Linking Embeddedness and Macroinvertebrate in Two Southwest Ohio Streams

Environmental managers utilize a variety of tools when assessing lotic systems for stressors attributed to anthropogenic sources. Stream deposited sediment has been recognized as one of the major stressors affecting streams in the U.S. The detrimental effect on aquatic biota of sediment depositing within the interstitial spaces of stream substrate (embeddedness) has been established, yet lacking is an effective in situ method of quantifying embeddedness over short time periods. The goal of this research was to develop a short-term embeddedness (EMB) quantification method that can be linked to benthic macroinvertebrate health. Such a method would be a valuable tool when conducting biological and physical habitat assessments of wadeable streams and rivers. An in situ embeddedness chamber was developed to capture sediment deposited within the interstitial spaces of a uniformly sized substrate. Using sediment accumulation and macroinvertebrate colonization as endpoints, three exposure periods were evaluated (4, 7, and 14 days) on a small order stream (Honey Creek, New Carlisle, Ohio, USA) and a medium order stream (Stillwater River, Covington, Ohio, USA). The experiment was conducted during low flow conditions with little variation in flow, turbidity, and total suspended solids. Three treatment areas located downstream of the EMB chambers also were established to assess benthic macroinvertebrate colonization rates. Different levels of substrate disturbance (disturbed, slightly disturbed, and undisturbed) were mimicked by removing the embedded fine sediments. Embeddedness chamber results show correlations between newly deposited fine sediment and insect colonization rates. Measured percent embeddedness (USGS method) results at both sites were close to a natural stream condition (~33-35% embedded)

The role of identification with a joke target in perceptions of disparaging humor

In the present research I focus on identifying the variables that affect women’s perceptions of sexist humor. Previous research and theory have identified attitude toward women as the critical predictor of amusement with sexist humor; I propose that the degree of dis-identification with women as a social category is also an important predictor. I conducted two studies to investigate the role that dis-identification with women plays in predicting women's perceptions of sexist humor. In support of my hypothesis, results of Study 1 showed that more dis-identification with women predicted more amusement with sexist humor. Further, in addition to gender attitudes, degree of dis-identification with women mediated the effect of gender on amusement with sexist humor. In Study 2 I found that hostile sexism was related to dis-identification with feminists to a greater degree than with women in general or housewives, and that insofar as women are high in hostile sexism, they interpret the message of humor disparaging feminists less critically than humor disparaging other subgroups of women. Overall, my findings provide support for the hypothesis that women perceive sexist humor more positively to the extent that they dis-identify with women as a social category

Video-Based Communication Assessment: Development of an Innovative System for Assessing Clinician-Patient Communication

Good clinician-patient communication is essential to provide quality health care and is key to patient-centered care. However, individuals and organizations seeking to improve in this area face significant challenges. A major barrier is the absence of an efficient system for assessing clinicians\u27 communication skills and providing meaningful, individual-level feedback. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and creation of the Video-Based Communication Assessment (VCA), an innovative, flexible system for assessing and ultimately enhancing clinicians\u27 communication skills. We began by developing the VCA concept. Specifically, we determined that it should be convenient and efficient, accessible via computer, tablet, or smartphone; be case based, using video patient vignettes to which users respond as if speaking to the patient in the vignette; be flexible, allowing content to be tailored to the purpose of the assessment; allow incorporation of the patient\u27s voice by crowdsourcing ratings from analog patients; provide robust feedback including ratings, links to highly rated responses as examples, and learning points; and ultimately, have strong psychometric properties. We collected feedback on the concept and then proceeded to create the system. We identified several important research questions, which will be answered in subsequent studies. The VCA is a flexible, innovative system for assessing clinician-patient communication. It enables efficient sampling of clinicians\u27 communication skills, supports crowdsourced ratings of these spoken samples using analog patients, and offers multifaceted feedback reports

The feasibility of using pedometers and brief advice to increase activity in sedentary older women:a pilot study

