Digital Commons Network^™

Development And Validation Of The 34-Item Disability Screening Questionnaire (Dsq-34) For Use In Low And Middle Income Countries Epidemiological And Development Surveys, Jean-Francois Trani, Ganesh M. Babulal, Parul Bakhshi

Brown School Faculty Publications

Background: Although 80% of persons with disabilities live in low and middle-income countries, there is still a lack of comprehensive, cross-culturally validated tools to identify persons facing activity limitations and functioning difficulties in these settings. In absence of such a tool, disability estimates vary considerably according to the methodology used, and policies are based on unreliable estimates Methods and Findings: The Disability Screening Questionnaire composed of 27 items (DSQ-27) was initially designed by a group of international experts in survey development and disability in Afghanistan for a national survey. Items were selected based on major domains of activity limitations and …

Measuring Participation For Persons With Mental Illness: A Systematic Review Assessing Relevance Of Existing Scales For Low And Middle Income Countries, Ganesh M. Babulal, Parul Bakhshi, Sunyata Kopriva, Sarah A. Ali, Susan A. Goette, Jean-Francois Trani

Brown School Faculty Publications

Background: Participation is increasingly becoming an important outcome for assessment in many fields, including development, disability and policy implementation. However, selecting specific instruments to measure participation has been a significant problem due to overlapping conceptual definitions and use of different theories. The objective of this paper is to identify participation instruments, examine theories/definition supporting their use and highlight scales for use in low and middle-income countries for persons with mental illness. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify instruments intended to measure participation for individuals with severe mental illness. The search was limited to peer-reviewed articles published in …

Time-Limited Case Management For Homeless Mothers With Mental Health Problems: Effects On Caregiver Mental Health., Judith Samuels, Patrick J. Fowler, Andrea Ault-Brutus, Dein-In Tang, Katherine Marcal

Brown School Faculty Publications

Objective: In this study we test the effect of a time-limited case management model targeting homeless mothers who are experiencing mental health problems. Adapted from an empirically informed intervention to prevent recurrent homelessness among individuals, the Family Critical Time Intervention (FCTI) supports mothers with children for a 9-month period as they move from homeless shelters into affordable housing. The case management team uses a structured intervention to encourage mothers to create and maintain necessary connections in the community for key family supports. Method: We use a longitudinal randomized controlled trial (N = 210) to test whether homeless mothers referred to …

Mental Illness, Poverty And Stigma In India: A Case-Control Study, Jean-Francois Trani, Parul Bakhshi, Jill A. Kuhlberg, Sreelatha S. Narayanan, Hemalatha Venkataraman, Nagendra N. Mishra, Nora E. Groce, Sushrut Jadhav, Smita Deshpande

Brown School Faculty Publications

Objective: To assess the effect of experienced stigma on depth of multidimensional poverty of persons with severe mentalillness(PSMI) in Delhi, India, controlling for gender, age and caste. Design: Matching case(hospital)–control(population) study. Setting:University Hospital (cases) and National Capital Region (controls),India. Participants: A case–control study was conducted from November 2011 to June 2012. 647 cases diagnosed with schizophreniaor affective disorders were recruited and 647 individuals of same age,sex and location of residence were matched as controls at a ratio of 1:2:1. Individuals who refused consent or provided incomplete interview were excluded. Main outcome measures: Higher risk of poverty due to stigma among …

Normative Stakeholder Capitalism: Getting From Here To There, Marc-Charles Ingerson, Bradley R. Agle, Thomas Donalson, Paul C. Godfrey, Jared D. Harris, Jeffrey S. Harrison, Adrian Keevil, Ronald K. Mitchell, Robert A. Phillips

Faculty Publications

The capability of normative declarations to alter outcomes is well accepted. 'We hold these truths to be self-evident ... ,' 'inalienable rights, ... life, liberty, ... pursuit of happiness, .. .' and similar statements contain within them social energy that inspires the mind, justifies new modes of thought, and enables change .... Normative discourse, we therefore believe, must continue to be endemic to stakeholder theory and research if scholars want this theory to flourish and fulfill its aims as a theory of the firm-not the least of which is attending to the long-run interests of both the business corporation and …

Faster-Better-Cheaper Projects: Too Much Risk Or Overreaction To Perceived Failure?, Robert L. Dillon, Peter M. Madsen

Faculty Publications

From1992 until 1999,NASA adopted a Faster-Better- Cheaper (FBC) paradigm—i.e., smaller low-cost spacecraft—for its unmanned missions. When many early missions met their objectives at much lower cost than traditional flagship missions, the FBC approach seemed successful. However, after the failures of two Mars spacecraft in 1999, the FBC paradigm was viewed as a failed experiment. We reflect on the legacy of FBC. In particular, we focus on the organizational learning literature to explore whether FBC, a stretch goal, was a good step for NASA. Previous examinations of FBC have focused on failure rates rather than on cost effectiveness. We revisit the …

