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The Wright Message, 2021-2022, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Mathematics.

The Wright Message

Contents

From the Dean --- 1
Around Wright Hall --- 3
In Memoriam: Diane Lee Baum --- 4
Faculty Spotlight --- 4
Retiring Faculty --- 5
Statistical Consulting Center staff changes --- 7
Alumni Spotlight --- 8
News from the CTLM --- 10
Student Spotlights --- 11
Donor Spotlight --- 18
First Woman to Win International Meshing Award --- 19
Contribution Recognition --- 20
Department Funds --- 22
Contribution Forms --- 23

Csbs Statements, V24, 2022, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Statements

Contents:

Experiencing Dementia --- 5
Underground Iowans --- 8
Tripp of a Lifetime --- 10
Suitcase of Knowledge --- 12
A Beloved Professor's Lasting Gift --- 14
College News --- 16
Alumni Spotlight --- 24
Donor Spotlight --- 30
Annual Giving --- 32
Class Notes --- 34

Examining Sex And Race Difference In Obesity Risk Factors In Older Americans Using Genetic And Lifestyle Data In Regards, Hairui Yu

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is a prevalent chronic condition determined by social, psychological, behavioral, and biological factors. The prevalence of obesity remains a major public health issue and has continued to rise in the United States and around the world. People who are obese face a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The fat mass and obesityassociated gene (FTO) is one of the most commonly identified genes in obesity-related research. This three-paper dissertation is aimed at improving understanding of sex and race differences in obesity risk factors in older Americans from genetic (FTO SNPs) and lifestyle (diet and physical activity) perspectives, using …

Targeting The Frataxin Transcriptional Defect As A Therapeutic Approach For Friedreich's Ataxia, Anna Maria Schreiber

All ETDs from UAB

Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is the most common inherited ataxia worldwide. This autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder manifests in the central and peripheral nervous system but also affects the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. No effective treatment is available. FRDA is caused by expansion of GAA repeat tracts in intron 1 of the frataxin (FXN) gene on both alleles. An inverse correlation between FXN levels and GAA repeat length exists. Frataxin is a mitochondrial protein participating in iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster formation. Frataxin deficiency results in reduced activity of Fe-S-containing enzymes involved in critical biological processes, such as cellular respiration and DNA repair. Expansion …

The Role Of The Bone Marrow Microenvironment In Flt3-Itd Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cell Resistance To Flt3 Inhibition, Nicholas R. Anderson

All ETDs from UAB

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive, complex hematological malignancy. AML cases with constitutively-activating internal tandem duplications in the Flt3 receptor (Flt3-ITD) represent a distinct subtype of disease with poor prognosis, but unique opportunities for targeted therapy. Flt3-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have entered clinical practice due to their ability to induce remissions in a large proportion of Flt3-mutant AML patients, but their long-term efficacy remains limited due to the persistence of leukemia stem cells (LSC) in the bone marrow (BM). Herein, we outline the importance of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) in harboring LSC through AML development and drug …

A Hybrid Data And Hypothesis-Driven Model For Software Development In Support Of The Machine-Learning Paradigm, Anthony D. Bowman

All ETDs from UAB

istorically, research has often been conducted in a hypothesis-driven manner with software development methodologies created to support those efforts. However, in recent years data-driven approaches to research have seen a dramatic rise in prominence. While software development methodologies such as agile development, extreme programming, and the waterfall model have allowed developers to tackle increasingly complex problems, they were not designed to efficiently support data-driven approaches such as the machine learning paradigm. To address the need to support the different programmatic requirements of both classical, hypothesis-driven as well as data-driven development, novel development strategies are warranted. In this research, we adapted …

Defining Genetic Underpinnings Of Cellular Diversity And Vulnerability In The Context Of Parkinson's Disease, Stephanie M. Boas

All ETDs from UAB

of ALL survivors are at risk for reduced functional outcomes, and these outcomes may be more strongly related to executive functioning than neighborhood-specific variables or IEP support. Long-term goals include translating findings into practice to remediate adaptive or academic difficulties in ALL survivors.

Urban Research University

Evidence Inventory

Urban Research University

University Profile: 2021, Kean University

Evidence Inventory

No abstract provided.

Student-Organized Cultural Events, Kean University

Evidence Inventory

No abstract provided.

