Showing papers by "University of Hartford published in 2020"

A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Internalized Racial Oppression and Health-Related Outcomes:

Abstract: Internalized racism represents a critical component of the system of racial oppression wherein People of Color adopt the negative beliefs about their race held by members of the White majority grou...

Decoding collective communications using information theory tools.

Abstract: Organisms have evolved sensory mechanisms to extract pertinent information from their environment, enabling them to assess their situation and act accordingly. For social organisms travelling in groups, like the fish in a school or the birds in a flock, sharing information can further improve their situational awareness and reaction times. Data on the benefits and costs of social coordination, however, have largely allowed our understanding of why collective behaviours have evolved to outpace our mechanistic knowledge of how they arise. Recent studies have begun to correct this imbalance through fine-scale analyses of group movement data. One approach that has received renewed attention is the use of information theoretic (IT) tools like mutual information, transfer entropy and causation entropy, which can help identify causal interactions in the type of complex, dynamical patterns often on display when organisms act collectively. Yet, there is a communications gap between studies focused on the ecological constraints and solutions of collective action with those demonstrating the promise of IT tools in this arena. We attempt to bridge this divide through a series of ecologically motivated examples designed to illustrate the benefits and challenges of using IT tools to extract deeper insights into the interaction patterns governing group-level dynamics. We summarize some of the approaches taken thus far to circumvent existing challenges in this area and we conclude with an optimistic, yet cautionary perspective.

Syntactic complexity measures: variation by genre, grade-level, students’ writing abilities, and writing quality

Abstract: Syntactic complexity has been recognized as an important construct in writing research, and for the past five decades, many syntactic complexity measures (SCMs) have been examined in numerous studies. This systematic review is the first study of its kind to synthesize 36 studies spanning from 1970 to 2019 by identifying and cataloging all SCMs examined during this period. An analysis was performed on how the use of SCMs varied by genre, grade level, students’ writing ability, and writing quality. Five online databases (Academic Search Premier, ERIC, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, and PsycARTICLES) were searched. A total of 48 SCMs were grouped into six categories: T-units and sentences, clauses, phrases, words, combined measures, and other measures. Most studies examined three common SCMs: mean T-unit length, mean number of words per clause, and mean number of clauses per T-unit. The argumentative genre had the highest values for T-unit length and mean number of clauses per T-unit, which could indicate greater sentence complexity. Higher-grade-level students generally construct sentences that are syntactically complex, but comparison between studies was difficult because different studies investigated different SCMs. Although students with higher writing abilities generally construct sentences that are syntactically more complex compared to students with lower writing abilities, the findings are not conclusive, as only a few studies examined this relationship. A similarly inconclusive relationship was found between syntactic complexity and writing quality because only a few studies examined this relationship. More research is needed to examine the relationship between SCMs, writing quality, and genre.

A Stochastic Disaster Relief Game Theory Network Model

Abstract: In this paper, we construct a novel game theory model for multiple humanitarian organizations engaged in disaster relief. Each organization is faced with a two-stage stochastic optimization problem associated with the purchase and storage of relief items pre-disaster, subject to a budget constraint, and, if need be, additional purchases and shipments post the disaster. The model integrates logistical and financial components, in that the humanitarian organizations compete for financial donations, as well as freight service provision, and each seeks to maximize its expected utility. The expected utility function of each humanitarian organization depends on its strategies and on those of the other organizations, and their feasible sets do, as well, since the organizations are subject to common lower and upper bound demand constraints. The governing concept is that of a stochastic generalized Nash equilibrium. We provide alternative variational inequality formulations of the model and propose an algorithmic scheme, which at each iteration yields closed form expressions for the product purchase/storage/shipment variables and the associated constraint Lagrange multipliers. Numerical examples illustrate the modeling and computational framework.

Progress or pinkwashing: who benefits from digital women-focused capital funds?

Abstract: This paper examines the positioning of gender within women-focused capital funds (WFCFs) to consider the extent to which these digitally enabled sources of finance reflect the tenets of entrepreneurial feminism. Content analysis of 27 funds situated in Canada and the USA informs about fund mandates, rationales, types of capital, and anticipated outcomes. Our findings reveal that a minority of WFCFs examined sought to enhance equity and counter structural barriers associated with women entrepreneurs’ access to financial capital. Alternatively, the majority of WFCFs were positioned as vehicles to facilitate individual wealth creation. Eligibility ranged from multiple gender identities of the business owner to “women-led” businesses—defined as at least one woman executive, board or steering committee member. The latter of these criteria has the effect of diverting attention away from firms that are launched by women entrepreneurs. Pinkwashing was more likely to occur when WFCFs were created as add-ons to mainstream programs and services, rather than as a central element of the organization’s mission of supporting women and non-binary femmes. The findings support arguments that technology can both challenge or reinforce structural constraints that impede women entrepreneurs in the digital era.

