Entire DC Network | Open Access Articles | Digital Commons Network™

This Is Our Home - So Please Help Care For It, Alaina Bernard

UCF Forum

I love the movie “Contact” about a scientist played by Jodie Foster, who has an extraordinary experience traveling through space. In the end, when she could not explain the experience, she ended up finding her faith in something unexplainable.

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Systems And Method For Hybrid Local Tomography Image Reconstruction, Alexander Katsevich, Michael Frenkel

UCF Patents

Methods, processes and systems of image reconstruction utilizing a hybrid local tomography (HLT) methodology for reconstructing internal body images in medical applications, and the like. The system and method of the present invention provides an image with emphasized edges, and the image provides estimations of the attenuation coefficient inside the object being scanned.

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Applying Rda To Digital Resources Metadata, Sai Deng, Peter Spyers-Duran

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This presentation will describe how Resource Description and Access (RDA) has been applied in cataloging, updating, and migrating digital resources at the University of Central Florida Libraries. Presenters will explain the similarities and differences of using RDA to catalog traditional serials in an Integrated Library System (ILS) and digitized serials and serial analytics in a Content Management System (CMS). Examples will be used to illustrate the issues of using RDA in conjunction with other metadata standards such as Dublin Core (DC) and Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS) to catalog digital resources including digitized newspapers and monographs, such as: relating RDA …

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#Blacklivesmatter – So Keep The Conversation Going, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton

UCF Forum

#BlackLivesMatter has become part of a symbolic movement with a powerful message. First tweeted on April 11, 2012, following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, #BlackLivesMatter began trending heavily during protests after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. Three years later, it remains relevant.

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The Use Of Yoga For Chronic Pain Management In The Pediatric Population, Annabeth Huff

HIM 1990-2015

Chronic pain has an adverse impact on the quality of life in children and adolescents. It can impair a child’s physical, psychological, and social functioning, leading to lower satisfaction with life and poor self-image related to health status. Forty-five percent of children experience chronic pain related to either disease processes or idiopathic causes. Not all children who suffer from chronic pain respond to traditional therapies. The purpose of this literature review was evaluation of current research on the use of yoga as an integrative therapy for chronic pain management in the pediatric population. A database search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, and …

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Domestic Violence Shelter Policies Across The State Of Florida, Kyra Nickell

HIM 1990-2015

Domestic violence shelters can vary greatly in the services available to victims and their families. The funding shelters receive can impact the shelter’s ability to provide specialized services. Since the availability of services might vary from shelter to shelter, victims can have different experiences based on their location. This cross-sectional study contacted representatives from nine shelters in the State of Florida and asked the representatives nine questions about the services which are available at their respective shelter. The findings from this research show that these nine shelters offer a greater number of services than the study expected. However, there is …

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Divorce, Separation, Mental Health And Risky Behaviors Among Fathers: What Are The Connections And How Does It Affect Family Health?, Nicolas Resciniti

HIM 1990-2015

Due to the fact that approximately 50% of US first marriages ending in divorce, there is a growing need to identify and understand the causal mechanisms behind these separations and what effects this event has upon the family unit. This study employed secondary data analyses on the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study to identify the differences in the frequency of adverse health behaviors among fathers that are coupled with their partner and those who are divorced/separated. Trends of the fathers from the baseline survey to the five-year follow-up allowed us to observe the following: Differences in adverse health behaviors, …

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Factors That Affect Adherence With Long-Term Controller Medications Used To Manage Asthma In Children, Brittany Bowks

HIM 1990-2015

Problem: Asthma affects one out of every ten children in the United States. It is recommended that children with persistent asthma take long-term controller (LTC) medications to achieve control. However, adherence varies, and many children do not take their LTC medication at all. The average cost for hospitalization of a child with asthma is $8,406. Asthma in children also contributes to school absenteeism and a decrease in quality of life. Objective: A literature review was performed to examine factors that affect adherence to LTC medications used to control asthma in children. Method: A literature review was performed using the CINAHL, …

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The Effects Of Complementary Hippotherapy For Children With Austism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie Hicks

HIM 1990-2015

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an intricate and complex disorder that continues to grow in its prevalence year after year. The disorder is based on decreased social communication with prevalent stereotypical behaviors and problems in sensory processing. Due to the disorder diagnosis based on a spectrum, each child is different in their severity, and thus requires individualized forms of therapies and treatments. The cause of ASD is unknown, which makes the treatment difficult to standardize. Desperate to find a regimen that benefits their child’s ability to function more successfully, more and more parents are utilizing complementary alternative medicine (CAM). The …

