This study presents the results of one of the first attempts to characterize the pore water pressure response of soils subjected to traffic loading under saturated and unsaturated conditions. It is widely known that pore water pressure develops within the soil pores as a response to external stimulus. Also, it has been recognized that the development of pores water pressure contributes to the degradation of the resilient modulus of unbound materials. In the last decades several efforts have been directed to model the effect of air and water pore pressures upon resilient modulus. However, none of them consider dynamic variations in pressures but rather are based on equilibrium values corresponding to initial conditions. The measurement of this response is challenging especially in soils under unsaturated conditions. Models are needed not only to overcome testing limitations but also to understand the dynamic behavior of internal pore pressures that under critical conditions may even lead to failure. A testing program was conducted to characterize the pore water pressure response of a low plasticity fine clayey sand subjected to dynamic loading. The bulk stress, initial matric suction and dwelling time parameters were controlled and their effects were analyzed. The results were used to attempt models capable of predicting the accumulated excess pore pressure at any given time during the traffic loading and unloading phases. Important findings regarding the influence of the controlled variables challenge common beliefs. The accumulated excess pore water pressure was found to be higher for unsaturated soil specimens than for saturated soil specimens. The maximum pore water pressure always increased when the high bulk stress level was applied. Higher dwelling time was found to decelerate the accumulation of pore water pressure. In addition, it was found that the higher the dwelling time, the lower the maximum pore water pressure. It was concluded that upon further research, the proposed models may become a powerful tool not only to overcome testing limitations but also to enhance current design practices and to prevent soil failure due to excessive development of pore water pressure.

A recent joint study by Arizona State University and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) was conducted to evaluate certain Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) properties in the laboratory. WMA material was taken from an actual ADOT project that involved two WMA sections. The first section used a foamed-based WMA admixture, and the second section used a chemical-based WMA admixture. The rest of the project included control hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixture. The evaluation included testing of field-core specimens and laboratory compacted specimens. The laboratory specimens were compacted at two different temperatures; 270 °F (132 °C) and 310 °F (154 °C). The experimental plan included four laboratory tests: the dynamic modulus (E*), indirect tensile strength (IDT), moisture damage evaluation using AASHTO T-283 test, and the Hamburg Wheel-track Test. The dynamic modulus E* results of the field cores at 70 °F showed similar E* values for control HMA and foaming-based WMA mixtures; the E* values of the chemical-based WMA mixture were relatively higher. IDT test results of the field cores had comparable finding as the E* results. For the laboratory compacted specimens, both E* and IDT results indicated that decreasing the compaction temperatures from 310 °F to 270 °F did not have any negative effect on the material strength for both WMA mixtures; while the control HMA strength was affected to some extent. It was noticed that E* and IDT results of the chemical-based WMA field cores were high; however, the laboratory compacted specimens results didn't show the same tendency. The moisture sensitivity findings from TSR test disagreed with those of Hamburg test; while TSR results indicated relatively low values of about 60% for all three mixtures, Hamburg test results were quite excellent. In general, the results of this study indicated that both WMA mixes can be best evaluated through field compacted mixes/cores; the results of the laboratory compacted specimens were helpful to a certain extent. The dynamic moduli for the field-core specimens were higher than for those compacted in the laboratory. The moisture damage findings indicated that more investigations are needed to evaluate moisture damage susceptibility in field.

This case study describes an adult patient whose brachial plexus injury was treated with various modalities and exercise. The participant of this study was a 76 year old female who sustained a brachial plexus injury during an elective reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The initial evaluation reported only passive range of motion with 90 degrees shoulder flexion, 85 degrees abduction, and 30 degrees external rotation. Muscle testing yielded significantly limited wrist and digit extension strength. Testing of sensation found diminished protective sensation along the median nerve distribution, including the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Occupational therapy was initiated for postoperative treatment of the shoulder as well as treatment of the brachial plexus palsy. Therapy consisted of static splinting for healing structures and sensory reeducation through massage, finding objects with the eyes occluded, and fluidotherapy. Additionally, various exercises and modalities for improving motion and strength were initiated, including proprioceptive neuromuscular reeducation, passive/active assist/active exercises, dynamic splinting, muscle stimulation, kinesio tape, functional activities, and tendon glides. After five months, active range of motion in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist was finally achieved and median nerve sensation had improved. After nine months, elbow motion was within normal limits and wrist motion had significantly improved. Upon muscle testing, the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand had made significant gains in strength. However, shoulder strength and motion was still limited. Overall, treatment made a significant improvement in the patient’s functionality.