Distinguishing Low and High Water Consumers-A Paradigm of Disease Risk

Abstract: A long-standing body of clinical observations associates low 24-h total water intake (TWI = water + beverages + food moisture) with acute renal disorders such as kidney stones and urinary tract infections. These findings prompted observational studies and experimental interventions comparing habitual low volume (LOW) and high volume (HIGH) drinkers. Investigators have learned that the TWI of LOW and HIGH differ by 1–2 L·d−1, their hematological values (e.g., plasma osmolality, plasma sodium) are similar and lie within the laboratory reference ranges of healthy adults and both groups appear to successfully maintain water-electrolyte homeostasis. However, LOW differs from HIGH in urinary biomarkers (e.g., reduced urine volume and increased osmolality or specific gravity), as well as higher plasma concentrations of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and cortisol. Further, evidence suggests that both a low daily TWI and/or elevated plasma AVP influence the development and progression of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Based on these studies, we propose a theory of increased disease risk in LOW that involves chronic release of fluid-electrolyte (i.e., AVP) and stress (i.e., cortisol) hormones. This narrative review describes small but important differences between LOW and HIGH, advises future investigations and provides practical dietary recommendations for LOW that are intended to decrease their risk of chronic diseases.

Expertise effects on the perceptual and cognitive tasks of indoor rock climbing

Abstract: Experts’ cognitive abilities adapt in response to the challenges they face in order to produce elite-level performance. Expert athletes, in particular, must integrate their motor capabilities with their cognitive and perceptual processes. Indoor rock climbers are particularly unique athletes in that much of the challenge they face is to accurately perceive and consolidate multiple movements into manageable action plans. In the current study, we investigated how climbers’ level of expertise influenced their perception of action capabilities, visual memory of holds, and memory of planned and performed motor sequences. In Experiment 1, climbers judged their perceived capability to perform single climbing moves and then attempted each movement. Skilled climbers were less confident, but perceived their action capabilities more accurately than less skilled climbers. In Experiment 2, climbers recalled holds on a route, as well as predicted and recalled move sequences before and after climbing, respectively. Expertise was positively associated with visual memory performance as well as planned and recalled motor sequence accuracy. Together, these findings contribute to our knowledge of motor expertise and suggest that motor expert’s ability to accurately estimate their action capabilities may underlie complex cognitive processes in their domain of expertise.

Tourism, financialization, and short-term rentals: the political economy of Dublin’s housing crisis

Abstract: The impact of short-term rentals (STRs) such as Airbnb on housing markets has been of increasing concern to scholars, policy makers and housing advocates. Yet they do not take place in a vacuum. Th...

Relating notions of convergence in geometric analysis

Abstract: We relate L p convergence of metric tensors or volume convergence to a given smooth metric to intrinsic flat and Gromov–Hausdorff convergence for sequences of Riemannian manifolds. We present many examples of sequences of conformal metrics which demonstrate that these notions of convergence do not agree in general even when the sequence is conformal, g j = f j 2 g 0 , to a fixed manifold. We then prove a theorem demonstrating that when sequences of metric tensors on a fixed manifold M are bounded, ( 1 − 1 ∕ j ) g 0 ≤ g j ≤ K g 0 , and either the volumes converge, Vol j ( M ) → Vol 0 ( M ) , or the metric tensors converge in the L p sense, then the Riemannian manifolds ( M , g j ) converge in the measured Gromov–Hausdorff and volume preserving intrinsic flat sense to ( M , g 0 ) .

Posterior Rotational and Translational Stability in Acromioclavicular Ligament Complex Reconstruction: A Comparative Biomechanical Analysis in Cadaveric Specimens.

Abstract: Background:Persistent posterior instability of the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is a reported complication after isolated coracoclavicular (CC) reconstruction. Thus, multiple techniques have been p...