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Hybrid Carbon Fiber Alumina Nanocomposite For Non-Contact Stress Sensing Via Piezospectroscopy, Imad Hanhan

HIM 1990-2015

Carbon ber composites have become popular in aerospace structures and applications due to their light weight, high strength, and high performance. Recently, scientists have begun investigating hybrid composites that include fibers and particulate fillers, since they allow for advanced tailoring of mechanical properties, such as improved fatigue life. This project investigated a hybrid carbon ber reinforced polymer (HCFRP) that includes carbon fiber and additional alumina nanoparticle fillers, which act as embedded nano stress-sensors. Utilizing the piezospectroscopic e ect, the photo-luminescent spectral signal of the embedded nanoparticles has been monitored as it changes with stress, enabling non-contact stress detection of the …

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A Diplomat's Portrait: The United States Department Of State's View On French Imperial Policy Regarding Syrian Religious Minorities Of 1918-1922, Dominic Charles

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis examines documents from the US department of State relating to the Internal Affairs of Turkey in the years of 1918-1922, to answer questions pertaining to French imperial policy directed toward minority groups in French Mandate Syria, which included present-day nations of Lebanon and Syria. Of the many minority groups present in French Mandate Syria, I chose to examine the Maronite, Druze, Alawi, Eastern Christian, and Armenian communities because of their significant role in the state-building of Syria and Lebanon. By using documents originating from US diplomats, this thesis attempts to present the United States’ view on these imperial …

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Effects Of Gamification On Speed And Accuracy On An Interdependent Paper Sorting Task, Davis Tinkle

HIM 1990-2015

This study examined the effects of gamification, i.e. (what makes games challenging, engaging and fun), and its effects on speed and accuracy on an interdependent paper sorting task. Undergraduate students (N=42) at the University of Central Florida participated by working interdependently in groups to sort numbered pieces of paper into piles before and after either playing video games or doing back-to-back drawing(basic team building exercises). It was hypothesized that participants who played video games would sort pieces of paper into the piles faster and more accurate than those who did back-to-back team exercises. Results showed that playing video games was …

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Truly Accomplished: An Exploratory Study Of Motivation And Social Influence, Carly Tucker

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the motivation of individuals to use Truly Accomplished (TA) as a fitness intervention, with or without a social support component. All participants utilized the TA Software as a fitness intervention and received weekly feedback on their progress. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to either participate in the regular TA process (n=16) or a modified TA process (n=14) with the addition of a social support component in the form of a social media group. Participants in the modified condition posted weekly to a Facebook group page about successes and obstacles they faced and …

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Recession To Depression: A Critical Disambiguation Of The 2007/2008 Financial Crisis And A Model For New Age Securities Regulation, Christian Walters

HIM 1990-2015

During the late 2000s the United States economy was faced with the most traumatic event in United States financial history since the Great Depression. Large multibillion dollar corporations collapsed, families lost their life savings, and the United States economy stood on a precipice for total destruction. In the wake of the Financial Crisis, investment firms such as Merrill Lynch collapsed and their portfolios were sold to competitors for far lower than their estimated value (Sorkin). In 2008, the Financial Crisis impacted the working man the most. With foreclosures on the rise, an estimated 81.2% increase from the year before, average …

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Examining The Relationship Between Trait Goal Orientation And Behavior In Team Debriefing Sessions, Amanda Woods

HIM 1990-2015

The present study explored the impact of the individual difference, goal orientation, on the team intervention, debriefing, thus contributing insight into a previously unexplored component behind debriefing effectiveness. Three sub-dimensions of goal orientation were examined in terms of their influence on debriefing: learning goal orientation, performance-prove goal orientation and performance-avoid goal orientation. The outcomes investigated included elements of a successful debrief: self-correction, self-promotion and speaking up behavior. A sample (N=69) of undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida individually completed a goal orientation self-report measure and participated in a team debriefing session within their three-person teams. The audio-recorded debriefing …

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Assessment Of Tracheostomy Care Practices In A Simulated Setting, Thomas Bolsega

