Framing the mass shooter James Eagan Holmes: serious mental illness and gun violence

2019 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.This study examined the framing of serious mental illness (SMI) and gun violence focused on the single case of the 2012 Aurora Theater Shooting perpetrated by James Eagan Holmes. At the time, it was the most devastating mass shooting in U.S. history with 58 injured and 12 killed. The overarching question guiding the study asked how online news stories about the Aurora Theater Shooting frame serious mental illness and mass shootings. A content analysis was conducted on four news websites, two local publications and two national publications. This was designed to detect geographical trends in reporting. Key findings were a lack of causal attribution to SMI or any other cause, which disagreed with former research that found SMI as a commonly-attributed cause to gun violence after mass shootings in news media coverage. Gun restriction policy was found to be more prevalent in national news than in local news suggesting differences in coverage by geographic location. SMI and gun restriction policy proposals did not appear together in stories often pointing to a split in individual- or societal-level responsibility. A final finding was a singular mental health professional source utilized in the 187-story sample suggesting a lack of mental health experts in crime reporting after a mass shooting. Further research could explore the crime beat reporters' source-gathering habits particularly when dealing with crime purveyed by people with SMI as well as a study assessing mental health professionals' views on being used as a source in crime news reporting

The development and harmonisation of risk assessment procedures to evaluate the environmental impact of toxic substances

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The environmental risk assessment of substances is introduced and the various controls used to protect the environment are outlined. The European notification system and the risk assessments required as part of the system are detailed. Through an examination of the existing European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances tool and sensitivity analyses based on variability in the measurement of physico-chemical properties for a substance, a spreadsheet model was developed to allow multiple risk assessments for the same substance to be calculated simultaneously. The development and testing of the NECXES spreadsheet tool are documented in detail. Data for the capacity and dilution factor at Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in England and Wales were collated and statistically analysed and compared to European default values used for generic risk assessments. The default capacity value for STPs (10,000 population equivalents) was protective of 70% of the STPs sampled. The remaining 30% however, a small number of large works, contributed 94% of the total effluent discharged from STPs in England and Wales. The STP data were used with the NEXCES tool to perform and compare probabilistic risk assessments to those calculated using deterministic methods for a number of test substances. The probabilistic calculations produced a lower median exposure concentration for water than the generic assessment for all of the test substances. Regression analysis allowed the probability of adverse effects to be quantified for the various deterministic risk values. The NEXCES tool was also used to develop a rapid assessment tool for new substances in the form of contour plots, which can be used to assess the risk of substances using minimal data. The main conclusions and contributions to the academic and industrial fields, as well as the field of environmental technology are presented. Areas where there are opportunities for further research are also outlined.Engineering and Physical Science Research Council; National Centre for Ecotoxicology and Hazardous Substance

Cancer Biomarkers and Targets in Digestive Organs

Identification and development of cancer biomarkers and targets have greatly accelerated progress towards precision medicine in oncology. Studies of tumor biology have not only provided insights into the mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis, but also led to discovery of molecules that have been developed into cancer biomarkers and targets. Multi-platforms for molecular characterization of tumors using next-generation genomic sequencing, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and blood-based biopsies have greatly expanded the portfolio of potential biomarkers and targets. These cancer biomarkers have been developed for diagnosis, early detection, prognosis, and prediction of treatment response. The molecular targets have been exploited for anti-cancer therapy and delivery of therapeutic agents. This Special Issue of Biomedicines focuses on recent advances in the discovery, characterization, translation, and clinical application of cancer biomarkers and targets in malignant diseases of the digestive system. The goal is to stimulate basic and translational research and clinical collaboration in this exciting field with the hope of developing strategies for prevention and early detection/diagnosis of cancer in digestive organs, and improving therapeutic and psychosocial outcomes in patients with these malignant diseases

Influence of Estradiol on In vitro Maturation of Porcine Oocytes

In vitro production of embryos allows efficient management of herd genetics, reduction of disease impact, and if used in combination with other reproductive technologies it could aid in preserving the threatened genetic diversity of swine. In vitro maturation (IVM) is identified as a deficient step in porcine in vitro production (IVP) of embryo systems, which decreases the overall success of IVP. There are problems encountered in each step of IVP; chromosomal abnormalities and decreased cell numbers in blastocysts during in vitro culturing (IVC), and low monospermic fertilization rates during in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be a result of insufficient IVM. As an addition to maturation media, porcine follicular fluid (pFF) can affect IVM. Estrogen can be found in high concentrations in pFF; possibly contributing to the effects seen when pFF is added to IVM. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the effects of estrogen supplementation during IVM on IVP of porcine embryos. The first objective was to evaluate the in vitro maturation rates of porcine oocytes in two maturation media: protein-free and 10% pFF supplemented. Nuclear maturation of oocytes was evaluated using Lamin/Dapi staining of oocytes matured in protein-free and 10% pFF maturation media to ensure the efficiency of the protein-free media. Protein-free and 10% pFF media mature oocytes at similar rates (91% and 89% respectively). The transcripts within the oocyte can be altered based on the in vitro maturation environment, so the second objective was to observe the expression of four chosen maternal effect genes: Basonuclin-1 (BNC1), Nucleoplasmin 2 (NPM2), Zygote arrest 1 (ZAR1), and Tripartite-motif protein-24 (TRIM24), using oocytes matured in 50 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, or 1000 ng/ml of estradiol 17-β (E2), 10% pFF, or protein-free maturation media. Expression of maternal effect genes, was shown by the ΔCt (cycle threshold) values, obtained from the difference between the Ct values of the normalizing gene (GAPDH) and the genes of interest evaluated through QRT-PCR. Values of ΔCt were analyzed in place of fold change to avoid data manipulation. The ΔCt expression of TRIM24 in 0 ng/ml E2 maturation medium and the 10% pFF maturation medium were significantly different (

