Inside Research: An interview with Ashley Munie

Inside Research: An interview with Ashley Munie Conducted by Erin Wallace, co-editor, Steeplechase Date recorded: Monday, February 13, 2017 Recording Location: Department of Music Recording Studio 2nd floor Doyle Fine Arts, Murray State University, Murray, K

Language-Supportive Strategies and their Associations with Child Language Outcomes During Instructional Time

In this dissertation, I conducted a correlational study that examined the frequency of educator-delivered language-supportive strategies during instructional time in public Kindergarten classrooms. Additionally, I explored the association between educators’ use of language-supportive strategies and child language outcomes. To index child language, I assessed a sample of 96 children from 10 different classrooms on standardized measures of expressive and receptive language. I recruited 10 educators to participate in the present study and assessed their use of language-supportive strategies during instructional time in the classroom through transcription and coding of audio recordings. The educators completed demographic forms for themselves as well as their 10 children who participated in the study. Descriptive data revealed educators used close-ended questions most frequently and open-ended questions least frequently during instructional time. The results of the path analyses reported that educators’ use of Scaffoldingwas associated with child language outcomes. This study provides an exploratory analysis of educators’ use of language-supportive strategies and their relation to child language outcomes. I conclude by discussing future research and the implications of these findings for practice and policy

Caregiver attitude, as expressed verbally in a group setting, and its association with children\u27s attachment security

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not mothers’ attitudes, as expressed verbally in a group setting, were associated with the attachment style of the child and the insightfulness of the mother. The Circle of Security (CoS) was used as a 27 week group intervention for mothers who had become clients of a child welfare agency. Pre- and post test ratings were obtained for children’s attachment security and mothers’ insightful understanding of their children, using the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) and the Insightfulness Assessment (IA), respectively. This study created scales for both Warmth/Empathy and Concern/Worry to rate attitudes of the mothers toward their children as expressed in group sessions over the course of the intervention. This study used a multiple case study design (n=8). Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed. There did appear to be an association between mothers’ attitudes, attachment security and insightfulness. However, many limitations were noted, principally due to the small sample size

Couples\u27 Relationship Qualities and Child Behavior Problems

ABSTRACT This dissertation examines couples’ relationship quality on child externalizing behavior problems. Family systems theory and Belsky’s determinants of parenting model posit that child behavior problems stem from problematic familial relationships and lack of support within the couple’s relationship. A secondary data analysis was conducted using data from the National Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. The independent variables represent couples’ relationship quality and are affection/support, relationship instability, and coercion. Dependent variables represent child behavior problems and are aggression measured when children are age five and age nine, and rule-breaking behavior when the child is age nine. To examine what relationship qualities between couples might impact child aggression or rule-breaking behavior, twelve multiple regression analyses were run yielding a sample range of 768 to 907 focal children and their biological parents. The findings from this study suggest that there are strong, consistent relationships between parents’ reports of affection and support and child externalizing behavior problems. Thus, the evidence taken from these findings indicates that problems with affection and support in couples’ relationships are an important risk factor for the development of children\u27s externalizing behavior problems. Father reports of coercion were found to be significantly associated with child rule-breaking behavior at age nine. Maternal depression was significantly associated with child aggression at ages five and nine in both maternal and paternal regression models. Implications for future social work research and practice are discussed

The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Adaptive Scuba Diving Industry

Background: Adaptive scuba diving is an activity that provides many therapeutic benefits to individuals living with physical, visual, and/or cognitive disabilities. Occupational therapists (OTs) specialize in using valued activities as therapeutic interventions, however, the literature supporting the profession’s value in the adaptive scuba diving industry is limited. There are no clearly defined job descriptions for OTs contributing to the adaptive scuba diving industry although evidence shows the therapeutic potential that OTs can contribute to it. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate OT’s value in the adaptive scuba diving industry by creating an adaptive diving reference book for dive professionals to increase readiness for assisting divers living with cognitive, physical, and/or visual disabilities; and to create 2 job descriptions for OTs working in adaptive diving settings. Methods: Qualitative data was gathered from 2 groups who reviewed the reference book: dive professionals and healthcare professionals. The dive group was sent a draft copy of the reference book along with instructions for completing a post-review survey via Microsoft Forms. The healthcare group was sent specific chapters of the book depending on their area of expertise and returned written feedback via email. The data was analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis method as well as Microsoft Forms’ response analysis. Results: There were 23 dive participants who completed the post-review survey and 7 healthcare participants who provided written feedback. From the data for the dive group, 3 themes were identified: Reader Readiness and Knowledge, Value and Awareness of Reference Book, and Filling Gaps in Resources. From the data for the healthcare group, 2 themes were identified which were Edits and Content Suggestion. Conclusion: The findings support an increased role of occupational therapists in the adaptive scuba diving industry. Scuba diving and diving related activities provide many therapeutic benefits for those living with physical, cognitive, and/or visual challenges. Although occupational therapists are experts in task, environment, and equipment adaptations as well as using occupation-based interventions, they are not widely considered to be contributors in this setting. This project lays a foundation for the role of an adaptive scuba diving occupational therapist.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2021/1013/thumbnail.jp

Culture of urine specimens by use of chromID CPS Elite medium can expedite Escherichia coli identification and reduce hands-on time in the clinical laboratory

Urine is one of the most common specimen types submitted to the clinical microbiology laboratory; the use of chromogenic agar is one method by which the laboratory might expedite culture results and reduce hands-on time and materials required for urine culture analysis. The objective of our study was to compare chromID CPS Elite (bioMérieux), a chromogenic medium, to conventional primary culture medium for evaluation of urine specimens. Remnant urine specimens (n = 200) were inoculated into conventional media and into chromID CPS Elite agar (chromID). The time to identification and consumables used were documented for both methods. Clinically significant pathogen(s) were recovered from 51 cultures using conventional media, with Escherichia coli being the most frequently recovered organism (n = 22). The rate of exact uropathogen agreement between conventional and chromogenic media was 82%, while overall categorical agreement was 83.5% The time interval between plating and final organism identification was decreased with chromID agar versus conventional media for E. coli (mean of 24.4 h versus 27.1 h, P < 0.001). Using chromID, clinically significant cultures required less hands-on time per culture (mean of 1 min and 2 s [1:02 min]) compared to conventional media (mean of 1:31 min). In addition, fewer consumables (2.4 versus 3.3 sticks and swabs) and rapid biochemical tests (1.0 versus 1.9) were necessary using chromID versus conventional media. Notably, antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated good overall agreement (97.4%) between the chromID and conventional media for all antibiotics tested. chromID CPS Elite is accurate for uropathogen identification, reduces consumable usage, and may expedite the identification of E. coli in clinical specimens

Characterization of cell-type specific responses in C. elegans experiencing misfolded protein stress: How do some cells save themselves while others die?

To maintain viability, cells must resolve misfolded protein stress; the inability to do so often triggers cell death, most notably in neurons during neurodegenerative disease. The NAC is a highly conserved translational chaperone essential for protein folding and localization to organelles throughout the cell. In C. elegans, depletion of the NAC initiates misfolded protein stress specifically in the endoplasmic reticulum, inducing a response that upregulates the HSP-4 chaperone in an attempt to prevent cell death. This upregulation is robust but not uniform, and deficient in regions containing neurons. We are characterizing this non-uniform stress response to determine if HSP-4 upregulation is cell-specific and correlates with survival. Additionally, there is evidence that the NAC may function in engaging premature and/or atypical differentiation under stress conditions. We’ve developed a protocol that characterizes the differentiation patterns and stress responses in NAC-depleted C. elegans. Our results indicate that NAC-depleted C. elegans have altered gut cell differentiation patterns when compared to control treatments. Furthermore, control studies were conducted to determine baseline patterns of HSP-4 expression in relation to the location of gut cells. Future studies will investigate differentiation patterns of muscle and neuronal cells in NAC-depleted C. elegans as well as characterizing the upregulation of HSP-4 in gut, muscle, and neuronal cells within NAC-depleted C. elegans

Opening the Black Box: Exploring the Socio-technical Dynamics and Key Principles of RPA Implementation Projects

Robotic process automation (RPA) is one of the most popular process automation approaches, and many organisations in various industries have jumped on the RPA bandwagon. Yet, despite the vast uptake, organisations face many challenges during RPA implementation, leading to a high project failure rate. A clear framework with critical success factors is missing that can guide organisations in their RPA implementation endeavours and avoid the common pitfalls. Building on process and socio-technical theory, we addressed this gap by conducting a case study of an RPA implementation in an Australasian university. We interviewed 13 employees from the university and the RPA vendor. Our findings show how the RPA project unfolded and the intertwining effects on the different components of the socio-technical system at project, work system and organisational levels. Further, we propose eight socio-technical design principles that can guide organisations during their RPA implementations and may lead to higher success rates

Black Male Educators Matter: Modeling and Expectations in K-12 Settings

In light of the teacher shortage and increased emphasis on diversifying the educator workforce, the recruitment and retention of Black male educators is critical. The researchers focused on how these educators perceive their impact as role models and what others expect from them in K-12 contexts. The researchers administered questionnaires (N=38) and conducted interviews (N=11). Most educators considered themselves to be positive role models, especially for Black students. Expectations about their responsibilities as disciplinarians were positive unless imposed by race or at the expense of perceived academic skills. They needed to prove themselves with respect to academic qualifications. Interpersonal relationships were curtailed by their need for social distance, self-preservation, and dispelling stereotypes. Finally, educators described inequities, lack of support, and underrepresentation of Black males in their schools

2019-2020 Tracking Report: LGBTQ Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations

The 2019-2020 Resource Tracking Report: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Grantmaking by U.S. Foundations (2022) explores the scope and character of U.S. foundation funding for LGBTQ communities and issues in calendar years 2019-2020. This 18th edition of the tracking report represents the next iteration of work from Funders for LGBTQ Issues in our ongoing effort to document the scale of philanthropic support for LGBTQ communities and issues.The report finds that foundation funding for LGBTQ communities and issues has fallen since its record high in 2018, totaling $193 million in 2019 and$201 million in 2020. This is concerning, as it comes at a time when, according to Giving USA, overall foundation support has soared. For every $100 awarded by U.S. foundations in 2020, only 23 cents specifically supported LGBTQ communities and issues