The Relationship between the Body Mass Index and the Daily Physical Activity of Children and their Parents

Obesity is a problem that children locally and across the nation are facing. The objective of this study was to compare fifth grade children\u27s BMI and daily physical activity to their parents\u27 BMI and daily physical activity. The participants were 36 children from a Northeastern US urban elementary school in grade five and 18 of their parents. The parents and children wore the Yamax Digiwalker pedometer for 7 consecutive days in March 2012. Height/weight of the children was obtained and converted into BMI scores. For five consecutive school days (Tuesday-Monday) the children reported their previous day\u27s step counts in the presence of the researchers. The parents self-reported their daily step counts on a log sheet. Calculation of the means, standard deviations, paired and independent t tests, ANOVA\u27s, and Pearson correlations were utilized to analyze data. Results suggested that children took 9,535 (SD=2,594) steps/day, while female parents took 5,209 (SD=2,832) steps, and male parents took 10,161 (SD=7,010) steps per day. Children were significantly more active than their female parents and less active than their male parents. Boys took more steps than girls. Caucasian children took more steps than African American and Hispanic children. Healthy BMI children took more weekly steps than overweight and obese BMI children. Children took significantly more steps on physical education days than non-physical education days. Realistic programs in an urban area ought to be developed where children and their parents can be physically active together. When children and their parents participate in physical activity, and have a healthy lifestyle, they can be equipped to maintain a healthy body weight

On the Fringe: Adventures with Minimal Waste, Convertibility, and Budget

The goal of this design was to create a convertible, minimal waste outfit from a fabric remnant bought at a discounted price. These two seperates can be worn together or with other garments in an individual’s wardrobe. Additionally, the skirt can be worn in two different orientations. This piece was completed on May 27th, 2014

Exploring the Efficacy of Active and Authentic Learning in the Visual Merchandising Classroom

Abstract knowledge gained in the classroom can be difficult for students to apply in later work-related contexts. Utilizing active and authentic classroom learning allows students be involved with, evaluate and apply their knowledge to real world problems. Both strategies were implemented in a junior level Visual Merchandising and Promotion classroom through a project based learning environment. In this course, student completed three main projects, which included window displays for a local business and a student group, a national merchandising competition and an ecommerce project. Students were surveyed to determine their gains in critical thinking and professional competence, while community partners were interviewed to evaluate the students\u27 work and professionalism. Results indicated students were able to apply course concepts, develop critical thinking skills and professional competence through completing each project. Community partners were pleased with the students\u27 work and professionalism. Minor project modifications could increase these gains in the future

Can Creativity be Taught?: Exploring the Impact of Creative Thinking Challenges

Creativity is forecasted to be an essential skill for college graduates by 2020. In this study, the impact on creativity, as measured by performance on creative uses activities and creative achievement, was analyzed after students completed creative thinking challenges. Results from the study indicated that creative achievement improved, but not creative uses. Additionally, students expressed a variety of sentiments about the creative thinking challenges

Positively Reinforcing Parent Communication with Students in Special Education Classrooms for the Reduction of Attention Maintained Maladaptive Behaviors in a School Setting

A mixed-method multiple-baseline experimental design explored the relationship of frequency of attention-maintained maladaptive behaviors and positive parent communication in a fourth through sixth grade special education classroom using visual analysis and a Wampold-Warsham (Wampold & Brown, 2005) statistical design. The obtained result of -11.021 was found to be the 6th highest mean difference across all 24 possible outcomes, resulting in a p-value of 6/24 = 0.25, which is not statistically significant with α = .05 (one-tailed). However, when looking at the visual analysis of the multiple baseline design graphs, one can see a clear decrease in each of the participants behaviors from baseline. This study adds to the current literature regarding the powerful impacts of positive reinforcement for behavior change in special education classes as well as advocating for more positive and biblically aligned parenting practices in regard to challenging behaviors