HIM 1990-2015

Background: Although a tracheostomy is a common procedure for patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation, little evidence exists as to the best practices for performing tracheostomy care to maintain the airway and promote skin integrity. Therefore, variability is likely, which may negatively impact patient outcomes. This study described tracheostomy care practices of registered nurses (RNs) and respiratory therapists (RTs) who regularly perform tracheostomy care in critical care settings. Methodology: The descriptive study was conducted following informed consent. RNs (n=15) and RTs (n=5) were asked to perform tracheostomy care on a simulated mannequin patient. An array of supplies (both required and …

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Effects Of Ghrko Visceral Fat Transplant On Insulin Signaling, Mohammed Bennis

HIM 1990-2015

Insulin sensitivity has been positively correlated with a healthy and extended lifespan, while insulin resistance, decreased insulin sensitivity, has been linked to aging and is the main indicative of type 2 diabetes. Growth Hormone Receptor/ Binding Protein Knockout mice (GHRKO), although obese, are characterized by high insulin sensitivity and a prolonged lifespan. Due to the absence of growth hormone receptors (GHR), growth hormone (GH) is unable to activate its downstream pathway. Interestingly, the secretory activity of visceral fat in GHRKO mice is altered stimulating insulin sensitivity. In this study, we transplanted normal (N) mice with GHRKO visceral fat pads to …

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An Examination Of Relative Age Effects Among Junior Elite Wrestlers, Jayla Kelly

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this examination was to evaluate relative age effects among junior elite wrestlers across gender, weight class, and competitive rule sets. Using biographical data, this thesis explores trends representing an oversampling of athletes born earlier in the year, accompanied by potential effects for success in sport and an impact on retention rates. Currently, the use of chronological age is the most common form of classifying sports participants, though this type of classification may have potentially negative long- and short-term implications. Thus, the results may provide an evaluation of weight categorization as a less discriminatory competitive format in junior …

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The Mediating Roles Of Coping And Social Support On Adolescent Lesbian Homelessness, Katelynn Craft

HIM 1990-2015

This paper analyzes the stress and coping mechanisms of lesbian homeless adolescents to identify potential buffers against homelessness. The Minority Stress Model and identity theories are used as a framework to interpret the findings in the literature. Based on the findings in the literature, it is possible to conclude that lesbian homeless youth are more susceptible to minority stress due to a lack of adaptive coping resources and social support. Increased levels of minority stress may lead to internalizing and externalizing symptoms that cause runaway and throwaway episodes in homeless youth. This paper proposes a new model to understand the …

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Subcutaneous Injection Techniques Of Anticoagulant Therapies, Leah Morissette

HIM 1990-2015

Subcutaneous anticoagulant medications like Heparin and Low-Molecular Weight Heparin are injections that readily cause bruising, pain, induration, and hematoma formation at the injection site. It is known that these adverse reactions can be correlated to the technique used to administer these medications; however, there is no established technique that reduces bruising, pain, induration, and hematoma formation at the site. Currently, the only protocol for subcutaneous Heparin and Low-Molecular Weight Heparin is that it is to be administered subcutaneously in the abdomen and when using a prefilled syringe, the air bubble should not be removed. The purpose of this study was …

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The Implications Of Federal And State Laws Regarding The Storage, Use, And Donation Of Cord Blood, Rebecca Miller

HIM 1990-2015

Cord blood storage, use, and donation is a rising trend. The cells found in the blood of the umbilical cord can be used to treat various life threatening diseases. It has been shown that the use of these cells can produce results that are just as effective as a bone marrow transfusion. The yield of cells from a sample of cord blood is not always enough to be effective for a transfusion in adults. As such children are the primary demographic for cord blood transfusions. For this reason, prospective parents are taking notice of the trend. Currently, federal and state …

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A Solomon Like Decision: Factors In Determining Child Custody For Same Sex Couples In Florida After Dissolution Of A Relationship Or Marriage, Sydney Alexander

HIM 1990-2015

Same sex couples around the nation have continually fought for their right to marry and in thirty-six states they have been given that right. What same-sex couples did not think to fight for was the right to divorce. There has been a considerable lack of focus on one such issue often left out of the public discourse over marriage equality: determining parental rights for the purposes of child custody/visitation in the context of a homosexual relationship that has broken down. The choice to have a child in a same-sex couple, with the exception of adoption, usually only allows for one …

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Psychosocial Indicators Of Injury Concealment Among Young Male Athletes, Guillermo Alfonso

