The Influence of K9 Partners on Law Enforcement Officers

This study aims to examine if and how the personal and professional lives of K9-handling officers and their police department are impacted by having access to and working alongside K9s. It also considers the possible variation in degrees of attachment to one’s dog between K9-handling officers and members of the general public. Through an online survey, questions from the Perceived Stress Scale and the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale were asked to better understand how working alongside dogs can change levels of stress. It was found that K9-handling officers experience significantly lower levels of stress compared to non-K9-handling officers. Further, it was also found that K9-handling officers experience significantly higher levels of attachment and general connection to their K9 partner compared to members of the public with their companion dogs. Overall, this study suggests that dogs can have a major positive impact on their human partners in typically high-stress work environments, and not just in companionship situations. However, since research in this area is highly limited, more work should be done looking at the positive impacts of dogs on people working in high-stress, niche work environments, such as law enforcement and military. Additionally, more work should be done to examine how working dogs are able to help the well-being of their human partner when both on and off work

Parental Status Influences Human-to-Pet Caregiving Behaviors, Attachment, and Attitudes in a Finnish Sample

A growing body of literature suggests people are choosing to forego parenthood, bringing companion animals into the home as a focus for people’s attachment and caretaking behavior instead. This emergent “pet parenting” can be defined as the parent-like investment in companion animals and has been linked to countries that are experiencing or have experienced the Second Demographic Transition (SDT) marked by subreplacement fertility, changing marriage norms, increased educational attainment, and a flexible life orientation no longer focused solely on reproduction. In this research, we sought to determine if Finland, a country where the SDT has already been evidenced, is also experiencing an emergence of pet parenting and whether there is a difference between parents’, nonparents’, and future parents’ attachment and caregiving behaviors toward companion animals in the home. A total of 857 participants completed an online survey delivered in Finnish and English which included demographic questions, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), and a series of questions designed to probe topics regarding the training of companion animals, generalized caretaking, and the ascription of personhood or autonomy to companion animals under the respondent’s care. Future parents reported more agreement across all scales of the LAPS, followed by nonparents than parents. Future parents also reported more frequency of behaviors associated with Affective Responsiveness, while nonparents reported more frequency of behaviors associated with Training and Play and General Care. From our results, we argue that Finland does seem to be experiencing the emergence of pet parenting, likely in response to the SDT, and this is demonstrated by marked differences in attachment and caregiving behaviors directed at companion animals in the home

Disc Golf Throwing Robot

Disc golf companies need better methods to test disc flight. The scope of this project is to create a disc throwing robot that can throw a disc golf driver 450-500 feet, with control over the speed, spin, and release angle. Research shows that multiple disc-throwing products exist; however, none meet the full requirements of this project. The Cal Poly senior project design team created a proof-of-concept machine. This prototype started as a two-wheel mechanism. Eventually, a third wheel was added, allowing for complete control over disc spin. The three-wheel prototype reached 62 mph when perfectly calibrated. The prototype is accurate, and repeatable; however, the wheels have a short lifespan of 30-40 max distance throws. Many improvements are necessary to increase usability, performance, safety, distance, accuracy, and lifespan. The prototype serves as a tool for creating larger machines capable of the proposed distance 450–500 feet (67-75 mph). A 9-wheel machine was designed, and partially fabricated. This design was halted for re-evaluation by the sponsor

Correlation Study: Student Success in Biochemistry as a Prerequisite for Integrated Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry

Background A rise in new schools of pharmacy has led to implementation of new curriculums. Pharmacy schools must adhere to standards set by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education in order to provide knowledge of foundational sciences and prepare pharmacy students for the future. Prerequisites are typically foundational science courses taken early in the program so that students have the knowledge necessary to be excellent pharmacists. Within the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy, Biochemistry is a prerequisite course for Integrated Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology (PCoMedChem). Objectives The goal of this study is to determine if Biochemistry should remain a prerequisite course for Integrated Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology at Cedarville University under a TBL setting based on if student success in Biochemistry influences student success in PcoMedChem. Methodology The study will evaluate student individual and overall course grades for both Biochemistry and PcoMedChem. The data will include grades from the 2018-2021 cohorts of pharmacy students. Inclusion criteria consists of completion of Biochemistry and Integrated Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology. No exclusion of students exist because all student data will be evaluated. Students will complete a survey through Qualtrics regarding extracurricular commitments as well as perceptions towards the courses to supplement the findings and explain discrepancies. Analysis The demographics and students’ perceptions will be compared in SPSS by analyzing frequency of responses. Using SPSS, the Wilcoxon test and Levene’s test will be conducted followed by a Pearson or Spearman correlation, depending on distribution, in order to determine correlation between grades in Biochemistry and PcoMedChem. Additionally, an ANCOVA test will be used to analyze the data gathered from our survey. A p-value of 0.05 will be indicative of statistical significance

The Grizzly, April 24, 2014

Ursinus Conducts First Ever ISGP Conference on Pandemic Preparedness • Library Staff Planning for Big Changes • First Schellhase Ursinus Essay Prize Announced on CoSa Day • Annual Charity Art Fair to Support Camp Cranium • Political Activists to Speak at Graduation • Senior Fellows Help to Shape the Incoming Freshman Class • Alumni Weekend to be Held on Campus • Opinion: Parents Influence our Political Beliefs; Fight to Preserve Net Neutrality in the US • Balancing Act for the Ages: Senior Bryn O\u27Neill • Opinion: MLB Must Move on From Steroid Era • Men\u27s Lacrosse Stays Alive, Baseball Splits with JHUhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1905/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, November 13, 2014

Art Department Debuts New Class • Delta Pi Becomes First Gender-Neutral Fraternity in UC History • Twin Brothers Host 5 Hour Study Marathon • Midterm Election Results • Chinese Culture Should be Shared, Not Hidden • High Prices Cause Complaints • Walking Through a Day With UC EMS • Berman Museum Timeline Installed • Feminists In Action Club Tackles the Issue of Gender Inequality • Opinion: Denial of Birth Control is Unconstitutional; Jewish Frat Vandalized • Letter to the Editor • Back-to-Back Champs • Sticking Together at Ursinushttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1916/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, October 9, 2014

Jewish Holiday Sukkot Begins • Life Chain on Main Street • Reimert Courtyard Program Becomes Permanent • UC Partners with Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy • Students Plant on Green Roof • Students Respond to Yik Yak • Students\u27 Campus Jobs • Dorian Gray Comes to Ursinus • History of Bomberger Memorial Hall • Opinion: Islamic State in Syria Conflict Heats Up; Military Strategies for U.S. Foreign Affairs • Local HS Star Running Well for Bears • Far-Away Runner Excelling for XChttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1912/thumbnail.jp

A two-dimensional, two-electron model atom in a laser pulse: exact treatment, single active electron-analysis, time-dependent density functional theory, classical calculations, and non-sequential ionization

Owing to its numerical simplicity, a two-dimensional two-electron model atom, with each electron moving in one direction, is an ideal system to study non-perturbatively a fully correlated atom exposed to a laser field. Frequently made assumptions, such as the ``single active electron''- approach and calculational approximations, e.g. time dependent density functional theory or (semi-) classical techniques, can be tested. In this paper we examine the multiphoton short pulse-regime. We observe ``non-sequential'' ionization, i.e.\ double ionization at lower field strengths as expected from a sequential, single active electron-point of view. Since we find non-sequential ionization also in purely classical simulations, we are able to clarify the mechanism behind this effect in terms of single particle trajectories. PACS Number(s): 32.80.RmComment: 10 pages, 16 figures (gzipped postscript), see also http://www.physik.tu-darmstadt.de/tqe

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition Modulates the Microenvironment by Vascular Normalization to Improve Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Efficacy

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors have shown only modest clinical activity when used as single agents to treat cancers. They decrease tumor cell expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-a (HIF-1a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Hypothesizing that this might normalize tumor vasculature, we examined the effects of the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib on tumor vascular function, tumor microenvironment (TME) and chemotherapy and radiotherapy sensitivity. Methodology/Principal Findings: Erlotinib treatment of human tumor cells in vitro and mice bearing xenografts in vivo led to decreased HIF-1a and VEGF expression. Treatment altered xenograft vessel morphology assessed by confocal microscopy (following tomato lectin injection) and decreased vessel permeability (measured by Evan’s blue extravasation), suggesting vascular normalization. Erlotinib increased tumor blood flow measured by Power Doppler ultrasound and decreased hypoxia measured by EF5 immunohistochemistry and tumor O2 saturation measured by optical spectroscopy. Predictin