Creating meaning from loss: A museum-based group art therapy program design for adolescents who have lost a caregiver

Grief is a universal experience that can result from variety of losses throughout one’s life (Rogers, 2007). Losing a primary caregiver during adolescence, a critical developmental period between the ages of 10-19 years of age (World Health Organization, 2020), can be a difficult and life-changing experience. Through the unfolding of the grief process, the adolescent will also be experiencing significant cognitive, social and physical changes, as well as being faced with the developmental task of individuation and the formation of identity (Balk & Corr, 2009). Museum art therapy is an innovative development in public practice of art therapy, providing an novel opportunity to meaningfully engage with the collection and space in the therapeutic process (Henry et al., 2019; Treadon et al., 2006). Through bridging cultural spaces and art therapy, this model is centered on the belief that mental health and well-being are innately connected to building meaningful connections in a social and environmental context (Timm-Bottos, 2017). This research paper will address the question: how can weekly group art therapy in an art museum context support adolescents who have lost a caregiver in creating meaning from loss? The proposed 8-week intervention program design will integrate current narrative bereavement theories of the Meaning-Reconstruction Model (Neimeyer, 1998) and the Dual Process Model of Grief (Stroebe & Schut, 1999) to the therapeutic potential of the museum collection and space

Consensus on Beliefs about Addiction in a Network of Addiction Recovery Volunteers

There is ample evidence that drug and alcohol addiction is a serious public health issue in the United States, but little agreement about the exact nature, causes, and best treatment of addiction. Sociological theory suggests that group membership has an impact on health behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, an idea which is reflected in many current treatments for addiction. This study examines the relationship between social ties and beliefs about addiction through cultural consensus and social network surveys of a group of volunteers at a drug and alcohol recovery service center. Due to a small sample size the results are inconclusive, but useful methods for the study of this topic as well as avenues of future research are explored

HIVE: A Space Architecture Concept

The increasing number of spacefaring nations and agendas, miniaturization of subsystems, and trend toward integrated systems are no doubt influencing the evolution of space systems. The diversification of space architectures has surged at an unprecedented rate in recent history with initial deployments of planned mega-constellations. This paper explores HIVE-a reconfigurable small satellite system primed to revolutionize the concept of modular space systems and future space architectures. Based on a mass producible functioning unit consisting of nested rings, HIVE is a comprehensive satellite design harnessing advancement in robotics, software and machine learning, precision scale manufacturing, and novel materials with multifunctional properties. HIVE is addressing solutions for detailed design of interconnected hardware, engineering analysis for multi-payload applications, and policy to accomplish modularized, in-space deployment and reconfiguration. The HIVE unit design lends itself to the “infinite possibilities” of space mission architectures and presents a revolutionary way to design, integrate, and operate missions from space. This paper provides and overview of the HIVE concept development and provides examples of applications for HIVE to showcase the range of possible systems and architectural advantages; such as space domain awareness, large service structure, and planetary surface infrastructure. Finally, we will discuss technology transfer and possible pathways to making a resilient, adaptable, and continually upgradable space infrastructure a reality

Incorporating Virtual Reality Training in an Introductory Public Speaking Course

This study presents the results of two studies using a virtual reality (VR) public-speaking training simulation as an instructional aid in a basic communication course. Results from the first study suggest that VR practice was associated with higher subsequent speech delivery grades in the course compared to no practice. However, VR practice did not reduce public speaking anxiety (PSA). In a follow-up study, VR practice was compared with other forms of lab-based practice including in front of a mirror and a recorded video session. All forms of lab practice (VR, mirror, or video) were associated with higher speech grades than no practice, but there were no differences between lab-practice conditions in terms of outcomes. Results are discussed in terms of adopting and using virtual public-speaking simulations in large undergraduate public-speaking courses

Milestones in Chloroplast Genetic Engineering: an Environmentally Friendly Era in Biotechnology

Chloroplast genomes defied the laws of Mendelian inheritance at the dawn of plant genetics, and continue to defy the mainstream approach to biotechnology, leading the field in an environmentally friendly direction. Recent success in engineering the chloroplast genome for resistance to herbicides, insects, disease and drought, and for production of biopharmaceuticals, has opened the door to a new era in biotechnology. The successful engineering of tomato chromoplasts for high-level transgene expression in fruits, coupled to hyper-expression of vaccine antigens, and the use of plant-derived antibiotic-free selectable markers, augur well for oral delivery of edible vaccines and biopharmaceuticals that are currently beyond the reach of those who need them most

The Stroke-related Effects of Hip Flexion Fatigue on Over Ground Walking

Individuals post stroke often rely more on hip flexors for limb advancement during walking due to distal weakness but the effects of muscle fatigue in this group is not known. The purpose of this study was to quantify how stroke affects the influence of hip flexor fatigue on over ground walking kinematics and performance and muscle activation. Ten individuals with chronic stroke and 10 without stroke (controls) participated in the study. Maximal walking speed, walking distance, muscle electromyograms (EMG), and lower extremity joint kinematics were compared before and after dynamic, submaximal fatiguing contractions of the hip flexors (30% maximal load) performed until failure of the task. Task duration and decline in hip flexion maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and power were used to assess fatigue. The stroke and control groups had similar task durations and percent reductions in MVC force following fatiguing contractions. Compared with controls, individuals with stroke had larger percent reductions in maximal walking speed, greater decrements in hip range of motion and peak velocity during swing, greater decrements in ankle velocity and lack of modulation of hip flexor EMG following fatiguing dynamic hip flexion contractions. For a given level of fatigue, the impact on walking function was more profound in individuals with stroke than neurologically intact individuals, and a decreased ability to up regulate hip flexor muscle activity may contribute. These data highlight the importance of monitoring the effect of hip flexor muscle activity during exercise or performance of activities of daily living on walking function post stroke