Preventing Unintentional Childhood Injuries In Rural Uganda: Caregiver Perceptions And Promotion Of Personal Safety Skills Through Classroom-Based Instruction, Marissa H. Swanson

All ETDs from UAB

Objective: Unintentional childhood injuries present a substantial public health burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) including Uganda. Interventions to reduce this risk should be responsive to children’s unique developmental, environmental, and sociocultural context. This project had three primary objectives: 1) Analyzing caregiver reports of child injury events in rural Uganda to identify perceived causal and preventative factors; 2) Identifying Ugandan first and sixth graders’ developmental safety needs by comparing hazard recognition and past-year injuries among these students; and 3) Evaluating the impact of the Careful Cubs intervention on Ugandan first graders’ personal safety knowledge, skills, and beliefs. Methods: 1) …

Understanding The Protumorigenic Functions Of St6gal1 In Glioblastoma Stemness And Metabolism, Sajina Gc

All ETDs from UAB

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a rare but deadly cancer with median survival of just 15 months despite of aggressive treatment. Advancement in novel treatment modalities is hindered by its heterogeneous nature, which includes subsets of neural stem cell-like brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs) that are highly tumorigenic and therapy-resistant. bgalactoside a-2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6Gal1) is elevated in most tumors including in normal and neoplastic stem cells. ST6Gal1 imparts oncogenic phenotypes such as invasion, apoptosis evasion, therapy resistance, TIC maintenance among others via sialylation of critical receptors like, Fas, TNFR1, EGFR and more. Yet ST6Gal1 led regulation of BTIC specific cell surface proteins …

The Evolutionary Ecology Of The Antarctic Red Macroalga Plocamium Sp. In Relation To Its Defensive Secondary Metabolite Diversity, Sabrina Heiser

All ETDs from UAB

Organisms produce chemical defenses to gain a competitive advantage, and to protect themselves from pathogens and predators. There is high inter- and, sometimes, intraspecific diversity in the types and quantities of defensive secondary metabolites. Yet, we do not know much about the mechanisms driving the diversity and its distribution. Macroalgae are important members of ecosystems since they provide living space and are primary producers. To prevent predation, macroalgae make structural or chemical defenses. Chemical defenses in the Antarctic red macroalga Plocamium sp. have extensively been studied. It is widespread along the western Antarctic Peninsula and abundant at sites where it …

Characterization Of Exercise-Associated Skeletal Muscle Secreted Factors Through Aging, Dalton Chase Patterson

All ETDs from UAB

Exercise is a powerful behavioral intervention against Central Nervous System (CNS) aging1–3 and plays an essential role in maintaining healthy neurocognitive function and immune metabolism in the aging brain3. We have developed a new transgenic mouse model that moderately over-expresses transcription factor master regulator of proteostasis, Transcription Factor E-B (TFEB), in skeletal muscle (cTFEB;HSACre mice). Despite living sedentary lifestyles, our model of enhanced skeletal muscle proteostasis shows significantly ameliorated proteotoxicity, increased BDNF levels and neurogenesis while improving neurocognitive function and decreasing neuroinflammation in the aging CNS4,5. These neuroprotective effects are markedly reminiscent of those observed in the aging CNS post-exercise6,7, …

Labor Union Membership Tenure And Midlife Health: A Gendered Perspective, Clifford Ross

All ETDs from UAB

The benefits of labor unions have not gone unstudied. Individuals in labor unions have better access to lower cost/more substantial health insurance plans, higher quality pension plans, and better wages leading to increased lifetime earnings. Even though many of these benefits create important pathways that could lead to better health, unions have been paid little attention in health literature. Additionally, in the modern workplace Mothers are offered lower starting salaries, are perceived as less competent, and face a penalty regarding hiring, promotion, and workplace educational opportunities. Compared to men, women with children see an income gap 20 cents wider than …

The Role Ofbiomechanics In Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Signaling, Bronte Miller

All ETDs from UAB

Angiogenesis, or the growth of new vasculature from existing blood vessels, is widely considered a primary hallmark of cancer progression. When a tumor is small, diffusion is sufficient to receive essential nutrients; however, as the tumor grows a vascular supply is needed to deliver oxygen and nutrients into the increasing mass. Several anti-angiogenic cancer therapies target VEGF and its receptor VEGFR-2, which are major promoters of blood vessel development. Unfortunately, many of these cancer treatments fail to completely stop angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Since these therapies focus on the biochemical activation of VEGFR-2 via VEGF ligand binding, we …

Low-Dose Dextromethorphan For The Treatment Of Pain In Fibromyalgia: A Single-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial, Stephanie Christina Mueller

