Machine Science in Biomedicine: Practicalities, Pitfalls and Potential

Machine Science, or Data-driven Research, is a new and interesting scientific methodology that uses advanced computational techniques to identify, retrieve, classify and analyse data in order to generate hypotheses and develop models. In this paper we describe three recent biomedical Machine Science studies, and use these to assess the current state of the art with specific emphasis on data mining, data assessment, costs, limitations, skills and tool support

Psychobiological factors of resilience and depression in late life.

In contrast to traditional perspectives of resilience as a stable, trait-like characteristic, resilience is now recognized as a multidimentional, dynamic capacity influenced by life-long interactions between internal and environmental resources. We review psychosocial and neurobiological factors associated with resilience to late-life depression (LLD). Recent research has identified both psychosocial characteristics associated with elevated LLD risk (e.g., insecure attachment, neuroticism) and psychosocial processes that may be useful intervention targets (e.g., self-efficacy, sense of purpose, coping behaviors, social support). Psychobiological factors include a variety of endocrine, genetic, inflammatory, metabolic, neural, and cardiovascular processes that bidirectionally interact to affect risk for LLD onset and course of illness. Several resilience-enhancing intervention modalities show promise for the prevention and treatment of LLD, including cognitive/psychological or mind-body (positive psychology; psychotherapy; heart rate variability biofeedback; meditation), movement-based (aerobic exercise; yoga; tai chi), and biological approaches (pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy). Additional research is needed to further elucidate psychosocial and biological factors that affect risk and course of LLD. In addition, research to identify psychobiological factors predicting differential treatment response to various interventions will be essential to the development of more individualized and effective approaches to the prevention and treatment of LLD

Contextual Factors of Harsh Parenting: Investigating the Role of Impulsivity and Parent Attribution Bias Under Conditions of Household Chaos

The use of harsh parenting strategies as a form of disciplining child misbehavior has been identified as an underlying factor for child abuse; thus, it is important to examine underlying causal factors for harsh parenting. While not originally formulated around harsh parenting, social information processing models of reactive aggression have highlighted internal attributions and impulsivity as key processes in social decision-making. Therefore, the current study integrated these theoretical models to explore how these processes are involved in harsh parenting behaviors and how these processes may interact in the context of environmental factors such as household chaos. Results revealed significant direct effects of internal parent attributions and impulsivity on harsh parenting behaviors. These effects remained significant above and beyond identified covariates (i.e., race/ethnicity, traditional authoritarian beliefs, cognitive reappraisal in emotion regulation, and negative affect). Furthermore, race/ethnicity and negative affect were no longer significant after internal parent attributions and impulsivity were entered into the full model. However, results revealed that impulsivity did not moderate the positive relationship between internal parent attributions and reported harsh parenting behavior. Furthermore, the study did not observe a conditional effect of household chaos on the proposed moderating effect of impulsivity. Nonetheless, these nonsignificant results may be indicative of limitations in the study’s attempts to recruit of a diverse parent sample. Future studies should closely examine interactions within a more diverse parent sample that reflects higher dysfunctional impulsivity

Postpartum Depression: Development of a Screening Protocol in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 19% of all postpartum women. Evidence indicates an increased risk for mothers of hospitalized infants, with estimates ranging from 28% to 67%. The American Academy of Pediatrics and Bright Futures recommend mothers be screened for postpartum depression at the infants’ well-child appointments. During hospitalizations, there are no well-child appointments; thus, no postpartum depression screening. This project aims to 1) improve knowledge of PPD in the staff of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and 2) investigate the staff’s interest level in implementing a PPD screening protocol. Utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, a protocol was developed to screen postpartum mothers at 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month intervals. Staff of the NICU received a 30-minute educational presentation on PPD, the developed PPD screening protocol, and available resources for mothers who screen positive for PPD. The effectiveness of the education was measured using pre-and post-education Likert-style surveys. Outcomes, as measured by a self-reported Likert survey, indicated a ~74% increase in PPD knowledge and a ~64% increase in willingness to screen for PPD in the NICU. This project suggests that educating NICU staff increases knowledge and willingness to screen for PPD in the NICU. This quality improvement project adds to the growing body of literature that inpatient PPD screening is feasible and necessary

Effects of a Video Based Intervention on Job Interview Skills of Youth with Autism

