Testing ADHD, executive functioning, and stimulant medication as predictors of psychotic symptoms in children

Executive dysfunction has been associated with psychotic experiences. One of the syndromes most associated with executive dysfunction difficulties in childhood is ADHD. However, stimulant ADHD medications are known to increase psychotic-like symptoms in some circumstances. These interrelated factors make it difficult to tease apart which of these most predict psychotic experiences. Using cross sectional data analysis, this thesis looks into the extent of how executive dysfunction, ADHD, and stimulant medication each independently predict psychotic symptoms in 9-10-year-old children. Part 1 is a conceptual paper based on a review of related literature. The primary aim was to understand the natures of ADHD, executive dysfunction, and stimulant medications. It further investigates their associations and potential mechanisms for psychotic experiences. Part 2 is an empirical paper, which reports a study on predictors of psychotic experiences in children. The study aimed to examine to what extent a diagnosis of ADHD, stimulant medication, and executive dysfunction each independently predict psychotic symptoms in children after controlling for potential confounders. Findings indicate that ADHD was not associated with psychotic experiences. On the other hand, both stimulant medication and executive dysfunction showed a significant relationship with psychotic experiences, even after controlling for confounders. Stimulant medication did not moderate the relationship between executive dysfunction and psychotic experiences. Clinical implications and future recommendations are further discussed. Part 3 is a critical appraisal of the study of the literature review and the empirical study. It includes personal reflections on the research processes from a clinical and research perspective

The Management of Chronic Myofascial Thoracolumbar Pain with Dry Needling, Spinal Manipulation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exercise: A Case Report

Background & Purpose: Chronic pain suffers have been shown to be comorbid with psychosocial impairments such as anxiety, depression and pain catastrophizing. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a popular non-pharmacological treatment that has shown efficacious outcomes in reducing pain and disability levels in chronic pain suffers. Myofascial pain syndrome is a pain condition within the soft tissue that is perpetrated by myofascial trigger points (MTrP). MTrPs are associated with greater disability, poorer sleep quality and altered muscle activation patterns. MTrPs are also correlated with the development of central sensitization and chronic pain syndromes. Dry needling (DN) and Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) have shown to reduce pain and disability in MTrP. The purpose of this case report is to provide a treatment rationale and documentation of the efficacy of combining CBT, DN, SMT and exercise in the management of an individual with chronic myofascial pain syndrome. Case Description: A 33-year-old male veteran was referred to therapy with a chief complaint of a constant, dull burning mid-scapular ache extending down to his lower back and up to his trapezius on the right side. He described this pain as 6/10 at current and constant, 5/10 at best with rest and pain medication and 10/10 at worst that occurs intermittently with prolonged sitting, walking and particularly forward-bending. Physical impairments included decreased and painful active range of motion, thoracic spine and rib hypomobility, and lumbar spine hypermobility with a positive prone instability test. MTrPs were identified along the T6-8 paraspinals, rhomboids at the medial border of the right scapula and lumbar segments L1-2 and L4-5. The patient was treated for nine 30-minute treatment sessions following a one-hour initial evaluation. DN was performed in 4/10 sessions; CBT, SMT and exercise were performed in every session. Outcomes: Pain intensity and catastrophizing were measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Disability was measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). Active functional movement was measured using the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA). Following ten treatments, NPRS improved from 7/10 to 3/10, PCS improved from 31/52 to 16/52, and ODI improved from 72% to 8%. PSFS to return to golfing improved from a perceived ability of as a 7/10 ability and return to CrossFit activities as 8/10. SFMA multi-segmental flexion and rotation and overhead squat improved to functional painful while single leg stance improved to functional non-painful. Thoracic spine and rib mobility improved to a grade 3 without pain. Discussion: Pain intensity, catastrophizing, disability and functional movement were all improved following nine treatment sessions. The outcomes of this case report suggest a multimodal treatment approach of DN, SMT, CBT and exercise may be beneficial for individuals with chronic myofascial pain

Global education for gender equality and sustainable human development. Making the connections

The paper examines and explores why gender equality must be seen as a final goal in and of itself and as a prerequisite for attaining sustainable human development goals and building global citizenship. Discriminatory practices in all areas including education, as well as traditional and harmful gender norms like violence against women limit, inhibit and eventually impede the full development and empowerment of women which is critical to the realization of these two goals. Globalization brought about an increasingly commercialized orientation to education which mainly caters to market needs and priorities. In this context, there is an urgent need for a meaningful reorientation of educational programs that aims at strengthening and broadening students’ critical thinking and understanding of education as a means to promote sustainable human development and global citizenship. For illustration, the specifi c example of Miriam College in the Philippines, is used to discuss both the possibilities, and challenges of gendered global learning strategies. (DIPF/Orig.)Der Beitrag untersucht, warum die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter als Endziel an und für sich und als Voraussetzung für die Verwirklichung einer nachhaltigen menschlichen Entwicklung und den Aufbau globaler Bürgerschaft gesehen werden muss. Geschlechtsdiskriminierende Praktiken in allen Bereichen, einschließlich im Bildungssystem, sowie traditionelle und Gender Normen und Gewalt gegen Frauen verhindern die volle Entfaltung und Stärkung von Frauen, die entscheidend für die Verwirklichung dieser beiden Ziele ist. Die Globalisierung bewirkte eine zunehmend kommerzialisierte Ausrichtung von Bildungsprozessen, die sich primär den marktwirtschaftlichen Zwängen unterwirft. In diesem Zusammenhang gibt es einen dringenden Bedarf für eine sinnvolle Neuausrichtung von Bildung, die darauf abzielt, das kritische Denken und Verständnis zu fördern und Bildung als Mittel zu einer nachhaltigen menschlichen Entwicklung und einer globalen Bürgerschaft begreift. (DIPF/Orig.

Study of adversarial and defensive components in an experimental machinery control systems laboratory environment

Industrial control systems (ICS) are a major part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. ICS are heavily relied upon within the Department of Defense, including the U.S. Navy. Securing these systems is vital to our national security. The lack of a centralized repository of tools to experiment with ICS from a cyber-security perspective makes this task difficult. This study examines publicly available defensive and adversarial ICS-related tools, to create a consolidated list based on relevance in the ICS domain. A small number of tools are selected for hands-on evaluation in an experimental Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition test environment to verify the tool’s availability, investigate if the tool works as described, and to confirm the existence of appropriate documentation sufficient to install and use the tool. As a result of our survey and tools evaluation, we developed and released the Moki Linux distribution, an ICS-centric version of Kali Linux tailored with defensive and adversarial tools for security practitioners and researchers in the ICS domain.http://archive.org/details/studyofdversaria1094543931Outstanding ThesisLieutenant, United State NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

WESTERN MUSIC BY ITS OTHERS: OVERSEAS FILIPINO MUSICIANS AND THE GEOGRAPHIES OF MIGRANT CREATIVE LABOR

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH