Examination of Student Outcomes in Play Therapy: A Qualitative Case Study Design

Outcome research examining the effectiveness of teaching methods in counselor education is sparse. The researchers conducted a qualitative investigation utilizing an instrumental case study to examine the influence of a constructivist-developmental format on a play therapy counseling course in a large CACREP accredited university in the Southeastern United States. Results indicated that the constructivist-developmental lens was effective in promoting the professional development of counselors-in-training. The researchers offer course-specific recommendations as well as areas of future research

The Sexual Values and Behaviors Discrepancy Model

Founded in theory and empirical research, we developed the Sexual Values and Behaviors Discrepancy Model (SVBDM) as reflective model for counselors to follow in order to assist their clients in safely reducing discrepancies between their ideal and practiced sexual beliefs, values, and behaviors. The SVBDM is a wellness-informed and sex-positive approach to working with clients and is comprised of three steps: Identification and Operationalization of Potential Sexual Issues, Counselor’s Self-Assessment, and Reducing Discrepancies and Maintaining Safety. We note practical implications and potential limitations of this model as well as recommendations for future research

(Decacarbonyl)(1-isopropyl-2-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydroacenaphtho [5,6-cd][1,2]diphosphole)ditungsten(0) : Molbank

A binuclear tungsten(0) complex with an asymmetric bridging 1,2-diphosphole ligand was prepared by the photolysis of tungsten hexacarbonyl in the presence of 1-isopropyl-2-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydroacenaphtho [5,6-cd][1,2]diphosphole. The tungsten complex 1 was characterized by high resolution mass spectrometry, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 31P), and elemental microanalysis. The structure of the trans isomer was resolved by single crystal X-ray diffraction, showing a slight elongation of the P−P bond upon coordination to the W(CO)5 groups.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Wind Symphony

Center for the Performing Arts November 15, 2018 Thursday Evening 8:00p.m

District-led School Turnaround: Aiming for Ambitious and Equitable Instruction in Shelby County’s iZone

The Shelby County iZone is a district-led effort to dramatically improve, or “turn around,” 23 of the lowest performing schools in Tennessee in the 15th largest district in the country. Despite circumstances that have derailed many past reforms, iZone schools have made statistically significant and educationally meaningful gains in mathematics and English language arts (ELA) (Zimmer, Henry, Kho, & Viano, 2015). This report presents the findings of a multi-year research project that examined the evolution of the iZone as it shifted its strategy from school-level autonomy to one that featured a common curriculum, shared pedagogy, and collegial learning. The analysis delves into the challenges that iZone leaders, principals, and teachers confronted in coping with the needs of a student population mired in intergeneration poverty, rigorous performance standards, and a stringent accountability system. The results illuminate the importance of multi-level system re-design, continuous improvement, and compromise and negotiation among key stakeholder groups

Tutorial on model selection and validation of model input into precision dosing software for model-informed precision dosing

There has been rising interest in using model-informed precision dosing to provide personalized medicine to patients at the bedside. This methodology utilizes population pharmacokinetic models, measured drug concentrations from individual patients, pharmacodynamic biomarkers, and Bayesian estimation to estimate pharmacokinetic parameters and predict concentration-time profiles in individual patients. Using these individualized parameter estimates and simulated drug exposure, dosing recommendations can be generated to maximize target attainment to improve beneficial effect and minimize toxicity. However, the accuracy of the output from this evaluation is highly dependent on the population pharmacokinetic model selected. This tutorial provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating, selecting, and validating a model for input and implementation into a model-informed precision dosing program. A step-by-step outline to validate successful implementation into a precision dosing tool is described using the clinical software platforms Edsim++ and MwPharm++ as examples.</p

Kernel Granger causality and the analysis of dynamical networks

We propose a method of analysis of dynamical networks based on a recent measure of Granger causality between time series, based on kernel methods. The generalization of kernel Granger causality to the multivariate case, here presented, shares the following features with the bivariate measures: (i) the nonlinearity of the regression model can be controlled by choosing the kernel function and (ii) the problem of false-causalities, arising as the complexity of the model increases, is addressed by a selection strategy of the eigenvectors of a reduced Gram matrix whose range represents the additional features due to the second time series. Moreover, there is no {\it a priori} assumption that the network must be a directed acyclic graph. We apply the proposed approach to a network of chaotic maps and to a simulated genetic regulatory network: it is shown that the underlying topology of the network can be reconstructed from time series of node's dynamics, provided that a sufficient number of samples is available. Considering a linear dynamical network, built by preferential attachment scheme, we show that for limited data use of bivariate Granger causality is a better choice w.r.t methods using $L1$ minimization. Finally we consider real expression data from HeLa cells, 94 genes and 48 time points. The analysis of static correlations between genes reveals two modules corresponding to well known transcription factors; Granger analysis puts in evidence nineteen causal relationships, all involving genes related to tumor development.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure

Evidence-Based Inventory of Criminal Justice Programs in Nebraska

This report is the product of collaborative efforts from the Nebraska Center for Justice Research, the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Criminology and Criminal Justice department at Portland State University. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the importance of using evidence-based practices and programs, examine the quantity and needs addressed by adult criminal justice programs, and provide a snapshot of operating evidence-based programs throughout Nebraska. This report provides findings related to the discovery of programs and a review of branded programs operating in Nebraska. Product 1 – Inventory of Nebraska Programs Hundreds of programs and services are offered throughout Nebraska to assist the adult justice-involved population. The research team gathered a list of these programs through an examination of publicly available online sources on criminal justice agency websites. Hundreds of programs were identified after a review of these sources. Given the substantial quantity of programs, the researchers utilized a methodology to examine the programs and practices most appropriate for review and evaluation. Programs developed in Nebraska, and not yet rigorously evaluated, were determined ineligible for a more extensive review and should be examined in more depth under different guidelines. Upon conclusion of our review determination, the researchers identified 714 eligible programs and services in total. Product 2 – Branded Programming Review After a list was compiled, programs were sorted into two categories: homegrown (621) and branded (93). Peer reviewed research was gathered on the branded programs (frequently used synonymously with ‘evidence-based programs’ or ‘off-the-shelf programs’ …these are programs that tend to be well-known brand names with research evidence to backing their use). Based on the results of the acquired studies, programs were ranked on their ability to move participants towards desired outcomes, including reducing recidivism, increasing meaningful employment, reducing substance abuse or addiction symptoms, and improving overall health and well-being. Using the ranking criteria located in Table 3, programs were classified as either evidence-based (11), research-based (18), promising-practice (6), consensus-based (13), or no evidence (45). Future Proposed Deliverables – Describe and Review of Program Practices Although this report lays the foundation to encourage more agencies and program providers to adopt evidence-based programs, additional work should examine whether program provider practices are in line with program protocols and otherwise best practices. Therefore, the research team proposes doing a component analysis outlined by Campbell et al. (2018), which includes gathering program manuals and interviewing/ survey program staff to examine if practices are consistent with recommendation

Adipose Tissue Mast Cells Promote Human Adipose Beiging in Response to Cold

In a recent study, repeated cold application induced beiging in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (SC WAT) of humans independent of body mass index. To identify factors that promote or inhibit beiging, we performed multiplex analysis of gene expression with the Nanostring nCounter system (the probe set contained genes for specific immune cell markers, cytokines, and chemokines) on the SC WAT from lean subjects. Multiple correlations analysis identified mast cell tryptase and CCL26, a chemokine for mast cells, as genes whose change correlated positively with the change in UCP1 in SC WAT, leading to the hypothesis that mast cells promote SC WAT beiging in response to cold. We quantified mast cell recruitment into SC WAT and degranulation. Mast cells increased in number in SC WAT in lean subjects, and there was an increase in the number of degranulated mast cells in both lean subjects and subjects with obesity. We determined that norepinephrine stimulated mast cell degranulation and histamine release in vitro. In conclusion, cold stimulated adipose tissue mast cell recruitment in lean subjects and mast cell degranulation in SC WAT of all research participants independent of baseline body mass index, suggesting that mast cells promote adipose beiging through the release of histamine or other products

System Design for an Integrated Lifelong Reinforcement Learning Agent for Real-Time Strategy Games

As Artificial and Robotic Systems are increasingly deployed and relied upon for real-world applications, it is important that they exhibit the ability to continually learn and adapt in dynamically-changing environments, becoming Lifelong Learning Machines. Continual/lifelong learning (LL) involves minimizing catastrophic forgetting of old tasks while maximizing a model's capability to learn new tasks. This paper addresses the challenging lifelong reinforcement learning (L2RL) setting. Pushing the state-of-the-art forward in L2RL and making L2RL useful for practical applications requires more than developing individual L2RL algorithms; it requires making progress at the systems-level, especially research into the non-trivial problem of how to integrate multiple L2RL algorithms into a common framework. In this paper, we introduce the Lifelong Reinforcement Learning Components Framework (L2RLCF), which standardizes L2RL systems and assimilates different continual learning components (each addressing different aspects of the lifelong learning problem) into a unified system. As an instantiation of L2RLCF, we develop a standard API allowing easy integration of novel lifelong learning components. We describe a case study that demonstrates how multiple independently-developed LL components can be integrated into a single realized system. We also introduce an evaluation environment in order to measure the effect of combining various system components. Our evaluation environment employs different LL scenarios (sequences of tasks) consisting of Starcraft-2 minigames and allows for the fair, comprehensive, and quantitative comparison of different combinations of components within a challenging common evaluation environment.Comment: The Second International Conference on AIML Systems, October 12--15, 2022, Bangalore, Indi