Background: People over the age of 70 carry the greatest burden of chronic disease, disability and health care use. Participation in physical activity is crucial for health, and walking accounts for much of the physical activity undertaken by sedentary individuals. Pedometers are a useful motivational tool to encourage increased walking and they are cheap and easy to use. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of the use of pedometers plus a theory-based intervention to assist sedentary older women to accumulate increasing amounts of physical activity, mainly through walking. Methods: Female participants over the age of 70 were recruited from primary care and randomised to receive either pedometer plus a theory-based intervention or a theory-based intervention alone. The theory-based intervention consisted of motivational techniques, goal-setting, barrier identification and self-monitoring with pedometers and daily diaries. The pedometer group were further randomised to one of three target groups: a 10%, 15% or 20% monthly increase in step count to assess the achievability and acceptability of a range of targets. The primary outcome was change in daily activity levels measured by accelerometry. Secondary outcome measures were lower limb function, health related quality of life, anxiety and depression. Results: 54 participants were recruited into the study, with an average age of 76. There were 9 drop outs, 45 completing the study. All participants in the pedometer group found the pedometers easy to use and there was good compliance with diary keeping (96% in the pedometer group and 83% in the theory-based intervention alone group). There was a strong correlation (0.78) between accelerometry and pedometer step counts i.e. indicating that walking was the main physical activity amongst participants. There was a greater increase in activity (accelerometry) amongst those in the 20% target pedometer group compared to the other groups, although not reaching statistical significance (p = 0.192). Conclusion: We have demonstrated that it is feasible to use pedometers and provide theory-based advice to community dwelling sedentary older women to increase physical activity levels and a larger study is planned to investigate this further.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Social, environmental and psychological factors associated with objective physical activity levels in the over 65s

Objective: To assess physical activity levels objectively using accelerometers in community dwelling over 65 s and to examine associations with health, social, environmental and psychological factors. Design: Cross sectional survey. Setting: 17 general practices in Scotland, United Kingdom. Participants: Random sampling of over 65 s registered with the practices in four strata young-old (65–80 years), old-old (over 80 years), more affluent and less affluent groups. Main Outcome Measures: Accelerometry counts of activity per day. Associations between activity and Theory of Planned Behaviour variables, the physical environment, health, wellbeing and demographic variables were examined with multiple regression analysis and multilevel modelling. Results: 547 older people (mean (SD) age 79(8) years, 54% female) were analysed representing 94% of those surveyed. Accelerometry counts were highest in the affluent younger group, followed by the deprived younger group, with lowest levels in the deprived over 80 s group. Multiple regression analysis showed that lower age, higher perceived behavioural control, the physical function subscale of SF-36, and having someone nearby to turn to were all independently associated with higher physical activity levels (R2 = 0.32). In addition, hours of sunshine were independently significantly associated with greater physical activity in a multilevel model. Conclusions: Other than age and hours of sunlight, the variables identified are modifiable, and provide a strong basis for the future development of novel multidimensional interventions aimed at increasing activity participation in later life.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Specification and Function of Developmental Programmed Cell Death

Programmed cell death is a crucial process for animal development. Within the developing nervous system neurons are removed through developmental programmed cell death (dPCD), altering neuronal architecture. In the central nervous system (CNS) where dPCD is controlled intrinsically, it is not clear how or why these particular cells are choosing to die since the decision is independent of their context within the nervous system. A similar intrinsically regulated dPCD is found in C. elegans. These cell deaths occur across the lineage and are highly stereotyped, so that the same 131 cells are removed in each individual. We have developed a transcriptional reporter system for interrogating the regulation of dPCD to determine how cells are deciding to die. dPCD can be prevented through null mutations in in pro-apoptotic genes, which allows us to probe the function of dPCD by observing the results of its prevention. My thesis work finds that one function of dPCD in the C. elegans nervous system is to remove variability. Normally an asymmetric cell division will produce one larger cell that survives and has a robust fate and one smaller cell that lacks a robust differentiation program and will die. When dPCD is prevented, the cells that would be removed are found to not follow the strict fate adoption that the other somatic cells have. Developmental programmed cell death is also needed for maintaining stereotyped behavior, as the presence of undead cells alters synaptic patterning and alters reversal behavior