Creativity Curriculum and Personality

Certain personality traits have been previously found to related to higher degree of creativity. Previous research has investigated personality traits in relation to creativity. Specifically, openness to experience and extraversion are related to creativity. The purpose of this research was to investigate how students in a Western University\u27s Design, Merchandising and Textiles program would respond to creative thinking challenges and what role personality traits would play in creativity. From the results of this study, creativity specific curriculum mainly benefits students\u27 understanding the creative process and being pushed outside of their comfort zones. Openness was the only dimension of personality which was significantly related to creativity

Bacterial Cellulose Yarns: Preserving Fiber Strength and Improving Performance

Bacterial cellulose is a promising material, which has recently been gaining attention for it\u27s potential use in apparel. This vegetable leather-like material has several promising and simultaneously limiting properties. In this research, we explored a preliminary formulation and tested the resulting bacterial cellulose yarns. Our results indicate the there is sufficient strength and extension for this material to undergo hand or low speed mechanical weaving

Serotonin Receptor 2-Induced Mitochondrial Biogenesis as a Therapeutic Strategy for the Treatment of Multiple Pathologies

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a common pathophysiological feature in many acute and chronic organ injury states. Often, this mitochondrial dysfunction is sub-lethal and persistent and is a major contributor to loss of cellular function in the absence of cell death. Mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) is the process by which new mitochondria are created, and studies have demonstrated that pharmacological induction of MB can reverse loss of mitochondrial content, improve mitochondrial function and reduce measures of acute organ injury. Several classes of pharmacological agents that induce MB through divergent mechanisms have been identified. Previous studies demonstrated that 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), a potent but non-specific serotonin receptor 2 (5-HT2) receptor agonist, was able to induce MB. Based on these findings, we screened a panel of 5-HT2 receptor-specific agonists and antagonists and found that both the potent 5-HT2C receptor agonist CP-809,101 and antagonist SB-242,084 were able to induce MB at nanomolar concentrations in RPTC and that these 5-HT2C receptor ligands were able to induce MB in mouse renal cortex. Further work with these compounds using genetic manipulation of 5-HT2 receptor expression in both knockout mouse models and treatment of primary RPTC with siRNA directed toward either the 5-HT2A or 5-HT2C receptor revealed that the observed ability of both of these compounds to induce biogenesis is dependent on the expression of the 5-HT2A receptor. After identifying the 5-HT2 receptor responsible for the biogenic capacity of both ligands, we identified another drug, amoxapine, as a potent 5-HT2A/2C receptor antagonist and potential inducer of MB. Amoxapine increased cellular respiration, a marker of MB, in primary renal proximal tubule cells (RPTC) and induced an increase in PGC-1α mRNA expression; additionally, it increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator (PGC-1a) mRNA expression in mouse renal cortex, indicating that it might be a potential pharmacological therapy for treatment of acute organ injury. However, daily amoxapine treatment of mice exposed to folic acid-induced acute kidney injury (FAAKI) did not reverse mitochondrial deficits and did not improve renal function or survival in these mice. Having identified the potential benefits of acute organ injury treatment with pharmacological inducers of MB, we observed that traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused the disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis in both the ipsilateral striatum and cortex after closed cortical impact (CCI), with concomitant increases in signaling through pathways associated with post-injury mitochondrial dysfunction. Future work characterizing the pattern of mitochondrial dysregulation and elucidating the signaling pathways that contribute to the suppression of mitochondrial function may reveal novel drug targets for pharmacological management of TBI as well as other acute organ injury states

Appearance and Masculinity: An Investigation into Appearance Management Behaviors, Social Physique Anxiety, Appearance Evaluation, and Appearance Orientation in a Small, Sexually Diverse Sample

Appearance dissatisfaction among women has been the focus of much research. Silverstein and Perlick (1995) argue that high achieving women in patriarchal societies have historically suffered from anxiety and disordered eating in part due to gender inequality. In recent years, the number of men reporting appearance dissatisfaction has grown. Gender inequality in modern society falls short in explaining appearance dissatisfaction. While gender inequality persists, the media has become a powerful and pervasive influence on people’s lives