In this dissertation, I conducted a multiple-probe-across-participants design to examine the impact of a video-based intervention on interview skills of youth with autism. First, I conducted a systematic literature review of interview interventions. Results were used to guide the development of this study’s measure and procedures. Finding that previous literature relied on rubric measures to rate interview skill behaviors, I developed and piloted a primary measure for examining direct speech production. Using transcripts and video analysis, this study captures the construct of interview skills using both quantity (frequency of relevant/irrelevant c-units) and quality (interview skills rubric score). The intervention consisted of direct instruction, video modeling, self-video modeling, self-reflection, and role play. I recruited four youths with autism and incorporated their career aspirations to individualize the intervention and provide greater incentive. Additionally, I recruited two local business owners in the participants chosen field (i.e., the food industry) to interview participants during the generalization session. Results demonstrate a functional relation between the introduction of the intervention package and increases in interview skills. The three participants who agreed to participate in the generalization interview maintained interview skills with local business owners. Results from this study add scientific knowledge on systematically scoring direct speech production and highlight the importance of individualizing interview interventions. I conclude by discussing future research and the implications of these findings for practice and policy

The Hult Prize: A Guide on How to Be Successful

The Hult Prize competition is the worlds largest international case competition. After participating in the Hult Prize for the past 2 years as the team captain, one which the group came out as one of the top 10 teams out of over 25,000 for a business model that aimed to double the income of individuals making less than $2 a day, I have created an overarching guide that will guide future teams to being successful within the competition. The key is to focus on a few on a few key parts: building a team, the general timeline, research, brainstorming, finances, the presentation, and Q&A. There are also important tips to consider, as well as what not to do. While the guide revolves around the Hult Prize, it can also be helpful when looking creating a start-up company within the category of social entrepreneurship and pitching to investors

Examining the Role of Behavioral Inhibition in Harsh Parenting Preferences: An Analog Study

Understanding the cognitive processes involved in harsh parenting behavior would have broad implications for parenting interventions and training programs. Few studies have addressed how parental stressors, specifically infant crying, can influence individuals’ self-regulatory cognitive capacities and ultimately their preference for harsh parenting strategies. Furthermore, little research has explored the link between these cognitive processes and harsh parenting preferences; thus, little work has been done to establish a true causal relationship. This study examined the role of behavioral inhibition in harsh parenting preferences when individuals were exposed to an infant crying noise. Participants (n = 129) were undergraduate students (Mage = 19.97 years; 79.8% female; 47.3% African American, 39.5% Caucasian) who were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) white noise and (2) infant crying noise. During the experiment they completed a cognitive task to capture their behavioral inhibition as well as measures of emotion regulation, parenting attitudes/beliefs, and other predictors of harsh parenting. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that infant crying noise did not moderate the relationship between behavioral inhibition and harsh parenting preferences. However, as hypothesized, the analyses indicated that lower behavioral inhibition predicted harsher physical parenting preferences. In addition, gender differences in harsh parenting preferences were explored using analysis of covariance analyses, which indicated that males and females did not differ in harsh parenting preferences. However, the current study did not collect enough males to meet power criteria, which may explain this non-significant effect. Methodological implications and recommendations for future research are discussed

Assessment of Melanistic Lesions in Smallmouth Bass ( Micropterus dolomieu) of the Chesapeake Bay, USA

Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are an important sportfish in the Susquehanna and Potomac River Basins of the Chesapeake Bay drainage. However, population declines in portions of the Susquehanna, fish kills and reports of visible abnormalities such as melanistic spots have raised concern among the public and resource managers. Although the etiology or risk factors associated with melanistic lesions are unknown, there is a propensity to attribute the abnormality to contaminants. Melanistic lesions of smallmouth bass were assessed using histopathology and gene expression analysis to evaluate the cellular and molecular changes compared to normal skin. The prevalence of melanistic bass at specific sites in the Chesapeake Bay drainage was also examined. Higher incidences of bass with melanistic lesions were documented in the Susquehanna River compared to the Potomac River. Typical melanistic lesions consisted of rounded to spindle shaped, melanin-containing cells (or melanophores) in a thickened epidermis whereas normal skin only contains melanophores in the dermal-epidermal interface. RNA-Seq data revealed the expression of a papillomavirus helicase exclusively in melanistic areas. Transcript abundance analyses of DCT (L-dopachrome tautomerase), MC5R (melanocortin receptor 5), MITF (micropthalmia-associated transcription factor), PMEL (melanocyte protein), TYR (tyrosinase), TYRP-1 (tyrosinase-related protein 1), Rab38 (Ras-related protein Rab-38), Akt1 (RAC-alpha serine threonine-kinase), KRT8 (keratin type II cytoskeletal 8), and MT-1 (metallothionein) showed differential expression in melanistic areas. Further research will be needed to determine the roles of a potentially novel papilloma virus and chemical contaminants in induction of melanistic areas of smallmouth bass