HIM 1990-2015

The intent of this thesis is to explore the reasons why young athletes may conceal their sports injuries. In recent years, there has been much discussion about the long-term health implications that former athletes are dealing with as they live life after sports. Sports injuries including concussions, knee damage, and spinal injuries are all issues that could affect an athlete’s quality of life far beyond their playing days. It is well known around the athletic and medical communities that many athletes withhold information about their injury symptoms just to get back on to the field. Most worrisome about this fact, …

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Depression: An Investigation Of The Risk Factors Associated With High Depressive Symptoms Among The Latino Immigrant Population, Elizabeth Altamirano

HIM 1990-2015

Depression seems to affect a large portion of Americans living the U.S. Specifically, it has been found to affect the Latino population more so than other ethnicities. When considering Latino immigrants, it is important to take into consideration the additional challenges (e.g. adaptation, acculturation) that may lead to the development of depression. In the current study, the aim is to find a relationship between depression and other psychological constructs (e.g. dominant group and intragroup marginalization, acculturative stress) in order to determine high risk factors for depressive symptoms among Latino immigrants in the Florida community. 128 Latino immigrants (44 males, 81 …

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Effectiveness Of Cardiac Rehabilitation: Secondary Prevention Increases Functional Capacity In Myocardial Infarction Patients, Kristin Badillo

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this study was to discern the effectiveness of Cardiac Rehabilitation/ Secondary Prevention Programs (CR/ SPP’s) by evaluating increased functional capacity in the form of MET (metabolic equivalent) scores post-myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack. The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) survey is administered as part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for participation in the Secondary Prevention Program. Criterion for the research included patients 65 and older, with a history of one myocardial infarction, and had completed all 36 sessions of CR. The scores from 11 SPP surveys were analyzed and compared in three time increments from …

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Microfinance In Algeria, Tunisia, And Lebanon, Elaine Chamberlain

HIM 1990-2015

In theory, microfinance is a system of decentralized bankers lending to the poor in order to improve economic systems and emphasize entrepreneurial development. Specifically, within the Middle East and North Africa region, the poor economic performances have been closely linked to poor savings and investments. This thesis explores the various factors which affect the microfinance sector in three countries in the Middle East and North Africa region: Algeria, Tunisia, and Lebanon. Algeria, Tunisia, and Lebanon, have similar cultural and political histories that could potentially affect the development of microfinance within the state. Microfinance institutes aim at economic improvements, but the …

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A Psychophysiological Investigation Of The Proposed Paradoxical Effects Of Valuing Happiness, Nicholas Coles

HIM 1990-2015

Several researchers in happiness studies have called for an increased sociopolitical interest in indicators of societal happiness. However, recent evidence for the proposed paradoxical effects of valuing happiness suggest that an increase in society’s perceived value of happiness may exert a detrimental, inverse influence on well-being. This notion is based on previous research demonstrating that manipulating participants to value happiness causes them to experience less positive emotions, compared to controls, when viewing positive film clips. Following the humanistic notion that the maximization of societal happiness is an advantageous sociopolitical endeavor, the proposed paradoxical effects of valuing happiness present a psychological …

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Same-Sex Sexual Assault In The Military, Lauren Croft

HIM 1990-2015

Sexual assault in the military is a large concern for the Department of Defense. They recognize it as an important and complex problem that needs to be addressed. In recent years, efforts have been initiated in order to improve the handling of sexual assault cases and data retention. An entirely new program has been created in order to address these cases. Focusing on the occurrence of same-sex assaults heightens the sensitivity of matters. This is due to the precarious and only very recent acceptance of homosexuals in the military. In the past, service members, homosexual or otherwise, may have been …

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Acculturation Factors Associated With The Prevalence Of Obesity In Immigrant Children And Adolescents, Suzeline Desir

HIM 1990-2015

Childhood obesity (CO) is a significant public health issue in the United States, including the immigrant populations. Obese children and adolescents are at increased risk for multiple preventable comorbidities that affect their physical health and psychological well-being. The perception exists that the immigrant child population may possess protection against CO, but this group also experienced an increased prevalence of CO. Acculturation, or the adaptation to American culture and lifestyles, has been shown to be associated with the increased obesity rate among immigrant children and adolescents. Understanding the association between acculturation factors and CO is necessary to effectively combat obesity among …

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Implementing The Speakall! Ipad App And Intervention Protocol With A Child With Autism: A Pilot Study, Olivia Downs

