Linking Cognitive Load, Perception, and Postural Sway in Older Adults

Falls in older adults put a great strain on Canadians in monetary terms and quality of life. Traditional motor theory proposes that declining systems crucial for balance along with reduced cognitive capacity are reasons for a high incidence in falls. However, this does not account for individual differences in perceptions of fallers vs. non-fallers. This exploratory study aimed to find an action-perception uncoupling in older adults at risk for falling to account for deficits in motor control. 21 healthy male and female adults with a mean age of 67.7 years were separated into Control of Fear of Falling groups. Participants stood on a force platform, completed various levels of cognitive tasks, and inspected several images of everyday outdoor environments of varying levels of difficulty to navigate, all while biofeedback and eye-tracking were being measured. Six 2(Group) * 3(Condition) mixed factorial ANOVAs with repeated measures and a correlation matrix to compare conditions were run. Results showed only significant main effects for heart rate F(2,18) = 29.817, p = .000 \u3c .05, pupil size F(2,18) = 4.743, p = .022 \u3c .05, and mean moving window F(2,18) = 10.918, p= .001 \u3c .05 under cognitive load conditions. Encouraging insignificant differences between groups were observed, but a small sample size and unequal groups did not supply enough power to detect them

Shallow Enough to Walk Through

Shallow Enough to Walk Through\u27 is a novel and critical essay that together approach the writing process through a feminist perspective, exploring the plight of a modern female writer in fear of being entrapped by traditional patriarchal constraints. The novel is a portrait of the artist that writes, rewrites, and erases itself as the female protagonist makes physical marks on the text with [special characters omitted] and other editorial interjections. Magic Realist images of weather in the form of puddles, or the lack thereof, contribute to the portrait of the artist that appears in fragments. My protagonist embarks on a search for puddles—symbols of progress that she believes will lead her out of her stagnant life and her writing rut. As the novel progresses and the possibility of puddles appearing decreases, my protagonist becomes at risk of drowning on dry land. Aside from my protagonist, all characters in the novel experience their own forms of entrapment from confinement within the novel\u27s setting—Windsor—to confinement within their own hobbies and lifestyles. In addition, all characters are fragments that the reader collects while reading, only to realize that there are never enough pieces to create a whole

Is Cariprazine Effective and Safe in Treating Acute Mania in Bipolar I Disorder?

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is cariprazine effective and safe in treating acute mania in bipolar I disorder?” Study Design: This review is based on three double-blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English, in 2015. These studies compared both the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of cariprazine in the treatment of acute mania in bipolar I disorder. Data sources: Three double-blind, placebo-controlled, RCTs published in English, in peer-reviewed journals, and found using Medline, Pubmed, and Cochrane Review databases. Outcomes Measured: The primary efficacy scale used in all studies was the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) which is a screening tool that objectively and subjectively measures acute mania items including: irritability, speech, content, disruptive behavior, elevated mood, increased motor activity, sexual interest, sleep, language-though disorder, appearance, and insight. Safety was measured through the occurrence of one or more of the following during treatment as experienced by the patient: extrapyramidal disorder, headache, akathisia, constipation, nausea, dyspepsia, dizziness, insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, sedation, vision blurred, mania, pain in extremity, pyrexia, tremor, agitation, or toothache. Results: All three studies found cariprazine demonstrated efficacy and general tolerability in the treatment of mania in acute bipolar I disorder compared to placebo (p Conclusions: The results based on these three studies is the cariprazine is effective and generally well-tolerated for patients experiencing acute mania in bipolar I disorder. Future study is warranted to determine the remission rate of manic episodes after treatment with cariprazine for bipolar I disorder

Football Stadium to Rodeo Venue: The Process. A Case Study at Cal Poly

This paper is a reflection of the construction process concerning Cal Poly’s 77th Poly Royal Rodeo in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. The paper is an overview of how the project came about, the process of planning, new knowledge, deliverables, lessons learned, and how the experience applies to working in the construction industry. April 5-9, 2017 was the execution of a monumental process. 40,000SF of filter fabric, 2 semi loads (1500 sheets) of plywood, and 200 truckloads of dirt were laid on the live grass of Spanos Stadium to set the stage for a rodeo production unlike most people see in their lifetime. A full scale arena, concert stage, and VIP tent accompanied the grounds of a stadium to seat 11,000 people. Saturday night April 8, 11,000+ people rocked the event after being rained out Friday night. Cal Poly, the Rodeo Program, numerous professionals, and the San Luis Obispo community achieved history in hosting the largest collegiate rodeo to-date. All of this was accomplished in a 96 hour window