A Multi-Experimental Examination Of Analyzing Mouse Cursor Trajectories To Gauge Subject Uncertainty, Jeffrey L. Jenkins, Ross Larsen, Robert Bodily, Daniel Sandberg, Parker Williams, Steve Stokes, Spencer Harris, Joseph S. Valacich

Faculty Publications

Providing information online is pervasive in human-computer interactions. While providing information, people may deliberate their responses. However, organizations only receive the end-result of this deliberation and therefore have no contextual information surrounding the response. One type of contextual information includes knowing people’s response uncertainty while providing information. Knowing uncertainty allows organizations to weigh responses, ask follow-up questions, provide assistance, or identify problematic instructions or responses. This paper explores how mouse cursor movements may indicate uncertainty in a human-computer interaction context. Specifically, it hypothesizes how uncertainty on multiple-choice questions influences a mouse-movement statistic called area-under-the-curve (AUC). We report the result of …

New Essays On Clint Eastwood, Dennis Cutchins

Faculty Publications

As John M. Gourlie and Leonard Engel state in their introduction to New Essays on Clint Eastwood, the intention of this collection of essays is “both to expand our understanding of individual films and to deepen our overall appreciation of Eastwood’s artistry as, through the various stages of his career, he becomes an even greater master of his craft” (2). In these goals the collection succeeds. The essays are not all equal in their value, and the collection lacks an overall unity, but for Eastwood scholars this is a useful and worthwhile book.

Antibiotic Resistance Among Bacteria Near Sewage Outfalls In Bermuda, Amanda Alker

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

Antibiotic resistance among bacteria is a portentous global concern, which threatens the ability of medical professionals to successfully treat bacterial infections. In Bermuda, there is no wastewater treatment plant; therefore, about 4.3x106 L per day of untreated sewage is released into the ocean through two marine outfalls. Water samples were collected from 12 sample sites (outfalls, offshore sites, and onshore beach sites near the outfalls) over 4 sampling events between August and October, 2013. Water samples were analyzed for the presence of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus sp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic susceptibility of each purified isolate was tested and classified using …

Native Versus Exotic Ants As A Food Source For The Ant Lion, (Myrmeleon Crudelis), David G. Brothers

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant originally from South America, has become an important exotic pest in the southeastern US. Solenopsis invicta is well known for its powerful sting and are known to attack native wildlife, such as hatchling sea turtles. I examined the suitability of S. invicta as prey for a native antlion, Myrmeleon crudelis, in South Florida. I compared the growth and survival over 12 week period of 16 ant lions fed S. invicta and 16 fed a native pyramid ant, Dorymyrmex bureni. I found antlions fed S. invicta had significantly lower growth and survival than antlions fed D. …

Inositol Pyrophosphate And Ubiquitin-Proteasomal Pathways Regulate Cell Signaling And Metabolism, Hector Mora

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

The prevalence of obesity and type-2 diabetes (T2D) related comorbidities in the US emphasize the need for their treatment. Enzymes implicated in these diseases are favorable targets due to their specific catalytic activity. The Chakraborty lab discovered that inositol hexakisphosphate kinase-1 (IP6K1), an enzyme that synthesizes the signaling inositol pyrophosphate IP7, promotes fat accumulation and insulin resistance. Thus, IP6K1 is a novel target in obesity/T2D. However, how IP6K1 expression, stability, and activity are modulated in vivo remains unknown. Recent experiments establish that IP6K1 interacts with a novel ubiquitin ligase, Ube4A. Studies are ongoing to determine the cellular role of Ube4A …

Thermoregulation Of The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus), Abigail Schaffner

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

Thermoregulation is a critical mechanism that allows reptiles to enhance physiological performances such as digestion, running, and embryo development. Gopherus polyphemus relies on thermoregulatory behavior to reach an optimum threshold for active behavior outside of their burrows. This study used internal and external temperature readings of tortoises found in the Abacoa Jupiter Greenway range VIA and compares them to behavior exhibited by the tortoise and environmental temperatures recorded. The results were compared to previous research conducted on gopher tortoises on sites of similar latitude and the results remained relatively consistent between study populations. A mean external carapace temperature of 31.8° …

Computers Make The Best Listeners: A History And Experiment On Natural Language Processing, Shan A. Raja

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

In this thesis I will be using natural language processing techniques, particularly text classification and language modeling with Naïve Bayes, to categorize data from social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in order to optimize the user experience. The categorical classifications will serve as meaningful events that may occur in people’s lives so that the user may essentially filter posts for important content such as anniversaries, birthdays, job promotions, or relocation of friends in an application setting. I will apply the algorithm using the Java programming language and the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment.

