A MOVE TOWARD MINDFULNESS: A STUDY OF MINDFULNESS PRACTICES IN REGULAR EDUCATION CLASSROOMS K-12

ABSTRACT Spirituality practices like meditation, mindfulness, and movement (i.e., yoga) have become widely used and researched in the last 20 years among adults in both clinical and nonclinical settings (Bohlmeijer, Prenger, Taal, & Cuijipers, 2010; Burke, 2010; Ludwig & Kabat-Zinn, 2008). More recently practitioners have used them increasingly with young people in clinical settings (Biegel, Brown, Shapiro, & Schuber, 2009; Burke, 2010; Roberts, Roberts, & Chan, 2008; Thompson & Gauntlett-Gilbert, 2008). But at this time, few studies demonstrate how teachers incorporate these practices in K-12 schools, particularly within the regular education classroom (Goldstein, 2010). The purpose of this grounded theory case study was to identify and analyze how teachers and school staff in Minnesota schools implement mindfulness programs with K-12 students in traditional classroom settings and the impact these practices have on students’ behavior, mental health, and performance as described by study participants. This study utilized qualitative data collection under a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm and investigated six schools. The study consisted of 13 interviews with administrators, teachers, and support staff in K-12 settings in addition to classroom observations and a review of mindfulness curriculum. Primary findings reflected three phases of implementation: initiation, the implementation process, and the impact felt by students and schools. Specific findings included the influence of administration and teacher leaders, obstacles faced by stakeholders, the influence of gateway programs, and the motivation for and impact of implementation of mindfulness practices. This study led to the development of a mindfulness implementation model for K-12 students stemming from Fowler and Dell’s (2006) stages of faith development. The phases of the mindfulness implementation model include establishing a safe environment, play, calm and control, and quiet. Results of the study indicate a need to educate the public in the nature of spirituality versus religion and continued K-12 studies that explore long-term levels of impact

Textile-based active-sensory skins

Future generations of robots will include systems constructed from soft, conformable materials with embedded function for wearable and/or human-robot interaction applications. In particular, active textiles may be employed in applications, such as wearable computing, proprioceptive feedback, or load augmentation while potentially exploiting many textile manufacturing processes that are already widespread. In this discussion, a preliminary prototype of a robotic fabric with embedded actuation and sensing will be presented. By attaching the same robotic fabric to a soft body in different configurations, unique motions (such as compression and bending) have been demonstrated. The prototype incorporates shape-memory alloy (SMA) wires stitched onto a fabric base to actuate the fabric. Custom-designed hyperelastic strain sensors, stitched alongside the SMA wire, were used to determine the displacement of the fabric and to qualitatively differentiate between the compressive and bending motions demonstrated. In addition, a parametric study was performed to better understand SMA-fabric interactions. Parameters that were studied include elasticity of the fabric base, stitch length, stitch thread elasticity, and programmed coil diameter. Empirical trends for each parameter will be presented in the context of end-to-end displacement and force generation, as well as resulting design guidelines for tailoring robotic fabrics towards various applications. Finally, this discussion will highlight the manufacturability of robotic fabrics that employ thread-like actuators and sensors via common techniques such as sewing and stitching

Levels of Ca\u3csub\u3ev\u3c/sub\u3e1.2 L-Type Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Channels Peak in the First Two Weeks in Rat Hippocampus Whereas Ca\u3csub\u3ev\u3c/sub\u3e1.3 Channels Steadily Increase through Development

Influx of calcium through voltage-dependent channels regulates processes throughout the nervous system. Specifically, influx through L-type channels plays a variety of roles in early neuronal development and is commonly modulated by G-protein-coupled receptors such as GABAB receptors. Of the four isoforms of L-type channels, only Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 are predominately expressed in the nervous system. Both isoforms are inhibited by the same pharmacological agents, so it has been difficult to determine the role of specific isoforms in physiological processes. In the present study, Western blot analysis and confocal microscopy were utilized to study developmental expression levels and patterns of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus. Steady-state expression of Cav1.2 predominated during the early neonatal period decreasing by day 12. Steady-state expression of Cav1.3 was low at birth and gradually rose to adult levels by postnatal day 15. In immunohistochemical studies, antibodies against Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 demonstrated the highest intensity of labeling in the proximal dendrites at all ages studied (P1–72). Immunohistochemical studies on one-week-old hippocampi demonstrated significantly more colocalization of GABAB receptors with Cav1.2 than with Cav1.3, suggesting that modulation of L-type calcium current in early development is mediated through Cav1.2 channels

Development of a FRET biosensor to detect the pathogen mycoplasma capricolum

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (January 11, 2006)Includes bibliographical references.Vita.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2005.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Biological engineering.Mycoplasmas are a species of bacteria that invade any type of cell and are adaptable to changing environments. We are developing an optical biosensor based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) for detection of these pathogens, specifically for M. capricolum. Three different anti-peptide antibodies, (E, F₁, and F₂), were conjugated with AF-546 dye (donor). Then the antibodies were complexed to Protein G labeled with AF-594 dye (acceptor). When these detection complexes were bound to bacteria or specific peptide, there was a change in the 3-D conformation of the antibody causing a measurable change in acceptor emission. [alpha]-pep F₁ had the most distinct change at 12% so it was used in two different systems (organic fluorophores and a gold nanoparticle quenching system) and immobilized onto optical fibers. Our data illustrates that fiber optic biosensors measure conformational changes occurring when antibodies bind antigens and thus is a viable detection method for mycoplasmas

A Review of Blood Substitutes: Examining The History, Clinical Trial Results, and Ethics of Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers

The complications associated with acquiring and storing whole blood for transfusions have launched substantial efforts to develop a blood substitute. The history of these efforts involves a complicated mixture of science, ethics, and business. This review focuses on clinical trials of the three hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOC) that have progressed to Phase II or III clinical trials: He-mAssist (Baxter; Deerfield, IL, US), PolyHeme (Northfield; Evanston, IL, US), and Hemopure (Biopure; Cambridge, MA, US). Published animal studies and clinical trials carried out in a perioperative setting have demonstrated that these products successfully transport and deliver oxygen, but all may induce hypertension and lead to unexpectedly low cardiac outputs. Overall, these studies suggest that HBOCs resulted in only modest blood saving during and after surgery, no improvement in mortality and an increased incidence of adverse reactions. To date, the results from these perioperative studies have not led to regulatory approval. All three companies instead chose to focus their efforts on large trials of trauma patients in the pre-hospital setting

Enhancement of L-Dopa Incorporation into Melanoma by Dopa Decarboxylase Inhibition

Melanoma cells possess a special biochemical pathway for the conversion of L-dopa to melanin. Selective incorporation of exogenous L-dopa into melanoma cells in vivo has been limited by extensive decarboxylation to dopamine. Pretreatment of animals bearing the S-91 Cloudman or ACI melanomas with Ro4-4602, a potent dopa decarboxylase inhibitor limited incorporation of label into adrenal tissue and enhanced entry of label into tumor. Six hours following pretreatment, the ratio of tumor to adrenal specific activities was altered from 0.25 to 1.5 for the S-91 melanoma and 0.68 to 1.99 for the ACI melanoma indicating diversion of metabolism away from catecholamine formation. The possibility of a selective diagnostic and/or therapeutic approach is proposed

Effect of Protective Helmets on Visual and Sensory Performance

Current helmet testing does not consider implications on ability to see and respond, which is key to reducing injury risk. The purpose was to determine the effect of athletic headgear (i.e., football, lacrosse, and ice hockey helmets) on visual and sensory performance, as measured by scores on the Senaptec Sensory Station. Subjects were assessed on visual clarity, contrast sensitivity, depth perception, near-far quickness, target capture, perception span, multiple object tracking, eye-hand coordination, go/no go, and hand reaction time via the computer based system under helmeted and unhelmeted conditions. Participants performed significantly worse on eyehand coordination (p=0.01) and go/no go (p<0.01) assessments when wearing a helmet. Hockey helmets significantly affected visual clarity (p=0.01) and hand reaction time (p<0.01), but football and lacrosse helmets did not. Visual training with helmets should be considered to try to combat some of these visual deficits.Bachelor of Art

Association Between APOL1 Genotypes and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

BACKGROUND:APOL1 genetic variants confer an increased risk for kidney disease. Their associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are less certain. We aimed to compare the prevalence of subclinical CVD and incidence of atherosclerotic CVD and heart failure by APOL1 genotypes among self-identified black participants of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). METHODS AND RESULTS:Cross-sectional associations of APOL1 genotypes (high-risk=2 alleles; low-risk=0 or 1 allele) with coronary artery calcification, carotid-intimal media thickness, and left ventricular mass were evaluated using logistic and linear regression. Longitudinal associations of APOL1 genotypes with incident myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary heart disease, and congestive heart failure were examined using Cox regression. We adjusted for African ancestry, age, and sex. We also evaluated whether hypertension or kidney function markers explained the observed associations. Among 1746 participants with APOL1 genotyping (mean age 62&nbsp;years, 55% women, mean cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate 89&nbsp;mL/min per 1.73&nbsp;m2, 12% with albuminuria), 12% had the high-risk genotypes. We found no difference in prevalence or severity of coronary artery calcification, carotid-intimal media thickness, or left ventricular mass by APOL1 genotypes. The APOL1 high-risk group was 82% more likely to develop incident heart failure compared with the low-risk group (95% confidence interval, 1.01-3.28). Adjusting for hypertension (hazard ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-3.24) but not markers of kidney function (hazard ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.35) slightly attenuated this association. The APOL1 high-risk genotypes were not significantly associated with other clinical CVD outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:Among blacks without baseline CVD, the APOL1 high-risk variants may be associated with increased risk for incident heart failure but not subclinical CVD or incident clinical atherosclerotic CVD

Genetic Contributions to Age-Related Decline in Executive Function: A 10-Year Longitudinal Study of COMT and BDNF Polymorphisms

Genetic variability in the dopaminergic and neurotrophic systems could contribute to age-related impairments in executive control and memory function. In this study we examined whether genetic polymorphisms for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were related to the trajectory of cognitive decline occurring over a 10-year period in older adults. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the COMT (Val158/108Met) gene affects the concentration of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. In addition, a Val/Met substitution in the pro-domain for BDNF (Val66Met) affects the regulated secretion and trafficking of BDNF with Met carriers showing reduced secretion and poorer cognitive function. We found that impairments over the 10-year span on a task-switching paradigm did not vary as a function of the COMT polymorphism. However, for the BDNF polymorphism the Met carriers performed worse than Val homozygotes at the first testing session but only the Val homozygotes demonstrated a significant reduction in performance over the 10-year span. Our results argue that the COMT polymorphism does not affect the trajectory of age-related executive control decline, whereas the Val/Val polymorphism for BDNF may promote faster rates of cognitive decay in old age. These results are discussed in relation to the role of BDNF in senescence and the transforming impact of the Met allele on cognitive function in old age

Simon Says (Fall 2005)

Inside this issue: Welcome from the Dean Journal Review 30th Anniversary Note Highwire Press Journals Notes and Updates Rachel Horne Retirementhttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/library_newsletters/1005/thumbnail.jp