Of Pigeonholes and Principles: A Reconsideration of Discrimination Law

The common law has never developed a cause of action for discrimination. Instead, the legislatures have stepped in. This article explores not whether there should be a cause of action for discrimination at common law, but whether our thinking about discrimination from a legal point of view would benefit from drawing upon common law methodology. We can contrast two methodologies for the design and development over time of legal norms: the top-down model of the comprehensive code designed to bring to life a grand theory about the norms regulating human interaction, and the bottom-up model of case-by-case analysis aiming toward the development of a set of principles explaining and justifying individual decisions. Each has its place, but the latter is perhaps better suited to creating and changing norms in the discrimination law area. However, the abdication of responsibility by the common law has led to the legislatures intervening in their typical top-down style. Lacking a grand theory, the resulting statutory rules have something of the quality of arbitrary pigeonholes into which complainants must fit their fact situation or fail. Three issues are examined, revealing the detrimental impact of the pigeonhole-like quality that current codes have taken on over the course of their development. The first two concern the difficulties encountered in determining which attributes come within the protection of the law through being designated as prohibited grounds of discrimination; the last is a re-examination of whether discrimination is confined to differential treatment motivated by prejudice or encompasses causing adverse effects upon vulnerable groups and individuals. The article makes some first steps towards showing how discrimination law could develop differently if we were to adopt something more like the common law method of norm creation and change

White Teacher Attitudes Towards Their Experiences With Anti-Racist Initiatives

The attitudes of white teachers become a critically important aspect of racism and its dismantling. White teachers work within the institutions that have power to inspire and empower students and they have the tendency to hold the structures of the dominant society within their behaviours and actions. This study embraces a mixed method research design through surveys and semi-structured interviews to explore the attitudes that white teachers have towards their experiences with anti-racist initiatives. Teachers are able to either replicate and sustain social patterns of white hegemony or act as agents of change in combat of racism. As a force of educators, critical reflection and dismantling of the manifestations of white privilege within the classroom, are of utmost importance. This study emerges from a cultural and social context within unprecedented times of a global pandemic where the pervasiveness of racism is blatantly apparent in all functions of society. The deep racial and socioeconomic divides across the continent of North America, has inspired needed attention and change to approaches of educators in the foundations that build our societies, our educational institutions. This study, therefore, is both timely and contributes to literature related to white teacher perceptions of racism and its presence in school settings. It exposes work that is needed to be done to authentically stand in solidarity with marginalized students through continually contributing to positive racial identities. The findings of the data highlight one’s capacity to self-examine personal perceptions, biases, and reactions as a great force in movement for racial equity. Understanding the historical underpinnings of systemic racism has the authentic power to ignite passion to disrupt forces of oppression. There is an imperative need to support white teachers in building confidence with knowledge and terms relating to racism in support of teaching through an antiracist lens. This study inspires the need for white teachers to acknowledge the invisible embedment of white hegemonic power and work towards the dismantling of systemic racism

Evaluating the potential of microplastics and natural organic matter for sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants based on selected properties

Interest in microplastic behaviour as vectors for hydrophobic organic pollutants has increased in the literature over recent years, however these materials constitute only one of many organic particulate groups in the environment able to compete for pollutants. This review examines particle characteristics including size, surface area, porosity, and age, and how these may influence natural organic particle and microplastic sorption capacity. The impacts these particles manifest as contaminant vectors to biota are also discussed, along with additional chemical and environmental factors that play a role in favour of each particle type. Microplastics are primarily considered to behave as more ideal sorbent due to their hydrophobic nature and acceptable size range below that considered as “particulate” organic matter, however the abundance of these anthropogenic pollutants in comparison to their natural counterparts and their initial hydrophobicity makes their risk as a vector far less prominent than the latter group

Learning in Medical School: Transition Issues, Strategy Use, and Self-Regulation

This qualitative study investigated how students adapt to medical school. Thirty-six medical students completed an e-mail survey exploring the transition from pre-medical to medical education, the use of learning strategies, and self-regulated learning practices. Their responses highlighted the challenges of medical education and the learning skills that lead to the successful mastery of course demands. Respondents identified volume of information as the major transition issue. Key strategies used were establishing balance, selectively targeting information, and controlling stress. Strong metacognitive abilities and other self-regulating activities were identified. Findings indicated that while students initially found the workload stressful, the implementation of specific learning skills facilitated the adjustment to medical school. The study provides information on how high achieving students learn when confronted with new academic demands.Cette étude qualitative a examiné comment les étudiants s’adaptent à l’école de médecine. Trente-six étudiants en médecine ont complété par courrier électronique une enquête examinant la transition de l’éducation prémédicale à l’éducation médicale, l’utilisation de statégies d’étude, et les pratiques d’auto réglementation. Leurs réponses ont mis en évidence les défi s de l’éducation médicale et les compétences d’étude menant à la maîtrise des demandes de cours. Les répondants on identifi é le volume d’information comme le problème de transition majeur. Les principales stratégies utilisées étaient d’établir un équilibre, de localiser sélectivement l’information, et de contrôler le stress. Des capacités métacognitives fortes et différentes activités d’auto réglementation ont été identifi ées. Les conclusions de l’étude indiquent qu’au début les étudiants ont trouvé la somme de travail stressante mais que l’implantation de stratégies spécifi ques d’étude a facilité l’ajustement à l’école de médecine. Cette étude fournit de l’information sur la façon dont les étudiants ayant du succès apprennent lorsque confrontés à de nouvelles demandes scolaires