HIM 1990-2015

The ability to communicate is essential for children with developing language systems, and ultimately to being successful academically and eventually vocationally. In a world where communication is vital, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at a disadvantage and require additional options to express themselves; augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies have presented promising options for helping these children communicate. One technology option that has proven to be of particular interest to families of children with ASD involves the use AAC iPad apps. Research has been conducted in AAC, ASD, and music, but there is limited research to date, which …

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Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

This Is Our Home - So Please Help Care For It, Alaina Bernard

UCF Forum

Systems And Method For Hybrid Local Tomography Image Reconstruction, Alexander Katsevich, Michael Frenkel

UCF Patents

Applying Rda To Digital Resources Metadata, Sai Deng, Peter Spyers-Duran

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

#Blacklivesmatter – So Keep The Conversation Going, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton

UCF Forum

The Use Of Yoga For Chronic Pain Management In The Pediatric Population, Annabeth Huff

HIM 1990-2015

Domestic Violence Shelter Policies Across The State Of Florida, Kyra Nickell

HIM 1990-2015

Divorce, Separation, Mental Health And Risky Behaviors Among Fathers: What Are The Connections And How Does It Affect Family Health?, Nicolas Resciniti

HIM 1990-2015

Factors That Affect Adherence With Long-Term Controller Medications Used To Manage Asthma In Children, Brittany Bowks

HIM 1990-2015

The Effects Of Complementary Hippotherapy For Children With Austism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie Hicks

HIM 1990-2015

Hybrid Carbon Fiber Alumina Nanocomposite For Non-Contact Stress Sensing Via Piezospectroscopy, Imad Hanhan

HIM 1990-2015

A Diplomat's Portrait: The United States Department Of State's View On French Imperial Policy Regarding Syrian Religious Minorities Of 1918-1922, Dominic Charles

HIM 1990-2015

Effects Of Gamification On Speed And Accuracy On An Interdependent Paper Sorting Task, Davis Tinkle

HIM 1990-2015

Truly Accomplished: An Exploratory Study Of Motivation And Social Influence, Carly Tucker

HIM 1990-2015

Recession To Depression: A Critical Disambiguation Of The 2007/2008 Financial Crisis And A Model For New Age Securities Regulation, Christian Walters

HIM 1990-2015

Examining The Relationship Between Trait Goal Orientation And Behavior In Team Debriefing Sessions, Amanda Woods

HIM 1990-2015

Assessment Of Tracheostomy Care Practices In A Simulated Setting, Thomas Bolsega

HIM 1990-2015

Effects Of Ghrko Visceral Fat Transplant On Insulin Signaling, Mohammed Bennis

HIM 1990-2015

An Examination Of Relative Age Effects Among Junior Elite Wrestlers, Jayla Kelly

HIM 1990-2015

The Mediating Roles Of Coping And Social Support On Adolescent Lesbian Homelessness, Katelynn Craft

HIM 1990-2015

Subcutaneous Injection Techniques Of Anticoagulant Therapies, Leah Morissette

HIM 1990-2015

The Implications Of Federal And State Laws Regarding The Storage, Use, And Donation Of Cord Blood, Rebecca Miller

HIM 1990-2015

A Solomon Like Decision: Factors In Determining Child Custody For Same Sex Couples In Florida After Dissolution Of A Relationship Or Marriage, Sydney Alexander

HIM 1990-2015

Psychosocial Indicators Of Injury Concealment Among Young Male Athletes, Guillermo Alfonso

HIM 1990-2015

Depression: An Investigation Of The Risk Factors Associated With High Depressive Symptoms Among The Latino Immigrant Population, Elizabeth Altamirano

HIM 1990-2015

Effectiveness Of Cardiac Rehabilitation: Secondary Prevention Increases Functional Capacity In Myocardial Infarction Patients, Kristin Badillo

HIM 1990-2015

Microfinance In Algeria, Tunisia, And Lebanon, Elaine Chamberlain

HIM 1990-2015

A Psychophysiological Investigation Of The Proposed Paradoxical Effects Of Valuing Happiness, Nicholas Coles

HIM 1990-2015

Same-Sex Sexual Assault In The Military, Lauren Croft

HIM 1990-2015

Acculturation Factors Associated With The Prevalence Of Obesity In Immigrant Children And Adolescents, Suzeline Desir

HIM 1990-2015

Implementing The Speakall! Ipad App And Intervention Protocol With A Child With Autism: A Pilot Study, Olivia Downs

HIM 1990-2015