A Child Could Do That: Communicating Fragmented Memories Outside of Their Context

Undergraduate Honors Thesis exploring the relationship between memory and language, and their visual expression

A Child Could Do That: Communicating Fragmented Memories Outside of Their Context

Undergraduate Honors Thesis exploring the relationship between memory and language, and their visual expression

Aging Texas Well: An Assessment of Denton's Aging-Friendliness

The purpose of this research was to conduct a needs assessment for the city of Denton, Texas to learn how residents view Denton's aging-friendliness. The research design was based on the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services' Aging Texas Well Toolkit and was funded by a two year grant from that agency. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to gather data on six community indicators: demographics, housing, transportation, health care (including mental health and substance abuse services), recreation, and community supports and services. Input from city residents was gathered through focus groups, followed by a survey of the broader community in the city to validate and prioritize the needs identified. The research found gaps in Denton's aging-friendliness. Denton residents feel that although there are some services for the aging in the area, other services are lacking. The top needs identified by residents were a single point of contact for, and better communication about, resources currently available, as well as a need for increased transportation options

Internet of Things Device with Controllable Lighting Elements

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a device with controllable lighting elements or other output elements such as audio, vibratory, gaseous/liquid, and/or olfactory output elements. In particular, the interactive device of the present disclosure can include a structure fashioned in the shape of some fauna or flora (e.g., a tree) that can selectively operate the output elements (e.g., illuminate the lighting elements) based on collected sensor data regarding the surrounding environment. The structure can also respond to specific user interactions and/or receive predetermined control signals that control the output elements

Interactive Surface-Mounted Internet of Things Device

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an interactive lighting device that includes sensor-equipped lighting elements that respond to users. In one particular example, the interactive lighting device of the present disclosure can include a structure (e.g., a custom designed structure) fashioned in the shape of a planter (e.g., a container for live plants) that can be mounted on a surface (e.g., a wall) and which can provide various lighting effects based on events (e.g., the presence or movement of users) detected by sensors of the interactive lighting device. For example, the interactive lighting device can control lighting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on outputs from various types of sensors (e.g., step sensor, gesture sensor, proximity sensor, or an image sensor). In some embodiments, sensor data can be aggregated to produce different results as shown in camera and proximity sensors

Haldane limits via Lagrangian embeddings

In the present paper we revisit the so-called Haldane limit, i.e. a particular continuum limit, which leads from a spin chain to a sigma model. We use the coherent state formulation of the path integral to reduce the problem to a semiclassical one, which leads us to the observation that the Haldane limit is closely related to a Lagrangian embedding into the classical phase space of the spin chain. Using this property, we find a spin chain whose limit produces a relativistic sigma model with target space the manifold of complete flags U(N)/U(1)^N. We discuss possible other future applications of Lagrangian/isotropic embeddings in this context.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figure

Bisphenol-A Exposure During Adolescence Leads to Enduring Alterations in Cognition and Dendritic Spine Density in Adult Male and Female Rats

We have previously demonstrated that adolescent exposure of rats to bisphenol-A (BPA), an environmental endocrine disrupter, increases anxiety, impairs spatial memory, and decreases dendritic spine density in the CA1 region of the hippocampus (CA1) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) when measured in adolescence in both sexes. The present study examined whether the behavioral and morphological alterations following BPA exposure during adolescent development are maintained into adulthood. Male and female, adolescent rats received BPA, 40 μg/kg/bodyweight, or control treatments for one week. In adulthood, subjects were tested for anxiety and locomotor activity, spatial memory, non-spatial visual memory, and sucrose preference. Additionally, stress-induced serum corticosterone levels and dendritic spine density in the mPFC and CA1 were measured. BPA-treated males, but not females, had decreased arm visits on the elevated plus maze, but there was no effect on anxiety. Non-spatial memory, object recognition, was also decreased in BPA treated males, but not females. BPA exposure did not alter spatial memory, object placement, but decreased exploration during the tasks in both sexes. No significant group differences in sucrose preference or serum corticosterone levels in response to a stress challenge were found. However, BPA exposure, regardless of sex, significantly decreased spine density of both apical and basal dendrites on pyramidal cells in CA1 but had no effect in the mPFC. Current data are discussed in relation to BPA dependent changes, which were present during adolescence and did, or did not, endure into adulthood. Overall, adolescent BPA exposure, below the current reference safe daily limit set by the U.S.E.P.A., leads to alterations in some behaviors and neuronal morphology that endure into adulthood

Meta-analysis of the effect of an essential oil–containing mouthrinse on gingivitis and plaque

AbstractBackgroundStandard recommendations for oral hygiene practices have focused on mechanical methods (toothbrushing and interdental cleaning). Published evidence indicates antimicrobial mouthrinses provide oral health benefits beyond mechanical methods alone. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the combined effectiveness of mechanical methods with essential oil–containing mouthrinses (MMEO) versus mechanical methods (MM) alone in achieving site-specific, healthy gingival tissue and reducing plaque and gingivitis.Types of Studies ReviewedAll industry-sponsored clinical trials investigating the antigingivitis and antiplaque effects of essential oil (EO)–containing mouthrinses conducted from 1980 to 2012 were reviewed; 29 of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria of 6 months or longer duration, randomized, observer-masked, placebo-controlled, and with individual-level site-specific data. By-study treatment effects were estimated through generalized linear models for binary data and analysis of covariance for continuous data, and then combined using standard meta-analysis techniques; heterogeneity was also assessed.ResultsSummary odds ratios for a healthy gingival site and for a plaque-free site were, respectively, 5.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3-7.5) and 7.8 (95% CI, 5.4-11.2) for MMEO participants versus MM participants at 6 months. The summary percentage reductions in whole-mouth mean gingivitis and plaque at 6 months were 16.0 (95% CI, 11.3-20.7) and 27.7 (95% CI, 22.4-32.9), respectively. Responder analyses using aggregate individual-level data showed 44.8% of MMEO participants and 14.4% of MM participants achieved at least 50% healthy sites in their mouths at 6 months. Similarly, 36.9% of MMEO participants and 5.5% of MM participants achieved at least 50% plaque-free sites in their mouths at 6 months.Conclusions and Practical ImplicationsThis is the first meta-analysis to demonstrate the clinically significant, site-specific benefit of adjunctive EO treatment in people within a 6-month period (that is, between dental visits)

Interviewer: 'Are women and girls ever responsible for the domestic violence they encounter?' Student: 'No, well, unless they did something really, really bad …'

Research shows the ‘gendered nature’ of domestic violence, with Women’s Aid (a UK-based charity) estimating that 1 in 4 women are affected (2014). This paper reports on a project - funded by Comic Relief, completed by Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum (now known as Equation) and evaluated by Nottingham Trent University. The project adopts a Whole School Approach in seeking to prevent domestic violence. Students at three secondary schools attended between one and five blocks of work, and special events. There is evidence of positive developments - with young people showing understanding of domestic violence as well as the margins between healthy and unhealthy relationships. However, not all students could reply ‘never’ to the question of ‘are women and girls to blame for the domestic violence they experience?’, remarking that if the woman had done something ‘really, really bad’ then violence might be justified. We argue that young people’s uncertainties need to be situated within the gender-unequal socio-contexts of contemporary society, and further call for a WSA to domestic violence prevention to be a compulsory part of the UK national curriculum

What are the Financial Implications of Public Quality Disclosure? Evidence from New York City’s Restaurant Food Safety Grading Policy

Grading schemes are an increasingly common method of quality disclosure for public services. Restaurant grading makes information about food safety practices more readily available and may reduce the prevalence of foodborne illnesses. However, it may also have meaningful financial repercussions. Using fine-grained administrative data that tracks food safety compliance and sales activity for the universe of graded restaurants in New York City and its bordering counties, we assess the aggregate financial effects from restaurant grading. Results indicate that the grading policy, after an initial period of adjustment, improves restaurants’ food safety compliance and reduces fines. While the average effect on revenues for graded restaurants across the municipality is null, the graded restaurants located geographically closer to an ungraded regime experience slower growth in revenues. There is also evidence of revenue convergence across graded and ungraded restaurants in the long-term