All ETDs from UAB

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating chronic pain condition. Its pathophysiology is largely unknown, which has hindered the development of effective treatments. Central sensitization and neuroinflammation have been forwarded as models of FM pathophysiology, both of which indicate the antitussive drug dextromethorphan (DXM) as a potentially effective treatment. DXM is an N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-receptor antagonist and microglial modulator with anti-neuroinflammatory properties at low doses. It is currently available for clinical use, but has not been tested as a treatment for FM at low dosages. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of DXM in treating FM-associated symptoms of pain, fatigue, cognitive problems, …

Eagle Executive Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Business: News & Publications

• From the Desk of Dean Amason
• College News
• Department News
• Feature: Parker College Welcomes Newest Carter Chair
• Graduate Programs
• Alumni News
• Development News

Eagle Accountant, Parker College Of Business

College of Business: News & Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Biological Performance Of Living Docks—A Citizen Science Initiative To Improve Coastal Water Quality Through Benthic Recruitment Within The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, Morgan Gilligan, Kelli Hunsucker, Sandra Rech, Alyssa Sharma, Ryan T. White, Robert Weaver

Mathematics and System Engineering Faculty Publications

Like many estuaries worldwide, the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), has seen a decline in resources and overall water quality due to human activities. One method to help restore water quality and benthic habitats is to construct and deploy oyster restoration mats on dock pilings, known as the Living Docks program. This community-driven program was founded to promote the growth of filter-feeding benthic organisms and improve local water quality. The purpose of this study was to assess the growth and performance at four of the Living Dock locations and to provide feedback to the citizens who were involved in the initial …

Epidemiological Models, Parameters, And Prediction Of The Covid-19 Outbreak In A Southwest Georgia Hotspot, Daniel F. Linder, William M. Sewell Iii, Jack D. Owens, Jim Franklin, Mark Miller, Casey Newton, Priyank Shah

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: We investigate epidemiological models, their parameters, and the models’ predictive performance of daily new cases during the first three weeks of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in a southwest Georgia hotspot.

Methods: We fit stochastic versions of the classical SIR, a network-based SIR, an SEIR model with two different priors on the latent period rate parameter, and a simple doubling time model to SARS-CoV-2 patients’ date of hospital admission and length of symptoms data from the Phoebe Putney Health System.

Results: The estimated basic reproductive numbers and 95% Bayesian credible intervals for each of the models were: 1.98 (1.63, 2.45) for …

¿Tú Qué Sabes?: Latina Doctoral Women Disrupting And Resisting Dominant Knowledge, Sendy Ramos Madsen

Doctoral Dissertations

Education environments have systematically excluded, silenced, and erroneously spoken on behalf of Women of Color. Linear forms of scholarship and research practices propagate the dominant perspective and fail to address systems of oppression that result in epistemic suppression and academic hostility towards brown minds. Historically, Latina women have not been seen as creators of knowledge, and their access to educational spaces has been restricted. According to census projections, in 2036, Latinas/os will account for the largest minority group in the United States and one-third of the American educational system. Therefore, academic spaces must establish practices to include Latina women as …

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Estimation Of Combined Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity And O2 Diffusion Capacity In Humans, Andrea M. Pilotto, Alessandra Adami, Raffaele Mazzolari, Lorenza Brocca, Emanuela Crea, Lucrezia Zuccarelli, Maria A. Pellegrino, Roberto Bottinelli, Bruno Grassi, Harry B. Rossiter, Simone Porcelli

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

The final steps of the O2 cascade during exercise depend on the product of the microvascular-tointramyocyte PO2 difference and muscle O2 diffusing capacity (DmO2). Non-invasive methods to determine DmO2 in humans are currently unavailable. Muscle oxygen uptake (mVO2) recovery rate constant (k), measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) using intermittent arterial occlusions, is associated with muscle oxidative capacity in vivo. We reasoned that k would be limited by DmO2 when muscle oxygenation is low (kLOW), and hypothesized that: i) k in well-oxygenated muscle (kHIGH) is associated with maximal O2 flux in fiber bundles; and ii) Δk (kHIGH-kLOW) is associated with capillary …

A Crew-Operated Data Recording System For Length-Based Stock Assessment Of Indonesia’S Deep Demersal Fisheries, Elle Wibisono, Peter Mous, Edwison Firmana, Austin T. Humphries

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Deep demersal fisheries in Indonesia yielded close to 90,000 metric tons of snapper and grouper in 2019, landed by a fleet of approximately 10,000 fishing boats. Prior to the present study, information on these multi-species, dispersed, small- to medium-scale fisheries was scarce, while reliable species-specific data on catch and effort were non-existent. This data-deficiency made stock assessments and design of harvest control rules impossible. We developed a new data collection method, the Crew Operated Data Recording System (CODRS), to collect verifiable species- and length-composition data from catches across all segments of the fleet. CODRS engaged crews of 579 fishing vessels …

