Digital Commons Network^™

Multivariate Cluster Analysis Of The Teacher Stress Inventory (Tsi) Prior To And During Covid-19, Berenice Saez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a negative situation with no precedents in the education system of the United States (U.S.). To mitigate the spread of the virus, many school closures occurred nationwide, and schools transitioned from face-to-face instruction to a mixture of self-directed guide home education or online teaching. These drastic changes could be causing teachers, as many other professionals exposed to sudden adjustments (e.g., medical doctors/firefighters), to express high levels of stress, emotional burden, and anxiety. The purpose of this study is to compare the profiles of the teacher stress inventory (TSI) before and during COVID-19. …

Trem2 Is Thyroid Hormone Regulated Making The Trem2 Pathway Druggable With Ligands For Thyroid Hormone Receptor., Skylar J. Ferrara, Priya Chaudhary, Margaret J. Debell, Gail Marracci, Hannah Miller, Evan Calkins, Edvinas Pocius, Brooke A. Napier, Ben Emery, Dennis Bourdette, Thomas S. Scanlan

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) is a cell surface receptor on macrophages and microglia that senses and responds to disease-associated signals to regulate the phenotype of these innate immune cells. The TREM2 signaling pathway has been implicated in a variety of diseases ranging from neurodegeneration in the central nervous system to metabolic disease in the periphery. Here, we report that TREM2 is a thyroid hormone-regulated gene and its expression in macrophages and microglia is stimulated by thyroid hormone and synthetic thyroid hormone agonists (thyromimetics). Our findings report the endocrine regulation of TREM2 by thyroid hormone, and provide a …

A Moral Dilemma: The Use Of Zinc In Patients Hospitalized With Covid Pneumonia, Ebony M. Manigault, Laura Donohue, Elizabeth Moore, Yara Abuaita

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Yao JS, Paguio JA, Dee EC, Tan HC, Moulick A, Milazzo C, Jurado J, Della Penna N, Celi LA. The minimal effect of zinc on the survival of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: an observational study. Chest. 2021 Jan;159(1):108-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2020.06.082

for a patient hospitalized with COVID pneumonia requiring high flow oxygen.

Review Of Producing The Archival Body, Lara Michels

Journal of Western Archives

Review of Producing the Archival Body by Jamie Lee.

Skin Permeation Of Nickel, Cobalt And Chromium Salts In Ex Vivo Human Skin, Visualized Using Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Lina Hagvall, Masoumeh Dowlatshahi Pour, Jiabao Feng, Moshtak Karma, Yolanda Hedberg, Per Malmberg

Chemistry Publications

Skin permeation and distribution of three of the most common skin sensitizers was investigated using a previ-ously developed animal-free exposure method combined with imaging mass spectrometry. Nickel, cobalt, and chromium (III) salts were dissolved in a buffer and exposed to human skin ex vivo, to be analyzed using time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Our findings demonstrate that metal haptens mainly accumulated in the stratum corneum, however all three metal sensitizers could also be detected in the epidermis. Cobalt and chromium (III) species penetrated into the epidermis to a larger extent than nickel species. The degree of penetration …

Expanding The Mecp2 Network Using Comparative Genomics Reveals Potential Therapeutic Targets For Rett Syndrome, Irene Unterman, Idit Bloch, Simona Cazacu, Gila Kazimirsky, Bruria Ben-Zeev, Benjamin P. Berman, Chaya Brodie, Yuval Tabach

Neurosurgery Articles

Inactivating mutations in the Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 (MECP2) gene are the main cause of Rett syndrome (RTT). Despite extensive research into MECP2 function, no treatments for RTT are currently available. Here, we used an evolutionary genomics approach to construct an unbiased MECP2 gene network, using 1028 eukaryotic genomes to prioritize proteins with strong co-evolutionary signatures with MECP2. Focusing on proteins targeted by FDA-approved drugs led to three promising targets, two of which were previously linked to MECP2 function (IRAK, KEAP1) and one that was not (EPOR). The drugs targeting these three proteins (Pacritinib, DMF, and EPO) were able to …

2021-August-06-Etsu No. 1 In Tennessee In Game Design.Pdf, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY (Aug. 6, 2021) — East Tennessee State University has been ranked No. 1 in Tennessee as the top school for game design, as well as animation. It is also positioned among the Top 20 Game Design and Animation Colleges in the South, ranking No. 12 for its animation program and No. 17 for game design. Both concentrations are part of the ETSU College of Business and Technology digital media program.