Adapting Coastal Collection Methods for River Assessment to Increase Data on Global Plastic Pollution: Examples From India and Indonesia

Abstract: Marine debris often begins as litter or waste on land. Rivers play an important role in transporting this debris from communities to ocean systems, and yet we lack data on debris in freshwater systems. This work promotes eliminating the gap in knowledge between debris in marine and freshwater systems by sharing a consistent, replicable methodology that can be used to improve data on freshwater shoreline debris. Expansion in the application of this method globally can allow researchers to ground-truth estimates of the debris entering the world’s oceans. It also provides data on the litter degrading in the world’s riverine systems, an important ecological problem in its own right often sidelined in work on marine debris. Improved ground-truthing may also help scientists answer the missing plastics question: the disparity between input estimates and measurement in the world’s oceans. Cataloging the way debris moves through, or remains a part of, freshwater systems is imperative to addressing the global plastic waste problem.

Care Coordination of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Solution-Focused Approach.

Abstract: The expanding practice of multi-disciplinary care to address the complex nature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) suggests that there is a need for a means of coordinating care that transcends the disciplinary distinctions of relevant ASD treatment providers. As ASD services become more specialized, there is a growing need for effective care coordination with providers across the systems of care. Nursing professionals are ideally qualified to support families affected by ASD, as they provide a necessary holistic lens of health and wellbeing to obtain the appropriate treatments. Solution-focused brief therapy has been applied to a growing number of clinical settings, indicating solution-focused techniques are applicable to the various contexts associated with ASD treatments. We provide a case presentation to demonstrate a solution-focused approach to address ASD-related concerns within the family that are generalizable to coordination of care.

Heavy metal gradients from rural to urban lakes in central China

Abstract: Limited information is available on heavy metal patterns in lakes under rapid watershed urbanization, especially considering a large spatial gradient with a long linear distance and great variations in topographic relief. To fill this gap, we studied concentrations of a series of heavy metals in both water and sediments from 20 lakes along a rural to urban gradient in central China, and we aimed to understand the effects of urban processes on heavy metal dynamics in lake ecosystems. Studied lakes were divided into five groups: A (rural reservoir group), B (rural commercial fishing group), C (urban park group), D (urban recreational fishing group), and E (urban commercial fishing group). An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) were used to analyze the heavy metals in water and sediments. An increasing trend of most heavy metals in water from rural to urban lakes was observed. Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), magnesium (Mn), iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al) in water were significantly lower in rural group A than those in other groups. Arsenic in sediments of rural group A was lower than those in other groups. No other heavy metal element in sediments was significantly different among groups. The enrichment factor analysis of selected heavy metals showed there were different degrees of enrichments of heavy metals in sediments. The potential ecological risk index showed a low level for heavy metals in sediments of all studied lakes. Results indicated that urban processes could have an impact on heavy metals in lake water. The sources of heavy metals in sediments were more likely from anthropogenic activities. These results could enhance our understanding of metal dynamics in lake ecosystems under urbanization and could help prevent heavy metal pollutions and promote sustainable management of urban ecosystems.

Effects of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling on oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system in Nelumbo nucifera G. under cadmium exposure

Abstract: Water contamination with cadmium (Cd) is a global environmental problem and its remediation becomes urgent. Phytoremediation using ornamental plants has attracted much attention for its advantages of cost-effectiveness and beautification of the environment. Nelumbo nucifera G. is a popular ornamental aquatic macrophyte with fast growth, large biomass, and high capacities for Cd accumulation and removal. However, information about Cd resistance and defense responses in N. nucifera is rather scarce, which restricts its large-scale utilization for phytoremediation. The phytohormone ethylene plays an important role in plant resistance to Cd stress, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated morphophysiological responses of N. nucifera seedlings to Cd stress, and focused on the effects of ethylene on oxidative damage, Cd accumulation, and antioxidant defense system at the metabolic and transcript levels in leaves under Cd stress. Our results showed that Cd exposure led to leaf chlorosis and necrosis, coupled with an increase in contents of hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, and malondialdehyde, and decrease in chlorophyll content. Exogenous ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) application intensified Cd-induced stress responses and Cd accumulation, and increased ethylene production by inducing ACC synthase (ACS) gene NnACS. Such enhanced ethylene emission inhibited catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, and modulated ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) accumulation through transcriptional regulation of their respective metabolic genes. After ethylene action inhibitor silver thiosulfate (STS) supplementation, Cd-induced oxidative damage was abolished, and Cd content declined but still at a relatively high level. Blocking of ethylene perception by STS inhibited ethylene biosynthesis; enhanced CAT, APX, and GR activities and their transcript levels; increased AsA accumulation via inducing its biosynthetic genes; but reduced GSH content and NnGSH2 expression level. These results suggest that ethylene biosynthesis and signaling play an important role in N. nucifera response to Cd stress, and maintaining appropriate ethylene level and low ethylene sensitivity could improve its Cd tolerance via efficient antioxidant defenses.