Emerging Targeted Therapies for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has dismal diagnosis due to the presence of underlying cirrhosis, late diagnosis, and limited treatment options. Surgery or liver transplantation is restricted to those with small tumours or well-compensated liver diseases. Despite advances in early screening and diagnosis of HCC, survival of patients has not improved greatly. Furthermore, treatment options for advanced HCC are restricted to best supportive care. Currently, sorafenib is the only drug approved for the treatment of advanced HCC patients as well as for those not suitable for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new agents for treatment. Hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex multistep process that involves deregulation of various signalling pathways. Thus, there is no dominant molecular mechanism in HCC and understanding of these pathways provides an opportunity for development of potential therapeutic agents in an effort to reverse, prevent or delay tumourigenesis. This review will summarise the significance of these pathways in HCC and discuss the therapeutic benefits or drawbacks of the potential target agents against these pathways especially those that have been part of clinical trials

Dominant Goal Orientations Predict Differences in Academic Achievement during Adolescence through Metacognitive Self-Regulation

This study investigated whether academic achievement was predicted by the goal which generally drives a student’s learning behaviour. Secondly, the role of metacognitive self-regulation was examined. The dominant goal orientation was assessed using a new method. 735 adolescents aged 10-19 years read vignettes of students that reflect four goal orientations. Participants indicated which student they resembled most, which revealed their dominant goal orientation. Age, sex and level of parental education were controlled for. Results showed that students with motivation goals of the mastery and performance-approach types obtained higher grades than students characterized by the performance-avoidance and work-avoidance goal type. A mediation analysis showed that goal orientations predicted achievement through the level of metacognitive self-regulation. Intrinsically motivated students showed the best metacognitive self-regulation skills of all students, whereas work-avoidant students had the lowest level of self-regulation skills. The scores of students with performance goals fell in-between. The research showed that the higher grades obtained by performance-approach students, compared to performance-avoidant and work-avoidant students, can partially be explained by their higher levels of metacognitive self-regulation. Thus, goal orientation predicted achievement differences through metacognitive self-regulation skills. This suggests that intrinsic motivation and self-regulation skills should ideally be supported in the classroom. Furthermore, it suggests that teachers could use vignettes to distinguish different types of students in order to identify students who are vulnerable to lower academic achievement

Academic motivation mediates the influence of temporal discounting on academic achievement during adolescence

Lee, N. C., Krabbendam, L., Dekker, S. J., Boschloo, A. M., De Groot, R. H. M., & Jolles, J. (2012). Academic motivation mediates the influence of temporal discounting on academic achievement during adolescence. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 1(1), 43-48.This study used a large sample (N=638) of 12-18 year old adolescents to investigate the relationship between academic achievement and temporal discounting, a behavioural measurement of delay of gratification abilities. Neuroscience studies have demonstrated development during adolescence of the areas of the brain involved in delaying immediate gratification in order to achieve long-term goals. This finding may have important consequences for educational practice, as students are frequently required to forsake attractive short-term rewards in favour of less attractive academic long-term alternatives. Results showed that adolescents with an increased ability to delay gratification achieved higher grades then those less able to delay gratification. This relationship was mediated by academic motivation, showing that the effect of delayed gratification abilities on grades was most effective when academic motivation was high. Our results show that the ability to delay gratification may be an individual difference variable that distinguishes high achieving students from their peers. It also highlights that understanding the development of neurocognitive processes can provide a valid contribution to understanding ways in which we can influence academic success

The Manufacturing Sector in the Greater Northeastern/Northern Region of Pennsylvania

This report summarizes the findings of an in-depth study of the manufacturing sector in the Greater Northeastern/Northern region of Pennsylvania. The objective of the first section is to draw attention to the role manufacturing plays in the regional economy. It compares manufacturing to other sectors of the economy in terms of employment, gross regional product, wages, productivity, and number of establishments (See Table E-1). It also briefly describes trends in the value of shipments of manufacturing goods as a proxy for exports, manufacturers’ investments in capital expenditures as a measure of capital intensity and adoption of technology, and patenting activity as one measure of research and development (Figure E-1 and Appendix A.1). The second section of the report analyzes the performance of 11 manufacturing driver industries, those industries that drive the regional economy, and identifies growing and large industries among the non-driver manufacturing industries. The third section discusses the competitive advantage of Pennsylvania’s Greater Northeastern/Northern region in regards to manufacturing using data, previous expertise, and an extensive literature review. The fourth and fifth sections describe challenges faced by manufacturers and offers recommendations for growth to the region’s manufacturers, based on research and interviews. Finally, the sixth section summarizes the economic impact of the manufacturing companies assisted by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) over the last five years