For the Top 20 rankings, determined since 2011 by the online resource Animation Career Review, ETSU was chosen from colleges and universities throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North …

The Beneficial Effects Of The Gut-Derived Metabolite Trimethylamine N-Oxide On Functional Β-Cell Mass, Emily Suzanne Krueger

Theses and Dissertations

Elevated serum levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) were first associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) 10 years ago. Research has since defined that serum TMAO accumulation is controlled by the diet-microbiome-liver-kidney axis. Choline related nutrients are consumed in excess during over-nutrition from a Western diet. The resultant elevated serum TMAO is investigated across various chronic metabolic diseases and many tissue types. While TMAO is most clearly linked to CVD mechanisms in vascular tissue, its molecular effects on metabolic tissues are unclear. Here we report the current standing of TMAO research in metabolic disease context across relevant metabolic tissues …

Gardner-Webb Introduces New Live Mascot, Bo The Bulldog, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Gardner-Webb University’s new live mascot has a name. Bo was selected from more than 200 entries submitted for consideration. The new pup is engaged in basic etiquette training, before he officially begins his duties on Aug. 26. In the days ahead, GWU’s four-legged best friend will be a familiar sight to all on campus and in the community.

The Role Of A Sickled Microenvironment In Cardiac Dysfunction, Allison Nicole Healey

Theses and Dissertations

This study helps to fill a remaining knowledge gap surrounding the mechanisms and pathways that contribute to cardiomyopathies in SCD. A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms could lead to more accurate therapeutic targets to improve quality of life as well as life expectancy. In this study I recapitulate cardiac dysfunction in vitro by exposing engineered mouse cardiac tissues to ANG II or the sickled microenvironment. Experimental results include gene expression profiles and oxidative stress generation. Gene expression profiles in the ANG II treated tissues indicated a pathological state with upregulation in biomarkers for inflammation, cell adhesion, wall stress and …

Optimizing A Biomass Supply System: Consideration Of Pellet Quality And Transportation Under Extreme Events, Badr S. Aladwan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation studies a framework in support biomass wood pellet supply chain. The worldwide wood pellet market is growing at a phenomenal rate. However, the economic sustainment of this business depends on how well the producers manage the uncertainty associated with biomass yield and quality. In the first part of the dissertation, we propose a two-stage stochastic programming model that optimizes different critical decisions (e.g., harvesting, storage, transportation, quality inspection, and production decisions) of a biomass-to-pellet supply system under biomass yield and quality uncertainty to economically produce pellets while accounting for the different pellet standards set forward by the U.S. …

Puma And The Innate Immune Response During Pneumococcal Infection In The Lung, Daniel Edward Kennedy Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The p53-up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) protein is a pro-apoptotic, BH3-only member of the BCL2 family of effector proteins responsible for promoting organized cell death. PUMA is required for resolution of pneumococcal pneumonia in mice, as mice deficient of PUMA exhibit greater numbers of S. pneumoniae CFU within tissues and higher mortality rates than observed in Puma+/+ mice. Methods: Puma+/+ and Puma-/- mice were intranasally challenged with TIGR4 pneumococcus and sacrificed 24 h post-infection. Differences in cytokine levels from blood and whole lung tissue were detected by MILLIPLEX MAP Mouse Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel. Lung transcriptomes from Puma+/+ and …

Interactions Between Humans, Crocodiles, And Hippos At Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, Ivan Marowa, Joshua Matanzima, Tamuka Nhiwatiwa

