Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia: A Preliminary Investigation into the Effects of Mindfulness Instruction in a Complex Clinical Sample

posterPresented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium and the CSBS Research Day. Introduction Background • Emotion dysregulation is a risk factor for many forms of psychopathology (Vasilev et al, 2009). • Mindfulness based therapies, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are often effective for treating disorders characterized by emotion dysregulation (Khoury et al, 2013). • Low respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a biological measure associated with psychopathology and emotion dysregulation (Porges, 2007). • RSA is responsive to environmental input and can change over time (Gross, 2002). • It is currently unknown whether mindfulness results in improvements in RSA in populations characterized by emotion dysregulation. Hypothesis • We hypothesized that symptoms of psychopathology would correlate with emotion dysregulation, that psychopathology and emotion dysregulation would be associated with low baseline RSA, and that a brief mindfulness task would raise RSA

Essential Oils as Bacterial Disinfectants

Essential oils have become quite popular in natural medicine and their uses as an antibacterial household cleaner have been touted. We investigated how essential oils compared to bleach when used as disinfectants. Previously, we examined eight essential oils and two recipes (mixtures of oils) from Art Naturals for bacterial inhibition and found that six oils and both recipes consistently inhibited bacterial growth. In this study, we tested bacterial inhibition of individual oils, combinations/recipes of oils, exposure time to oils, concentrations of an oil, and build-up/toxicity of oil residues from doTERRA. Escherichia coli was plated onto McConkey agar as a lawn where treatment solutions were spotted onto each plate. Bleach and water served as positive and negative controls respectively. Thyme essential oil had the highest bacterial inhibition. Lemon essential oil did not inhibit bacterial growth. Inhibition zones were between 0-3cm out from the treatment location. To examine growth inhibition versus death, E. coli (MM294) was genetically transformed with pVIB containing lux genes to glow-in-the-dark during growth phase. Every essential oil that inhibited bacteria growth also showed a lack of glowing at the treatment location. Additionally, bleach and thyme oil were diluted (2%-0.2%) to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). After 48 hours bleach’s MIC was 1% and thyme’s was 0.3%. These finding indicate that not only do essential oils kill E. coli, but some are as or more effective than bleach. Testing other species of bacteria, and essential oils’ potency on human skin cells are areas for future study

George Price Boyce and the Consolation of Landscape

George Price Boyce (1826-1897) is little known today except by his diaries, which chronicle his association with the Pre-Raphaelite circle in London from 1851 to 1875. Yet in his own day Boyce was widely admired for his watercolor landscapes, and after 1864 was a leading member of the select Royal Water-Colour Society. His landscapes were thought to have a special, even eccentric quality, particularly his work from about 1859 to 1870, generally acknowledged to be his best. Critics and art historians who take note of Boyce today almost always link him with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. This thesis, however, seeks to establish the importance of other influences on Boyce\u27s work. Boyce became an artist in 1849 after meeting the great English watercolorist David Cox. After a brief summary of Boyce\u27s life, Chapter I traces the tradition of watercolor landscape in England to Cox, taking note of the major traditions: topography, ideal landscape, and the picturesque. Chapter II examines Boyce\u27s association with the Pre-Raphaelites. After establishing the principles of the Brotherhood, it seeks to show that Boyce had other motives in his work of that period more important than Pre-Raphaelite truth to nature. Boyce\u27s efforts to fulfill John Ruskin\u27s expectations for artists are also examined, especially Ruskin\u27s idea of architectural record-making. Chapter III describes Boyce\u27s most distinctive period, especially the Thames Valley drawings and some empty landscapes. Boyce\u27s exposure to Japanese prints is put forward as an explanation for the unsettling qualities these share. Finally, Chapter IV looks at Boyce\u27s last productive years, in which the drawings at last show the harmony which Boyce\u27s writings suggest he had sought in landscape from the first