Privacy And The Right To Free Speech, Alejandra A. Uribe

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

Because of the nature of their jobs and lifestyles, public figures are more likely to suffer intrusive invasions into their private lives and cannot generally expect to receive privacy in public places. However, the right to respect for a person’s privacy and the right to freedom of expression are both vitally important rights. Drawing on a balancing test similar to that used by the European Court of Human Rights that attempts to give due weight to each right, I argue that, with matters that are considered to be private like medical issues, a right to free speech should not trump …

The Maturation Of Gabaergic Circuitry In Ferret Visual Cortex, Dominick Joseph Casciato

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

Experience plays a critical role in maturation of cortical circuits. In visual cortex, experience-dependent development has been linked to the maturation of inhibitory interneurons. Parvalbumin-containing (PV) interneurons, a subtype of GABAergic interneurons, play an important role in cortical circuit function; however, it remains unknown how visual experience shapes their organization. We used immunohistochemistry to observe the organization of PV expression in visual cortex through visual maturity. Before visual experience, PV cell bodies and processes are most pronounced in layer 5, less in layer 2/3, and generally lacking in layer 4. Within 3 days of the onset of visual experience, PV …

Artificial Evolution Of Aconitase Via Heat-Shock Induced Oxidative Stress, Sean Crary

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

Oxidative stress, where oxygen has an unpaired electron, has been shown to damage cellular components. These electrons injure local cellular machinery and have the potential to interrupt major protein pathways. Aconitase is a key polypeptide with multiple niches in the cell, and has been shown to be a target for free radical impairment. We utilize artificial evolution using heat shock to cause major oxidative damage. With up to 99% fatality and repeated exposure we have an effective way to select against aconitase mutants via respiratory deficient yeast on glycerol, a non-fermentable growth medium. In this experiment, we use the previously …

Morphometric Assessment Of Connectivity Of The Shallow-Water And Mesophotic Scleractinian Coral Montastraea Cavernosa, Samantha Faye Johnston

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

Montastraea cavernosa is a widely distributed scleractinian coral found in temperate and tropical waters globally. Because it occurs in both shallow and mesophotic reefs, it is often referred to as a depth generalist. This study examined the morphometics of shallow-water and mesophotic cohorts in various locations in the Gulf of Mexico and used measurements of skeletal characteristics to assess morphological variation. Results from multivariate analyses showed that these characteristics differed significantly by site, not by depth, though there existed a significant site-depth interaction. Additionally, sites evaluated using a pairwise comparison showed that there were significant morphological variations as well, however …

The Effects Of Globalization On Early Childhood Education In China, Kaitlyn Mccoy

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

In this study I provide an examination of the varying effects of globalization that have impacted early childhood education programs, teaching methods, and other aspects of the pre-primary learning system in regions dominated by two of China’s ethnic minorities: Uyghur and Tibetan, compared to the impacts on Han area preschools. I look at non-Chinese early childhood education methods such as Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP), Montessori teaching, and bilingualism, and evaluate their prevalence in the different regions. To investigate this topic I use both historical sources and online data from preschools in China.

Cortical Development In An Intellectual Disability (Id) Mouse Model, Kaitlyn Shotwell

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant limitations in both adaptive behavior and intellectual function that arises prior to reaching adulthood. Studies revealed a prevailing correlation between patients with ID and a sporadic SYNGAP-1 gene mutation. The SYNGAP-1 gene encodes for the protein SYNGAP that controls intracellular signaling and is directly linked with synaptic transmission. Mouse models were used to analyze the structure of somatosensory cortical neurons in different layers of the cortex during brain development. Neurons of SynGAP-1 mutant mice in layer V of the somatosensory cortex displayed a much more complex structure than the wildtype …

The Anthropology Of Airlines: Flag Carriers, Nationalism, Place, And Identity, Evan Jackson

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2010 - 2019

In this study, I aim to explain the status of airline flag carriers as national and cultural symbols of their respected countries. With national interests and identity as part of their development, flag-carriers serve as “aerial ambassadors” representing their home nations. Through the media of design, uniforms, crew service, and advertising techniques, flag-carriers create a sense of place of their unique nations for both local and international passengers—promoting the “imagined communities” as coined by Benedict Anderson. Behind these flag-carriers are instances of public support and pride. The role of being an aerial ambassador emerges as the airline and nation become …

Evaluating The “Family-Centered” Approach Of Pediatric Multidisciplinary Down Syndrome Clinics: A Parents’ Perspective, Devon A. Haynes

Theses and Dissertations

Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. Individuals with Down syndrome usually display mild to moderate intellectual disability, developmental delay, characteristic facial features, and an increased risk for birth defects and various medical problems. Multidisciplinary clinics were established to address the multi-system health concerns for Down syndrome, increase adherence to medical management guidelines, and provide coordinated and comprehensive care for the patient. Research has examined the beneficial effect of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and medical outcomes; however, no studies have been done which evaluate the psychosocial aspect of the care provided.

