This project was conducted as part of a larger research endeavor called the Triadic Eye Gaze (TEG) project, a 5-year study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The TEG study is an ongoing investigation into the efficacy of one type of communication intervention for children 10 to 25 months of age with moderate-to-severe motor impairments and delayed expressive communication. Our project's purpose was to compare the routine interventions these children received for early signals of communication to standard clinical practices as recommended in the literature. We specifically wanted to know how much treatment the children were receiving and from which professionals, how much of that early intervention focused on communication, and how parents were involved in the treatment sessions. The population for this study was a convenience sample from the larger TEG study, comprised of 15 children with a range of disorders including cerebral palsy, several genetic syndromes, and general developmental delay. Intervention documents, including Individualized Family Service Plans, daily notes, and attendance records, were obtained for each participant from the appropriate birth-to-three center. Quantitative data reduction methods were used to determine the average number of treatment sessions per month, average minutes of treatment per month, and the proportion of total treatment time that each professional provided. Qualitative methodology was used to determine how much of the intervention focused on early communication signals and how parents were involved in this intervention. Results will be compared to clinical practices recommended in the literature. If we find inconsistencies, it will suggest that the typical treatment these children receive is not sufficient. It will be imperative to conduct further research with a larger, more in-depth study to expand upon these findings.

Homo floresiensis exhibits lower limb morphology that is different from that of H. sapiens, leading some to conclude that gait would be different between the two species. For instance, the ratio of foot to fibular length in H. floresiensis is smaller than the ratio in modern humans, even after differences in body size are accounted. This increased foot length in H. floresiensis is thought to lead to a reduction in energy efficiency. In this study we artificially lengthened the foot of 8 women aged 18-30 years so that their ratio of foot to fibular length was similar to that of H. floresiensis. This was accomplished by creating a foot extension device (FED). Participants walked unshod on a treadmill at five self-selected and randomized velocities. Each velocity was maintained for five minutes, with a four-minute rest period between velocities while the volumetric rate of oxygen consumption (VO2) was assessed with a SensorMedics Vmax29 metabolic cart. We then increased the foot length with the FED and the participants walk at three self-selected velocities. The cost of transport (CoT) curve for each participant was calculated from their normal and FED walking trials. Walking with the FED did not change CoT (p > 0.05). From this result, we conclude that lengthening the foot to the proportion seen in H. floresiensis does not change walking energetics.

Pelvic morphology varies between quadrupedal and bipedal primates due to locomotor behavior.  Flat, posteriorly oriented ilial blades and narrow bi-acetabular distances characterize terrerstrial quadrupeds, while bipeds have curved blades with wider acetabular distance.  While both groups exhibit an orthograde body plan, an ancestal characteristic for arboreality, humans as bipeds have modified this for a terrestrial environment.  Due to the constraints of parturition, human females have been shown to have wider bi-acetabular distances than males, but whether or not their interspinous distance or bi-iliac breadth is different remains to be determined.  The main objective of this study was to evaluate bi-iliac, interspinous, and bi-acetabular breadth in human males and females, using macaques, as the quadrupedal comparison group. Using Osirix imaging software, these pelvic dimensions were measured from the radiographs of 10 human males and females, and 11 adult macaques.  Since macaques only show sexual size dimorphism in the pelvis, we did not distinguish between sexes.  From the average dimensions, three ratios were calculated (bi-iliac breadth/interspinous distance (BI/IS), bi-iliac breadth/bi-acetabular distance (BI/BA), interspinous distance/bi-acetabular distance (IS/BA)). Sex and species differences were examined statistically using Stata (StataCorp, College Station, Texas).  As expected, the ratios in macaques were significantly different than humans (all p’s < 0.001). While human bi-iliac breadth and interspinous distance was greater than bi-acetabular distance (all p’s < 0.001), macaques showed nearly identical proportions in the three measurements.  These findings reflect different locomotor patterns morphologically shown by the transition between vertically oriented iliac blades to more anteriorly wrapped iliac blades.  Between males and females, females differed from men in bi-iliac/interspinous ratio (p = 0.038).  Unexpectedly, the sexes did not differ in the other two ratios.  Like macaques, humans did not show evident sexual dimorphism in relative pelvic proportions.  

Pedaliaceae (Sesame Family) are a small family of plants, about 14 genera with approximately 70 species that occur mainly in arid regions and deserts of the Old World, with their center of distribution in Southern Africa. Contained in Pedaliaceae are two widely known species: Sesamum indicum, which is cultivated and provides sesame seed and Harpagophytum procumbens, Devils Claw, an endangered species which is harvested wild and used for medicinal purposes. Evolutionary relationships (phylogeny) within the family are currently not very well understood. Previous classification systems have included the Martyniaceae, a small New World family, which occurs in similar environments and exhibits similar fruit morphology, with the Pedaliaceae but this inclusion of has since been questioned. In order to infer a phylogeny for the Pedaliaceae I am using the chloroplast loci ndhF and tnrL-tnrF which generally provide good resolution to determine the relationships between families and major lineages within a family of plants. Preliminary analyses based on these two loci indicate that the genus Sesamum is not monophyletic. To achieve resolution of the relationships of the species within Sesamum, I am sequencing two commonly used nuclear loci: ETS and ITS, the external and internal transcribed spacers of the nuclear ribosomal repeat, and one of the many loci in the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) which have only recently been developed for phylogenetic study in the Olmstead Lab. The goal of this project is to infer a phylogenetic tree of the Pedaliaceae on the species level, resolve their relationship to Martyniaceae and the genus Trapella, as well as the placement of these groups within the larger tree of the Lamiales.