A Measure to Assess Perceptions and Knowledge About Electroconvulsive Therapy: Development and Psychometric Properties.

Abstract: Objectives Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been found to be one of the most robust and rapid treatments for severe depression, it is widely underused partly because of negative perceptions and inaccurate knowledge about the treatment. Methods The 18-item ECT Perception and Knowledge (ECT-PK) measure was developed through a systematic review of the literature, subject matter expert ratings, and examination of content validity. The ECT-PK consists of Perception and Knowledge subscales, which were tested on a national sample of 1091 US adults who screened positive for depression in 2018 through Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform. Results Evaluation of the ECT-PK subscales found that both subscales demonstrated good construct validity, criterion validity, and internal consistency reliability. Participants who had higher Perception and Knowledge subscale scores were significantly more likely to report that they were willing to try ECT. The ECT-PK revealed that many participants reported fears about pain, brain damage, and memory loss resulting from ECT, and had inaccurate knowledge about ECT being outdated or lacking scientific evidence. Conclusions Together, these results showed that the ECT-PK is an efficient and effective contemporary tool to measure the perception and knowledge of ECT, and highlights areas in need of psychoeducation.

Mechanism for Increased Viscous Drag over Porous Sheet Acoustic Liners

Abstract: Traditional acoustic liners used in damping sound in aircraft applications consist of a porous face sheet, honeycomb core, and solid backing. Experiments have observed that, under conditions of hig...

The Underground Railroad and the Geography of Violence in Antebellum America

Abstract: As runaway slaves fled from the South to escape bondage, slave catchers followed in their wake. The arrival of fugitives and slave catchers in the North set off violent confrontations that left participants and local residents enraged and embittered. Historian Robert H. Churchill places the Underground Railroad in the context of a geography of violence, a shifting landscape in which clashing norms of violence shaped the activities of slave catchers and the fugitives and abolitionists who defied them. Churchill maps four distinct cultures of violence: one that prevailed in the South and three more in separate regions of the North: the Borderland, the Contested Region, and the Free Soil Region. Slave catchers who followed fugitives into the North brought with them a Southern culture of violence that sanctioned white brutality as a means of enforcing racial hierarchy and upholding masculine honor, but their arrival triggered vastly different violent reactions in the three regions of the North. Underground activists adapted their operations to these distinct cultures of violence, and the cultural collisions between slave catchers and local communities transformed Northern attitudes, contributing to the collapse of the Fugitive Slave Act and the coming of the Civil War.

Almost non-negative scalar curvature on Riemannian manifolds conformal to tori

Abstract: In this article we reduce the geometric stability conjecture for the scalar torus rigidity theorem to the conformal case via the Yamabe problem. Then we are able to prove the case where a sequence of Riemannian manifolds is conformal to a uniformly controlled sequence of flat tori and satisfies the geometric stability conjecture. We are also able to handle the case where a sequence of Riemannian manifolds is conformal to a sequence of constant negative scalar curvature Riemannian manifolds which converge to a flat torus in $C^1$. The full conjecture from the conformal perspective is also discussed as a possible approach to resolving the conjecture.

Refugee migration networks and regulations: a multiclass, multipath variational inequality framework.

Abstract: In this paper, we take up the timely topic of the modeling, analysis, and solution of refugee migration networks. We construct a general, multiclass, multipath model, determine the governing equilibrium conditions, and provide alternative variational inequality formulations in path flows and in link flows. We also demonstrate how governmental imposed regulations associated with refugees can be captured via constraints. We provide qualitative properties and then establish, via a supernetwork transformation, that the model(s) are isomorphic to traffic network equilibrium models with fixed demands. Illustrative examples are given, along with numerical examples, inspired by a refugee crisis from Mexico to the United States, which are solved using the Euler method embedded with exact equilibration. The work sets the foundation for the development of additional models and algorithms and also provides insights as to who wins and who loses under certain refugee regulations.