Diversity And Distribution Of Symbiodiniaceae Detected On Coral Reefs Of Lombok, Indonesia Using Environmental Dna Metabarcoding, Arief Pratomo, Dietriech G. Bengen, Neviaty P. Zamani, Christopher E. Lane, Austin T. Humphries, Erin Borbee, Beginer Subhan, Hawis Madduppa

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Dinoflagellates of family Symbiodiniaceae are important to coral reef ecosystems because of their contribution to coral health and growth; however, only a few studies have investigated the function and distribution of Symbiodiniaceae in Indonesia. Understanding the distribution of different kinds of Symbiodiniaceae can improve forecasting of future responses of various coral reef systems to climate change. This study aimed to determine the diversity of Symbiodiniaceae around Lombok using environmental DNA (eDNA).

Methods

Seawater and sediment samples were collected from 18 locations and filtered to obtain fractions of 0.4–12 and >12 µm. After extraction, molecular barcoding polymerase chain reaction was …

Nutrient Capture And Sustainable Yield Maximized By A Gear Modification In Artisanal Fishing Traps, Bryan P. Galligan, Timothy R. Mcclanahan, Austin T. Humphries

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Coral reef artisanal fisheries are an important source of nutrition and economic wellbeing for coastal communities, but their management is subject to conflicts and tradeoffs between short-term food security benefits and long-term ecological function. One potential tradeoff is between nutrient capture and fish yields, where targeting small, nutrient-dense species may be more valuable for food security than maximizing fish yields, which is more closely aligned with supporting biodiversity and ecological function. We explored these potential tradeoffs by comparing two similar gears: traditional African basket traps and traps modified with an escape gap. Traps without escape gaps captured a higher frequency …

Organic Farmers Face Persistent Barriers To Adopting Diversification Practices In California’S Central Coast, Liz Carlisle, Kenzo Esquivel, Patrick Baur, Nina F. Ichikawa, Elissa M. Olimpi, Joanna Ory, Hannah Waterhouse, Alastair Iles, Daniel S. Karp, Claire Kremen, Timothy M. Bowles

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

In the face of myriad environmental challenges associated with industrial agriculture, some farmers and researchers have looked to diversified farming systems as a promising alternative. Despite well-documented ecological benefits, diversification practices remain rare in many regions of the U.S, even amongst organic farmers. Our study focuses on organic farmers in the Central Coast region of California, an area that has played a crucial role in the rise of organic agriculture over the last several decades. Through 20 interviews with farmers who all grow lettuce and 8 interviews with technical assistance providers, we investigate the persistent barriers that growers in this …

Let’S Get R.E.A.L.: Developing A Shared Definition Of Structural Racism Is The First Step Towards Health Equity, Deann Butler

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Recent events bought to the forefront the need to address structural racism in the US, specifically within the institution of healthcare. Organizations such as the American Public Health Association (APHA, 2021), American Medical Association (AMA) (O’Reilly, 2020), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Walensky, 2021) recognize racism as a fundamental driver of persistent health disparities in minority populations. Additionally, healthcare accreditation organizations such as National Council on Quality Assurance (NCQA, 2022) launched initiatives that strategically work to achieve health equity. More so, organizations across healthcare are creating roles such as Chief Health Equity Officer or Chief Diversity Officer to …

Interviews With Farmers Suggest Negative Direct And Indirect Effects Of The Invasive Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana) On Agriculture In Puerto Rico, Christina N. De Jesús Villanueva, Gabriela P. Massanet Prado, William Gould, Carlos G. Garcia-Quijano

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Agricultural communities and crop production are negatively impacted by invasive species, with the effects of pathogenic fungi, parasitic insects and weedy plants being well studied. Mammals and birds are also recognized as impacting crops, but reptiles, such as non-native green iguanas (Iguana iguana), are typically not considered agricultural pests. Research on non-native green iguanas has largely focused on the lizard’s interactions with native species with little attention given to its impact in the agricultural landscape. We conducted semi-structured interviews with farmers from 20 farms in Puerto Rico to explore the effect of the invasive green iguana on the production of …

The Effect Of Covid-19 Infection On The Oral Manifestations, Asmawati, Bahruddin Thalib, Alqarama M. Thalib, Nurlindah Hamrun, Nabilah A. Putri, Eshin Un. Rahman

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

No abstract provided.