Understanding and Evaluating Quality of Life for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: A Northwestern Vermont Population Study

Introduction There are 7-8 million individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities living in the US. • 91,795 of this population lives in Vermont • Historically marginalized and isolated community • Socioeconomic, health-related, and emotional burden • Public health-related disparity Champlain Community Services (CCS): non-profit service provider and coordinator for 86 persons with intellectual disabilities in Northwestern Vermont Objectives: • Develop and apply measures to better understand and evaluate quality of life in the population CCS serves. • Recommend improvement to CCS data collection and evaluation methods. • Provide a basis for future recommendations to CCS services that are aligned to the needs of consumers.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1275/thumbnail.jp

A microcontroller-facilitated complex span task for examining the effects of background music on working memory capacity

Participants memorized sequences of colors while listening to background music varying in likeability, type of lyrics, and degree of stimulation. The sequences were randomized and transmitted using a microcontroller with LEDs. It was found that songs that are liked achieved the lowest average serial recall percent accuracy (57.9% ± 6), and songs that participants disliked achieved a higher average (64.4% ± 9) than did those toward which they were apathetic (62.1% ± 11). For three pop songs, a song with English lyrics produced the worst results (57.5% ± 20) while music with no lyrics produced the best (64.6% ± 10). A song in Mandarin achieved intermediate results of 62.7% ± 11. While listening to stimulating music, people achieved an only 59.8% ± 5 in comparison to 65.7% ± 7 for relaxing music. Ongoing efforts to increase the sample size from 14 are expected to improve statistical significance

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Detection of Neurotransmitters

Current in vivo methods for analyzing neurochemicals include invasive procedures, such as drilling a hole through the skull. Common in vitro methods of neurotransmitter detection through analysis of biofluids require considerable time to gather and process data. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a detection method that is non-invasive, selective, rapid, and label free. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) would be advantageous for the detection of local concentrations of neurotransmitters in non-invasively collected biofluids. This method of Raman spectroscopy provides enhanced signals through the adsorption of low concentration analytes to gold nanoparticles, which creates an oscillating electric field called the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). In the Sharma lab, we focus on the development of biosensors for early disease detection through the use of gold nanoparticles to achieve SERS detection of five major neurochemicals. In order to optimize enhancement, we vary the acidity of the nanoparticle solution. SERS allows for a highly selective detection method that provides rapid sample analysis. We present the development of our detection method along with results on the SERS detection of five major neurotransmitters in the micromolar to nanomolar range

Determinants and beliefs of health information mavens among a lower-socioeconomic position and minority population.

People of lower-socioeconomic position (SEP) and most racial/ethnic minorities face significant communication challenges which may negatively impact their health. Previous research has shown that these groups rely heavily on interpersonal sources to share and receive health information; however, little is known about these lay sources. The purpose of this paper is to apply the concept of a market maven to the public health sector with the aims of identifying determinants of high health information mavenism among low-SEP and racial/ethnic minority groups and to assess the information they may be sharing based on their own health beliefs. Data for this study were drawn from the baseline survey (n = 325) of a US randomized control intervention study aimed at eliciting an understanding of Internet-related challenges among lower-SEP and minority individuals. Regression models were estimated to distinguish significant determinants of health information mavenism among the sample. Similarly, bivariate and logistic multivariable models were estimated to determine the association between health information mavenism and accurate health beliefs relating to diet, physical activity and smoking. The data illustrate that having a larger social network, being female and being older were important factors associated with higher mavenism scores. Additionally being a moderate consumer of general media as well as fewer years in the US and lower language acculturation were significant predictors of higher mavenism scores. Mavens were more likely than non-mavens to maintain accurate beliefs regarding diet; however, there was no distinction between physical activity and smoking beliefs between mavens and non-mavens. These results offer a unique understanding of health information mavenism which could better leverage word-of-mouth health communication efforts among lower-SEP and minority groups in order to reduce communication inequalities. Moreover, the data indicate that health information mavens may serve as an ideal point of intervention in attempts to modify health beliefs with the goal of reducing health disparities among these populations

Determinants and beliefs of health information mavens among a lower-socioeconomic position and minority population

People of lower-socioeconomic position (SEP) and most racial/ethnic minorities face significant communication challenges which may negatively impact their health. Previous research has shown that these groups rely heavily on interpersonal sources to share and receive health information; however, little is known about these lay sources. The purpose of this paper is to apply the concept of a market maven to the public health sector with the aims of identifying determinants of high health information mavenism among low-SEP and racial/ethnic minority groups and to assess the information they may be sharing based on their own health beliefs. Data for this study were drawn from the baseline survey (n = 325) of a US randomized control intervention study aimed at eliciting an understanding of Internet-related challenges among lower-SEP and minority individuals. Regression models were estimated to distinguish significant determinants of health information mavenism among the sample. Similarly, bivariate and logistic multivariable models were estimated to determine the association between health information mavenism and accurate health beliefs relating to diet, physical activity and smoking. The data illustrate that having a larger social network, being female and being older were important factors associated with higher mavenism scores. Additionally being a moderate consumer of general media as well as fewer years in the US and lower language acculturation were significant predictors of higher mavenism scores. Mavens were more likely than non-mavens to maintain accurate beliefs regarding diet; however, there was no distinction between physical activity and smoking beliefs between mavens and non-mavens. These results offer a unique understanding of health information mavenism which could better leverage word-of-mouth health communication efforts among lower-SEP and minority groups in order to reduce communication inequalities. Moreover, the data indicate that health information mavens may serve as an ideal point of intervention in attempts to modify health beliefs with the goal of reducing health disparities among these populations.Communication inequalities Health disparities Health information mavenism

The Quad, Volume 10, Issue 1

Editors-in-Chief: Dmitry Berenson and Billy Tobenkin Associate Editors: Anastasia Poushkareva and Madeleine WellsThe Quad is a literary and art magazine celebrating its tenth year at Cornell. We publish poetry, prose, and art on any subject from any author. This is our fall 2004 issue. Enjoy

Threatened Buildings Documented in Delaware, 1999-2000: Charles I. du Pont Tenant Farm

The Charles I. du Pont Tenant Farm House stands today as an example of a finely detailed, mid-to-late eighteenth century rural dwelling. Although architectural evidence suggests that a member of Kent County's rural elite built the dwelling, the farm served from an early date as a tenant property. Outbuildings on the farm date primarily from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, when the du Pont family owned the property. The farm complex provides an excellent example of the use of agricultural tenancy as a strategy for generating income, particularly in its connection with the dairy industry

Threatened Buildings Documented in Delaware, 1999-2000: John Barber House

The John Barber House is significant both as a log dwelling dating to the second quarter of the nineteenth century and for its association with the practice of tenant farming common in Kent County