Within the pediatric hospitalization experience, fear and anxiety are two emotions commonly felt by children of all ages. Hospitalized children can greatly benefit from interventions designed to help them cope with these emotions throughout their medical experiences. This study draws on each of our clinical experiences as volunteers at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and uses a qualitative analysis of three semi-structured interviews with currently employed Child Life Specialists to understand and analyze the use of medical play, a form of play intervention with a medical theme or medical equipment. We explore the goals and benefits of medical play for hospitalized pediatric patients, the process of using medical play as an intervention, including the activity design process, the assessments and adjustments made throughout the child’s hospitalization, and the considerations and limitations to implementing medical play activities. Ultimately, we found that the element of fun that defines play can be channeled into medical play activities implemented by skilled Child Life Specialists, who are experts in their field, in clinical settings to promote several different and beneficial goals, including pediatric patient coping.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a lifestyle intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness in Latino youth with obesity and prediabetes. <br/>Methods: Participants (n=50) in this study were taken from a larger randomized controlled trial (n=180, BMI ≥ 95th percentile). Youth participated in a 6-month lifestyle intervention that included physical activity (60 minutes, 3x/week) and nutrition and wellness classes (60 minutes, 1x/week) delivered to families at the Lincoln Family YMCA in Downtown Phoenix. The primary outcome was cardiorespiratory fitness measured at baseline and post-intervention.<br/>Results: The mean BMI for the sample was 33.17 ± 4.54 kg/m2, which put the participants in the 98.4th percentile. At baseline, the mean VO2max was 2737.02 ± 488.89 mL/min. The mean relative VO2max was 30.65 ± 3.87 mL/kg/min. VO2max values significantly increased from baseline to post-intervention (2737.022 ± 483.977 mL/min vs 2932.654 ± 96.062 mL/min, p<0.001). <br/>Conclusion: Culturally-grounded, family-focused lifestyle interventions are a promising approach for improving cardiorespiratory fitness in high-risk youth at risk for diabetes.

The following paper explores the various effects of stress on the endocrine system. Many understand that being stressed can jeopardize maintaining adequate health, but what specifically happens when humans are stressed? Why does stress affect human health? This paper delves into background information, previous research, and the depths to which stress negatively affects the body. The effects stress has on the endocrine system, specifically on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis (HPT) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), is discussed, and additionally, at home de-stressing methods are researched. The study included a set of participants at Arizona State University. The method took place over the course of 2 weeks: one normal week, and the other with the implementation of a de-stressing method. The normal week involved the participants living their daily lives with the addition of a stress-measuring survey, while the second week involved implementing a de-stressing method and stress-measuring survey. The purpose of this study was to discover if there was a correlation between performing these relaxation activities and decreasing stress levels in ASU students. The results found that students reported they felt more relaxed and calm after the activities. Overall, this thesis provides information and first hand research on the effects of stress and stress-reducing activities and discusses the importance of maintaining lower stress levels throughout everyday life.

The purpose of this Barrett Thesis Project is to review the existing literature on ACL injuries specifically regarding their risk factors, prevention, and recovery options. The content of the review has been placed into four sections: physiological factors, biomechanical factors, surgery and recovery factors, as well as training factors. Physiological factors look at static structures and their impact on ACL injuries, more specifically, the role that variations on physical structure values can have on injury incidence. Biomechanical factors focus on the ways that movement can contribute to injury and the ways that incorrect movement or unanticipated movement can have on the structures of the knee. Surgery and recovery factors look at surgical techniques that have been used to correct ACL injuries and the details of their function as well as certain surgical techniques that have differing rates of success and how they can impact re-injury and rehabilitation rates. Finally, training factors analyze techniques that can be used in both pre-injury or post-injury situations therefore, this section looks at the ways that training can minimize re-injury as well as work towards preventing the initial injury. Overall, this research review looks at how these factors come together to contribute to an ACL injury and the ways that injury incidence can be minimized. Risk factors come together in order to create an undesirable situation in which the ACL ligament ruptures. These risk factors are either physiological or biomechanical in nature. As a result of injury, certain surgical techniques can be used that impact the success of a patient. Evidence for the benefit of training factors can then be applied in order to reduce injury risk or prevent future injuries.

Background: The US population faces a continual increase in obesity prevalence, raising health concerns due to associated comorbidities ranked as leading causes of preventable, premature death world-wide. Scientists have found a link between obesity-associated conditions and oxidative stress (OS). To date, renewed interest in the effectiveness of dietary regimens in decreasing body weight is a popular research topic. Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular and promising weight management strategy. To date, there have been no systematic reviews examining whether IF can reduce oxidative stress in overweight/obese adults. <br/><br/>Objective: Conduct a systematic review to evaluate the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) regimens on circulating markers of oxidative stress in overweight/obese adults compared to continuous calorie restriction (CR). <br/><br/>Methods: Databases PubMed, SCOPUS, ProQuest, and Cochrane were searched on February 21, 2021 for eligible articles limiting selection to those in the English language. Predefined search terms and restrictions were applied by two of the authors conducting the search. References from articles generated were also considered. Selected articles were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and human trials evaluating the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) dietary regimens in comparison to continuous calorie restriction (CR). Study populations considered were limited to those within the range of 18-65 years having a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 kg/m2 and in otherwise generally good health with the absence of pre-existing acute or chronic conditions. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Library Quality Rating Worksheet was used to assess the methodological quality of each of the studies and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Grade Definitions and Conclusion Grading Table were used to appraise the quality of evidence.<br/><br/>Results: Six articles met eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Cumulatively 355 overweight/obese participants were assessed. Quality ratings performed by two of the authors revealed a high-quality rating for all six of the articles. One of the articles reported a significant IF associated difference in circulating 8-isoprostane concentrations and another article reported a significant decrease in circulating oxidative lipoproteins concentrations. The remaining articles showed no significant difference on OS markers following IF. <br/><br/>Conclusions: Based on the six articles included in this systematic review, IF was concluded to have limited impact on reducing circulating markers of OS in overweight/obese adults. Overall, the evidence was heterogeneous in relation to IF interventions and outcomes precluding a meta-analysis. Consequently, evidence to make dietary recommendations for reducing oxidative stress with IF interventions is insufficient at this point.

In my undergraduate honors thesis, I strive to convey my idea that dance is more than just movement, it’s one of the many artistic tools used to express emotions; which therefore has the power to storytell without words. It is my hope to create a captivating form of art that you not only view, but can interact and interpret.