatible with the Gemini Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics system, providing multi-object spectroscopic capabilities over a 3x1-arcminute field with high spatial resolution (0.09-arcsec/pixel). We review the designs of optical, mechanical, electronics, software, and On-Instrument WaveFront Sensor subsystems. We also present the current status of the project, currently in final testing in mid-2006.Comment: Submitted to SPIE Astronomical Telescopes & Instrumentation; 12 pages, incl. color figure

Stressed, Sick, and Sad: A Transdiagnostic Investigation of the Translation of Stress into Depression through Neuroendoimmune Disruptions

Depression is a prevalent and disabling form of psychopathology that is frequently precipitated by experiences of stress. Disruptions in stress-sensitive biological systems, notably the immune system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, are strongly implicated in depression, and disturbances in these systems could reflect potential pathways through which experiences of stress are translated into depression. These systems, broadly subsumed within the neuroendoimmune system, may be highly responsive to stress and cognitive abilities related to stress management. To characterize the links between stress and depression and the potential influence of immune activity, the present study investigated the following: (1) the associations among perceived stress (across different time periods of life), proinflammatory immune markers, and depressive symptoms; (2) whether neuroendoimmune activity mediates the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms; and (3) whether perceived stress and immune activity mediate the relationship between cognitive control and depressive symptoms. Fifty-nine medically healthy adult females with varying levels of depression participated in the study. Participants provided dimensional ratings of their depression symptoms and perceived life stress, and they completed a neuropsychological test of cognitive control. Plasma biomarkers of stress, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein, and free cortisol, were assayed following a fasted morning blood draw. Consistent with hypotheses, both greater perceived stress and higher concentrations of the proinflammatory immune marker, interleukin-6 (IL-6), were associated with greater depressive symptoms. Although levels of IL-6 alone did not significantly mediate the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms, when considered together, elevated concentrations of IL-6 and lower free cortisol mediated the relationship between severity of childhood stress and current depressive symptoms. Contrary to expectations, cognitive control was not significantly associated with stress, immune markers, or depression. The findings are interpreted in the context of a potentially long-term reduction in glucocorticoid tone triggered by early life stress that curbs cortisol output, produces chronic low-grade immune activation, and leads to depression vulnerability later in life. Overall, the study provides new insights into potential pathways among stress, the neuroendoimmune system, and depression, shedding light on how early life stress may be translated into depression in adulthood.Ph.D

Impacts of Stress and Therapy Homework on Momentary Assessments of Positive and Negative

The recurrent nature of major depressive disorder exacts a hefty toll on society. It is thus important to understand what experiences lead to better outcomes post treatment. The present study examined the relationship between individual differences in stress-linked affect regulation and clinical symptoms in remitted depressed patients after the completion of group cognitive behaviour therapy or mindfulness based cognitive therapy. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) was used to capture the daily experience of 47 remitted depressed patients (mean age = 37.40, SD = 10.93; 72% women) over a one-year follow-up. While negative affect was found to significantly predict depressive symptoms over the year, the frequency of formal homework practice reduced the impact of stress on negative affect, providing protective benefit. Additionally, experience of positive affect dampened the amount of dysfunctional thinking activated under high moments of stress. This research indicates the benefits of formal homework practice during prophylactic treatment.M.A

The Critical Attributes and Design of a Music Partnership Study Guide

Abstract Community Arts Organizations such as symphonies and opera companies play an important role as partners in school education through the provision of concerts, artist residencies and mentorship programs. The curriculum that accompanies any partnership endeavor can dramatically impact the quality of the student's experience and subsequent learning. This thesis identifies that a successful music partnership study guide is relevant, prepares students for the concert experience, makes the music come alive, and builds teacher confidence. These attributes were determined through an analysis of artifacts from the study guide writing team, and a survey to a sample group of teachers whose students attended the performance associated with the study guide. The study examines how knowledge of these critical attributes affects the design process. For this part of the research I examine my own practice as a curriculum writer and use my working notes, emails, drafts, and final products as my data.M.A