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–wildlife conflicts (HWCs) are on the increase due to shrinking space that results in increased competition for land, water, and other natural resources between humans and wildlife. Investigating the occurrence of HWCs is important in that the results can be used to formulate better management policies and strategies. In this paper, we describe the nature of HWCs emerging between humans and the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and between humans and the African hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius; hippo) on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba is the second largest manmade lake by volume in the world. Conflicts involving humans …

Considering The Wide World Of Wild Pig Management, John M. Tomeček

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This is the letter from John M. Tomeček, associate editor for the special issue on wild pigs in Human–Wildlife Interactions.

Household Perceptions And Patterns Of Crop Loss By Wild Pigs In North India, Bivash Pandav, Lakshminarayanan Natarajan, Ankit Kumar, Ajay A. Desai, Banteibor Lyngkhoi

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Loss to cultivated crops by wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is widespread and can jeopardize low-income farmers. In India, although there is lot of political interest in the problem, efforts to understand the patterns, correlates, and underlying reasons for wild pig conflict continue to be minimal. We quantified loss of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to wild pigs and assessed the spatial patterns of damage in a forest settlement of Van Gujjar (Haridwar, India), which is a dairy-based pastoralist community. We chose a 4-km² cultivated area comprising 400 farmlands (each measuring 0.8 ha and belonging to a family) and …

The Benefits Of Impossible Tests: Assessing The Role Of Error-Correction In The Pretesting Effect, Tina Seabrooke, Chris J. Mitchell, Andy J. Wills, Angus B. Inkster, Timothy J. Hollins

School of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Identifying The Molecular Pathways That Drive Retinal Degeneration In The Childhood Neurodegenerative Disease: Mucolipidosis Type Iv, Michael Pamonag

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Humans, like many other vertebrates, possess five Aristotelian senses (vision, olfaction, hearing, taste, and touch) which we use to experience and navigate our environment. Our visual system is the only source of light detection and light signaling in our bodies. This makes our visual system essential for detecting movement, distance, time of day, and seasonal changes in the length of days within our environment. The visual systems of most animals are designed to capture photons of visible light and convert that energy into a neurological signal (visual signal) to be transmitted to brain regions responsible for visual perception1 . This …

Is Immediate Flexibility Present In A Vocal Mimic, The Gray Catbird (Dumetella Carolinensis), Across An Urban Gradient?, Shannon K. Eppert

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Increasing urbanization has increased anthropogenic noise levels near developed areas. Urban noise is high amplitude and low-frequency, and these frequencies can overlap with the signals animals use to communicate, including bird songs. Many urban birds sing higher minimum frequencies in urban areas, which avoids some masking by noise, but the mechanism behind this difference is not well understood. Immediate flexibility is the ability to alter song in real-time in the presence of sudden noise, allowing for avoidance of masking and better signal transmission. I investigated if male catbirds increased signal transmission in the presence of anthropogenic versus high-frequency noise playback …

A Noncoding Rna Modulator Potentiates Phenylalanine Metabolism In Mice, Zhao Zhang, Qingsong Hu, Ke Liang, Yao Jun, Youqiong Ye, Yi-Chuan Li, Chunlai Li, Lan Liao, Jianming Xu, Zhen Xing, Yinghong Pan, Sujash S Chatterjee, Tina K Nguyen, Heidi Hsiao, Sergey D Egranov, Nagireddy Putluri, Cristian Coarfa, David H Hawke, Preethi H Gunaratne, Kuang-Lei Tsai, Leng Han, Mien-Chie Hung, George A Calin, Fares Namour, Jean-Louis Guéant, Ania C Muntau, Nenad Blau, V Reid Sutton, Manuel Schiff, François Feillet, Shuxing Zhang, Chunru Lin, Liuqing Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The functional role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in inherited metabolic disorders, including phenylketonuria (PKU), is unknown. We demonstrated that the mouse lncRNA Pair and human HULC associate with phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). Pair-knockout mice exhibited excessive blood phenylalanine, musty odor, hypopigmentation, growth retardation, and progressive neurological symptoms including seizures, which faithfully models human PKU. HULC depletion led to reduced PAH enzymatic activities in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-differentiated hepatocytes. Mechanistically, HULC modulated the enzymatic activities of PAH by facilitating PAH-substrate and PAH-cofactor interactions. To develop a therapeutic strategy for restoring liver lncRNAs, we designed GalNAc-tagged lncRNA mimics that …

