Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are becoming more commonplace in clinics and physicians’ offices, potentially changing the way physicians and patients interact. Consequently, it is essential to understand more fully the benefits and impediments of using EMRs in patient-physician communication. Previous research has already indicated that EMRs affect nonverbal communication (i.e., eye contact, body position) in the patient-physician communication and that nonverbal behaviors play an important role in patient-physician communication. Additionally, these nonverbal behaviors can have an effect on patient adherence to treatment. This study will synthesize previous findings and will examine the ways in which physician nonverbal communication interacts with the set up (i.e., spatial arrangement) of EMRs and how that interaction affects treatment adherence. Data will be collected via two questionnaires based on previous studies performed by Richmond et al. (2001) and Morisky et al. (1986). One questionnaire will assess the patient’s perception of his or her physician’s nonverbal immediacy behaviors. The second will measure the level of patient adherence to treatment. The spatial arrangements of the consultation room will be selected based on configurations identified by Mcgrath et al. (2007): open, closed, and blocked. There will be two physicians for each arrangement. The results of this study will potentially assist physicians in providing more efficient and quality primary care.

The tumor suppressor p53 is a transcription factor involved in many important signaling pathways, such as apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. Over half of human cancers lose p53 function by a single nucleotide polymorphism in its gene. Previous experimental studies suggest that p53 mutants that have overall lower stability are potential targets for drug rescue by a small molecule drug. Using computational methods, we are developing an anticancer drug to target p53 mutants and rescue their function by stabilizing the protein structure. Although structures of some p53 mutants have not been determined experimentally due to poor stability, the structural effects of a single amino acid change can be predicted using molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations. In simulations of several p53 mutants, a large crevice on the surface of the protein forms where a drug may be able to bind. Virtual screening of a small molecule database is used to limit the number of potential drug candidates. Compounds that are predicted to have poor absorption and permeability based on chemical properties are screened out. Using computer docking programs, the binding modes and energies of drug candidates to the protein are predicted. Docking runs are performed with drug candidates and p53 mutant protein structures taken from the MD simulations to identify and rank drug candidates by binding affinity. Based on these predictions, selected drug candidates will be tested experimentally to determine which can bind p53 mutants with high affinity and improve the overall stability of the mutants. 

This two-quarter long study will explore the reasons and perceptions that deaf people have about using contemporary instant communicative technology (e.g., SMS, Facebook, online messaging) and the reported influences of this technology upon their identities. It examines how or to what extent this technology is changing and affecting the boundaries between the hearing and deaf communities and how these communicative changes are seen by deaf people. It hopes to discover whether deaf people are using instant communicative technology as a means of outreach to the hearing world or to stay within the deaf community and for what reasons. The main question is whether deaf people are using the technology to assimilate into the hearing world and modify their deaf identities. It will add to recent studies and discussion within deaf studies on the development and understanding of how and why deaf people are using contemporary communicative technology between themselves and other hearing people.