We hypothesized that …

Evaluating Changes In Patient Anxiety Regarding Classic Cancer Genetic Testing Versus Expanded Multiplex Cancer Genetic Testing, Andrew Todd Alfonso

Theses and Dissertations

Multiplex cancer genetic testing by next generation sequencing (NGS) offers genetic counselors and patients new options for testing multiple genes beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2, increasing both the yield of positive results and the number of variants of uncertain significance (VUS). This pilot study explored three psychosocial questions related to multiplex cancer genetic testing: 1). Do anxiety levels differ in patients with results of familiar single gene testing versus those with results of multiplex cancer genetic testing of unfamiliar genes? 2). Do different results (i.e., negative, positive, or VUS) affect patient anxiety levels in the post-results period? 3). Is patient anxiety …

Exploring Communication Patterns In The Discussion Of Maternal Pku Syndrome Between Parents And Daughters, Hannah Beth Andrews

Theses and Dissertations

Maternal PKU syndrome is the collection of features and birth defects that arise from uncontrolled phenylalanine levels in a pregnant woman with phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency, previously known as phenylketonuria (PKU). Currently, the literature is lacking in exploring what young women are being told about maternal PKU syndrome. In this study, communication patterns between parents and their daughters about maternal PKU syndrome were investigated through an online survey completed by parents. The survey assessed parents’ level of comfort with this topic, the information they discussed with their daughter and the resources they accessed. Followup interviews were conducted with participants to …

Variant Reclassification In Cancer Genetic Testing: Are Genetic Counselors Prepared? A Review Of Current Practices, Niamh Gemma White

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Cancer genetics has emerged as a critical specialty within the field of genetic counseling. Advancements in research are constantly uncovering new insights into the genetics of cancer and inherited cancer syndromes. It is crucial that genetic counselors and the institutions in which they work are in sync with these advancements. Currently, multiplex or multi-gene cancer testing is rapidly being adapted into the cancer genetic counseling setting. The ‘hot topic’ of an increased likelihood of receiving variant results following such testing has been explored in depth in the literature. However, research surrounding genetic counseling practices and the reclassification of VUS …

Nonlinear Analysis And Digital Pre-Distortion Of The Sc-Fdma Signals In Lte Uplink System, Changwen Zhu

Dissertations and Theses

Single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) has become a popular alternative to orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDM) in multi-user communication on LTE uplink systems. This is primarily due to the low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of SC-FDMA compared to that of OFDM. Long-term evolution (LTE) uses SC-FDMA on the uplink to exploit this PAPR advantage to reduce transmit power amplifier (PA) back-off in mobile user terminals. However, the latest generation of communication systems requires high power efficiency and a large quantity of capacity in transmitting mobile data, bringing out some other critical problems: 1) the nonlinearity of Radio Frequency …

Litigating Against The Civil Rights Movement, Christopher W. Schmidt

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Identity Contests: Litigation And The Meaning Of Social- Movement Causes, Mary Ziegler

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Pcsk9, Apolipoprotein E And Lipoviral Particles In Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 3: Evidence For Genotype-Specific Regulation Of Lipoprotein Metabolism, Simon H. Bridge, David A. Sheridan, Daniel J. Felmlee, Mary M.E. Crossey, Fiona I. Fenwick, Clare V. Lanyon, Geneviève Dubuc, Nabil G. Seidah, Jean Davignon, Howard C. Thomas, Simon D. Taylor-Robinson, Geoffrey L. Toms, R. Dermot G. Neely, Margaret F. Bassendine

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Into The Effects Of Different Types Of Exercise On The Maintenance Of Approach Motivation Levels, J. A.S. Lowenstein, K. Wright, A. Taylor, N. J. Moberly

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Adapting Relationships With Place: Investigating The Evolving Place Attachment And ‘Sense Of Place’ Of Uk Higher Education Students During A Period Of Intense Transition, Mark Holton

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

In recent years interest has emerged regarding the geographies of higher education students, particularly in patterns of mobility and dispersion. While anecdotal rhetoric suggests a ‘typical student’ exists within UK institutions. What resonates is the notion that students are inherently heterogeneous, experiencing University in differing ways and times according to their circumstances and year of study. This paper uses ‘walking interviews’ conducted with University of Portsmouth students as a method to unpack how ‘non-local’ students might go about interpreting their sense of place within their term-time location. This methodology was designed specifically to ensure discussions of ‘sense of place’ remain …