Development Of Standard Operating Procedure With Modified Method To Quantify Benzene And Other Volatile Organic Compounds In Air Samples Using Gas Chromatography, Heather Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) Department of Environmental Science has recently invested in a gas chromatograph which can be used to analyze air samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). The goal of this project was to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) and modify the current method for the detection of VOCs associated with oil and gas drilling activity to accommodate the equipment and capabilities of SFASU Environmental Assessment Lab. This study aims to provide the framework for future research in air quality monitoring in the Eagle Ford Shale area. An …

The Nose Glows: Investigating Amphibian Neuroendocrine Pathways With Quantum Dots, Allison Rebecca Julien

Theses and Dissertations

Today, amphibian extinction rates are rising at an alarming rate. Captive assurance colonies have become a hedge against extinction, and often must employ assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in species that do not readily breed in captivity. One technique that can be utilized in assisted breeding is hormone therapy, which involves the treatment of individuals with exogenous reproductive hormones. The primary delivery method used in most breeding programs is intraperitoneal injection, but many institutions either lack the training necessary to conduct this invasive procedure, or require veterinary staff to perform them, thus delaying breeding events. Therefore, there is interest in alternate …

Effects Of The In Ovo Injection And Dietary Supplementation Of L-Ascorbic Acid On The Performance, Tissue L-Ascorbic Acid Concentrations, Inflammatory Response, And Trachea Histomorphology Of Ross 708 Broilers Raised Under Normal And Elevated Atmospheric Ammonia Levels, Ayoub Mousstaaid

Theses and Dissertations

Effects of various levels of L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) (12 and 25 mg) in ovo injected at 17 and 18 days of incubation, on embryonic and posthatch physiological variables in Ross 708 broilers were investigated. There were no significant treatment effects on the hatchability or serum concentrations of L-AA in the broilers. Eye L-AA concentrations were higher, and plasma nitric oxide levels were lower in male chicks treated in ovo with 12 mg of L-AA. While exposed to elevated atmospheric NH3 levels, the in ovo injection of 12 mg of L-AA increased the body weight gain and decreased the feed conversion …

Linking Remotely-Sensed Uas Imagery To Forage Quality In An Experimental Grazing System, Durham Alexander Norman

Theses and Dissertations

Forage quality is a principal factor in managing both herbivores and the landscapes they use. Nutrition varies across the landscape, and in turn, so do the distributions of these populations. With the rise of remote sensing technologies (i.e. satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, and multi/hyperspectral sensors), comes the ability to index forage health and nutrition swiftly. However, no methodology has been developed which allows managers to use unmanned aerial systems to the fullest capacity. The following methodologies produce compelling evidence for predicting forage quality metrics (such as fiber, carbohydrates, and digestibility) using 5 measured bands of reflectance (Blue, Green, Red, Red …

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers In Blood Plasma Of Moderately Exercised Horses, Elizabeth Catesby Ott

Theses and Dissertations

Equine athletes are subjected to environmental and physical stressors resulting in oxidative stress that can negatively impact performance. Oxidative stress can result in lipid peroxidation, cell damage, and DNA degradation leading to physiological dysfunction and increased instance of disease. It has been established that humans are able to adapt to oxidative stress when exposed to extended periods of high-intensity exercise, however, this has yet to be established in the equine model. In the present study, we sought to establish patterns of oxidative stress expression immediately following exercise and adaption to prolonged exposure to exercise training in the equine model. Results …