Images of Cecal Volvulus From a Strangulating Fallopian Tube: A Case Report

An unusual case of cecal volvulus arising from a strangulating fallopian tube is presented. The etiology, diagnosis, and management guidelines of this infrequent cause of large bowel obstruction are reviewed. Computed tomography images are included, which demonstrate key features that are pathognomonic for this condition. To our knowledge, this is the first report of gynecologic adnexa giving rise to cecal volvulus

Perceptions, Barriers, and Suggestions for Creation of a Tobacco and Health Website among American Indian/Alaska Native College Students

Information concerning American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Internet use and health information needs is dearth. Our research team explored Internet use among AI/AN college students to determine Internet use in relation to health information seeking behaviors. We used a tobacco site example for participants to describe what they desired in a health site designed specifically for AI/AN. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted 14 focus groups with AI/AN college students (N=108), to better understand their perceptions of and attitudes toward Internet use and health information needs. Daily Internet use was reported across strata yet health topics investigated differed among groups. Participants in all strata desired a health website that was easy to navigate and interactive. Respectful representation of Native culture was a concern, yet no consensus was reached for a multi-tribal audience. Participants felt a website should use caution with cultural depictions due to the possible misinterpretation. Overall, participants agreed that recreational and traditional tobacco use should be differentiated and the variation of traditional use among tribes acknowledged. Data concerning Internet use for health information among AI/AN college students are needed to establish baseline indicators to effectively address disparities

Correction of misaligned slices in multi-slice cardiovascular magnetic resonance using slice-to-volume registration

A popular technique to reduce respiratory motion for cardiovascular magnetic resonance is to perform a multi-slice acquisition in which a patient holds their breath multiple times during the scan. The feasibility of rigid slice-to-volume registration to correct for misalignments of slice stacks in such images due to differing breath-hold positions is explored. Experimental results indicate that slice-to-volume registration can compensate for the typical misalignments expected. Correction of slice misalignment results in anatomically more correct images, as well as improved left ventricular volume measurements. The interstudy reproducibility has also been improved reducing the number of samples needed for cardiac MR studies

Metric Potential of a 3D Measurement System Based on Digital Compact Cameras

This paper presents an optical measuring system based on low cost, high resolution digital cameras. Once the cameras are synchronised, the portable and adjustable system can be used to observe living beings, bodies in motion, or deformations of very different sizes. Each of the cameras has been modelled individually and studied with regard to the photogrammetric potential of the system. We have investigated the photogrammetric precision obtained from the crossing of rays, the repeatability of results, and the accuracy of the coordinates obtained. Systematic and random errors are identified in validity assessment of the definition of the precision of the system from crossing of rays or from marking residuals in images. The results have clearly demonstrated the capability of a low-cost multiple-camera system to measure with sub-millimetre precision

A History of the Book: Disrupting Society from Tablet to Tablet

The written word is arguably one of the most powerful tools available to mankind. This book analyzes the history and social impact of written language from the oldest known writing systems to the rise of electronic media.https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/history_of_book/1015/thumbnail.jp

Iron Status and Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Ferric Carboxymaltose Treatment in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background and Aims:We analyzed iron deficiency and the therapeutic response following intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in a large single-center inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort. Methods: 250 IBD patients were retrospectively analyzed for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. A subgroup was analyzed regarding efficacy and side effects of iron supplementation with ferric carboxymaltose. Results: In the cohort (n = 250), 54.4% of the patients had serum iron levels 60 mu g/dl, 61.6% had ferritin >100 ng/ml, and 90.7% reached Hb >12/13 g/dl at follow-up (p < 0.0001 for all parameters vs. pretreatment values). The most frequent adverse event was a transient increase of liver enzymes with male gender as risk factor (p = 0.008, OR 8.62, 95% CI 1.74-41.66). Conclusions: Iron deficiency and anemia are frequent in IBD patients. Treatment with ferric carboxymaltose is efficious, safe and well tolerated in iron-deficient IBD patients. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base