Researcher Profile: Megan Ford

Researcher Profile: Megan For

Foreword

The University of Richmond Law Review is pleased to present the eighth annual Allen Chair Symposium issue. The purpose of the annual symposium is to provide a forum for discussion of legal issues of current significance. This is made possible by the generous support of the friends and family of George E. Allen. This issue of the Law Review is the literary complement to the symposium presentations

The Eccentricity Distribution of Short-Period Planet Candidates Detected by Kepler in Occultation

We characterize the eccentricity distribution of a sample of ~50 short-period planet candidates using transit and occultation measurements from NASA's Kepler Mission. First, we evaluate the sensitivity of our hierarchical Bayesian modeling and test its robustness to model misspecification using simulated data. When analyzing actual data assuming a Rayleigh distribution for eccentricity, we find that the posterior mode for the dispersion parameter is $\sigma=0.081 \pm^{0.014}_{0.003}$. We find that a two-component Gaussian mixture model for $e \cos \omega$ and $e \sin \omega$ provides a better model than either a Rayleigh or Beta distribution. Based on our favored model, we find that $\sim90\%$ of planet candidates in our sample come from a population with an eccentricity distribution characterized by a small dispersion ($\sim0.01$), and $\sim10\%$ come from a population with a larger dispersion ($\sim0.22$). Finally, we investigate how the eccentricity distribution correlates with selected planet and host star parameters. We find evidence that suggests systems around higher metallicity stars and planet candidates with smaller radii come from a more complex eccentricity distribution.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

A therapist’s perspective of a financial planning course: Implications for financial therapy education and trainings

This paper presents the autoethnography of a doctoral Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) student studying finances in a graduate course. A dataset in the form of field notes was created through recording observations and reflective journaling during the 15 week financial planning course. This data set included observations and insights on various skills and knowledge that would be helpful for conducting financial therapy, the professional and personal growth of a therapist integrating finances into her clinical work, and evaluations regarding how financial courses can be beneficial for therapists and planners who are interested in the interaction between relational and financial issues. Based on the first author’s experiences, reflections and conversations with the second author, four themes were developed. The themes were: (a) Seeing the Unnoticed: Challenging Implicit Assumptions, (b) Critically Examining My Own Money Scripts, (c) What can Therapists Learn From the Financial Discipline, and (d) What Financial Planners can Learn from the Clinical Disciplines. Implications for the burgeoning field of financial therapy are discussed, with special attention given to cross-discipline education and training

Preference for Internet Therapy versus Traditional Therapy to Treat Postpartum Depression

A growing body of research has emerged about effective treatments for postpartum depression, specifically how the internet could become a pivotal and vital option for women with postpartum symptoms. With that in mind, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate whether women suffering from postpartum depression preferred traditional therapy treatment or internet therapy treatment. The nonexperimental survey design was used to assess differences between groups related to stigma, satisfaction with treatment, and perceived quality of treatment received. Data collected from a sample of 78 adult females, who had previously received postpartum depression therapy treatment, indicated there was no difference experienced between the treatment modalities. Results were calculated using an independent sample t-test, noninferiority design, and it was determined that participants perceived no difference in their experience of stigma, treatment satisfaction, and perception of credibility and quality between the two therapy modalities. This study adds to the growing body of literature that suggests internet therapy may be a viable option for some women. The results encourage positive social change in that psychologists may advance clinical practice through incorporating technology into their treatment plans, thereby benefiting women who suffer from this condition and who may not be able to readily access a therapist\u27s office on a weekly basis

PHOSPHORYLATION AND BEYOND: EXPLORATION OF TOR-MEDIATED PTM SIGNALING IN CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII

Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a highly conserved master regulatory kinase involved in the control of most essential biological processes including cell growth, nutrient sensing, and autophagy. While TOR is well-studied in mammalian species and yeast, comparatively little is known about its regulatory roles in other organisms, particularly in phototrophs. To fill this knowledge gap, the plant community is applying -omic strategies to assess the role of TOR in regulating metabolic pathways, particularly proteomics, which provides insight into expression levels and modifications that is missing in other techniques. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) to activate/deactivate functional proteins are an essential component of cellular signaling used by TOR and other regulators. This has propelled innovations in PTM analysis to probe metabolic pathways. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a model phototroph that is easily culturable and has a fully sequenced genome, making it an attractive organism for studying algal TOR signaling. The aim of this dissertation is to establish and apply PTM-focused proteomic methods in Chlamydomonas to characterize the role of protein phosphorylation and reversible oxidation in TOR’s regulation of signaling networks.First, this work investigates reversible oxidation sites under the control of TOR in Chlamydomonas through a quantitative inhibition study (Chapter 2). Next, a quantitative workflow for phosphopeptide analysis in Chlamydomonas that can be used to assess phosphorylative TOR signaling is described in detail with technical replicates to assess its overall reproducibility (Chapter 3). Application of the quantitative phosphoproteomic pipeline was then employed to study the impact of inositol polyphosphates on TOR signaling (Chapter 4). Techniques for performing in vitro kinase screening to identify direct targets of phosphorylation, are discussed including heterologous expression of kinase samples, preparation of a library of potential targets, screening parameters, and sample preparation for LC-MS/MS analysis (Chapter 5). This workflow provides insight into signaling pathways that cannot be gleaned from proteomic in vivo studies alone. Using these techniques, this kinase screening platform was validated using the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase of Arabidopsis thaliana, and then applied to attempt to identify putative direct targets of Chlamydomonas TOR (Chapter 6). While this technique was unable to identify direct TOR targets, the success of the validation suggests that with further optimization of the expression and purification of the kinase construct, screening of TOR may be possible. Combined, the work shared herein highlights the importance of TOR in algal signaling and provides valuable information on the regulatory modifications under TOR control.Doctor of Philosoph

Assessing Preference and Stability of Preference for Individuals with Neurocognitive Disorder

Poor engagement can lead to a reduced quality of life for individuals with neurocognitive disorder (NCD). Research on determining preference and increasing engagement with this population is limited. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of four preference assessment formats in identifying preferred activities and predicting engagement for six females with NCD and to measure the stability of preference and engagement over time. We compared the predictability of single stimulus(SS) verbal and multimedia assessments, caregiver ranking (CR) assessments, and multiple-stimulus without-replacement (MSWO) assessments. Participants responded consistently on SS assessments, but we noted inconsistencies between the CR and MSWO assessments. SS assessments predicted engagement during engagement analyses, but rank-order assessments did not predict engagement for moderately ranked activities. The rank-order assessments predicted engagement for highly ranked activities for most participants and for low-ranked activities for two participants. We also evaluated the stability of preferences and engagement over time. Participants responded consistently on SS assessments and inconsistently on MSWO assessments across time. SS assessments consistently predicted engagement during engagement analyses for five participants, but when activity rank is considered, the MSWO was inconsistent in predicting engagement across time for most participants. These results suggest that SS assessments may be useful for identifying preferred activities and engagement, and preferences may remain stable for some individuals with NCD

Physiological Arousal during Couple Financial Discussions as a Precursor to Seeking Financial Planning Help

There continues to be a great need for financial guidance within American households, yet the utilization of professional financial help, despite its growing accessibility, is low. It has been suggested that physiological arousal is an important factor that influences help-seeking behaviors. This paper tests the hypothesis that help-seeking intentions at the couple level are shaped in part by physiological arousal within the couple. Although exploratory, findings suggest the greater the joint level of arousal, the more likely a couple will be to report an intention to meet with a financial planner. Couples who experience a higher level of arousal during a financial therapy session were found to be more likely to self-report an intention to engage in future financial planning services. Conversely, couples who reported less intention to seek help responded with less arousal during sessions. Implications for financial professionals working with couples are discussed

A Theoretical Approach to Financial Therapy: The Development of the Ford Financial Empowerment Model

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an integrative approach to working with clients experiencing problems related to financial disempowerment. The multi-phase model integrates three theoretically-driven psychotherapy approaches, including cognitive behavioral, narrative, and Virginia Satir’s experiential therapies, and financial counseling techniques to increase one’s sense of financial empowerment. A case study is included to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the model