Impact Of Economically Targeted Conservation Delivery On Agricultural Revenue Across A Range Of Commodity Prices, Emily Kranz Bedwell

Theses and Dissertations

The collective body of U.S. legislation, colloquially known as the Farm Bill, authorizes a suite of practices and programs under its Conservation Title. This includes the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which incentivizes agricultural producers to remove arable land from production to enhance soil retention, improve water quality, and restore wildlife habitat. Conservation Practice 33: Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds (CP-33) was the first CRP practice to target wildlife habitat restoration. CP-33 incentivizes producers to reestablish native herbaceous vegetation along crop field margins. Producers are often concerned with the economic opportunity costs of CP-33 enrollment. I used yield data derived from …

Pain And Inflammation Due To Whole-Body Vibration In A Rat Model, Folly Martha Dzan Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability and is associated with whole-body vibration exposure in industrial workers and military personnel. The pathophysiological mechanisms by which whole-body vibration causes low back pain have been studied in vivo, but there is little data that improve diagnosis of low back pain. The overall objective of this research was to elucidate diagnostic biomarkers associated with whole-body vibration. Hence, a rat model for vibration-induced inflammatory responses was developed. Von Frey filaments were used to determine the withdrawal threshold of the hind paw as a surrogate behavioral marker for pain. The concentration of nerve …

Chess With Pigeons, Katie Starliper

Theses and Dissertations

In a time of Global Pandemic, massive social justice demonstrations, and concerning political shifts, reality feels inaccessible and at times even unreal. With quarantine and social distance as the new norm, our human connections are abstract and digitized. My thesis will be a collection of short fiction that seeks to employ methods of the speculative genre and alternative narrative structure to explore our shifting understanding of humanity and connectedness. The introduction to this collection will lay out the process through which speculative realities better define our own.

Mississippi Teachers' Perceptions Of Environmental Education And Outdoor Instruction During A Covid-19 Pandemic, Kelisha Stamps

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental education (EE) and outdoor instruction are essential to understanding and addressing different environmental issues in school communities. This study investigated Mississippi teachers' perceptions on environmental education and outdoor instruction during 2020-2021. A state-wide survey and follow-up interview were conducted to examine their thoughts about environmental education and outdoor instruction and COVID-19 limitations in their classrooms and how that may affect their perceptions. Analysis was conducted using SPSS contingency and frequency tables, Chi-square Test of Independence, and content analysis of qualitative data. The results showed that Mississippi teacher participants believe that environmental education in Mississippi K-12 schools is very important …

Utilization Of Bioinformatic And Next Generation Sequencing Approaches For The Discovery Of Predictive Biomarkers And Molecular Pathways Involved In Bovine Respiratory Disease, Matthew Adam Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a highly dynamic disease complex that results from host, microbial agent, and environmental interactions. Despite nearly a century of targeted research, BRD remains the most economically damaging disease in beef cattle production and appears to be increasing in global incidence. While modern modalities for BRD detection exist, clinical diagnosis and management decisions largely depend upon clinical observations and their associated risk of disease. Though these approaches lack precision, they remain in use for many reasons, including fiscal and time constraints within beef production systems. Advancements in high-throughput sequencing have demonstrated the ability to provide insight …

The Effects Of Year-Round Supplemental Feeding Of White-Tailed Deer On Sources Of Disease, Miranda Hsiang-Ning Jacobson Huang

Theses and Dissertations

Supplemental feeding of deer is a common management action. However, concentrating animals, as feeding does, is known to promote the transmission of disease. We examined how feeding alters three sources of disease: aflatoxins, gastrointestinal parasites, and ticks. To do this, we paired 79 feeder sites throughout Mississippi with ecologically-equivalent sites without feeders. Wildlife visitation increased at feeders compared to sites without feeders. For aflatoxins, we sampled during the summer and hunting season and found low prevalence and levels in feeders and bagged/bulk feed. The greater concern was environmental exposure to aflatoxins. All corn piles exposed to environmental contamination in July …