Other Life Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of Gsk-3Α Inhibition In Attenuating Lps-Induced Inflammation In Raw 264.7 Cells, Oluwaseyi Oyewole

Theses and Dissertations

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), an enzyme that modulates glucose metabolism, has been recognized as an essential target in major inflammatory diseases based on its great specificity in substrate recognition. GSK-3β has been connected to cancer, obesity, liver diseases, and neurological diseases. Nonetheless, the other GSK-3 isoform, GSK-3α, is much less studied. Previous studies from our laboratory showed that inhibiting GSK-3α potentially confers an anti-inflammatory response when tested on microglia. However, little has been documented regarding the exact mechanism by which GSK-3α exerts its effect. One of the potential mechanisms involving its anti-inflammatory effect could be partially attributed to activating the …

Investigating Student Noticing Of Quantitative Reasoning In Introductory Biology Labs, Jeremy L. Hsu, Sara Gartland, Joelle Prate, Charles Hohensee

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Quantitative reasoning (QR) is a key skill for undergraduate biology education. Despite this, many students struggle with QR. Here, we use the theoretical framework of student noticing to investigate why some students struggle with QR in introductory biology labs. Under this framework, what students notice when given new information and data influences how they process this information and connect it with other events to form new conceptions. Students must mentally isolate given features, create mental records of those features, and identify features or objects that they connect to existing knowledge. Identifying these features or objects is thus critical since they …

Charting A New Vision: Lessons On Vision & Change From A Network Of Biology Educators, Jeremy L. Hsu, Anjali Misra, Michael J. Wolyniak, Carlos C. Goller, Stephanie Mathews, Uma Swamy, Dina L. Newman, Michael E. Moore

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The 2011 Vision & Change report outlined several recommendations for transforming undergraduate biology education, sparking multiple pedagogical reform efforts. Among these was the Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) network, an NSF-funded program that provided mentorship and training to instructors on implementing active learning in the classroom. Here, we provide a perspective on how members of the biology education community in PALM view the recommendations of Vision & Change, drawing upon our experiences both as members of PALM and as leaders of an associated project funded by another NSF grant that hosted PALM alumni at various conferences. These efforts …

Remodeling Pedagogical Evaluation Tools To Incorporate Student Self-Efficacy And Sense Of Belonging In Scientific Research, Richelle L. Tanner, Nicholas P. Burnett, Emily E. King, Anne E. Todgham

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Curated undergraduate research experiences have been widely used at colleges and universities for decades to build student interest, technical preparation, and confidence in the pursuit of scientific careers. Educators often employ standardized survey instruments to evaluate learning outcomes for research experiences, but many of these assessments consider only technical skill development and career interests and are not rooted in discrete pedagogical theories. As higher education aims to create inclusive and equitable learning experiences for students, we argue that pedagogical assessment tools for undergraduate research experiences need to expand to consider outcomes such as increased science literacy, confidence in relational “soft” …

Investigating The Thermodynamic Properties Of Fat10 And Fat10ylated Proteins, Aravind R

Theses and Dissertations

Degradation of proteins by the proteasome is crucial in regulating protein levels in the cell. Post-translational modifications, such as ubiquitylation and Fat10ylation, trigger proteasomal degradation of the substrate proteins. While ubiquitylation orchestrates multiple cellular processes, Fat10ylation is primarily involved in the inflammatory response. Unlike ubiquitin, recycled upon substrate degradation, Fat10 is degraded along with its substrate. Although the thermodynamic properties of the substrate are critical for effective proteasomal degradation, they remain poorly understood for the Fat10-proteasome pathway.

Here, we demonstrate that Fat10 exhibits markedly lower thermodynamic stability and faster unfolding kinetics compared to ubiquitin. This is due to the absence …

Confronting Indecision, Lane Allison Murray

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This course aims to increase students' understanding of indecision and how to confront it. The class provides insight into how the fear of the unknown holds people back from making decisions and about understanding one's values as a means to combat indecision. Students and teachers alike explore instances of indecision and evaluate their own impulses & thought processes by reflecting on the deeper reasons for their choices. Students will increase their comfort level of asking themselves and their peers questions about the values that guide them and, in doing so, strengthen their relationships with themselves and others.

Addressing Economic Instability And Workforce Turnover In Early Childhood Education: The Role Of Stipends, Wage Supplements, And Professional Development, Lucinda J. Leffler

Endeavors: Mississippi State Undergraduate Research Journal

Child care workers are vital to early childhood education, yet they face persistent economic instability, low wages, and high turnover rates. To address these challenges, states and policymakers have implemented stipends, wage supplements, and professional development programs aimed at improving financial security, job satisfaction, and workforce retention. This literature review examines the effectiveness of these initiatives across the United States, drawing on theoretical frameworks such as Vroom’s Expectancy Theory and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory to contextualize their impact. Research indicates that financial incentives significantly reduce turnover, while professional development fosters job satisfaction and career advancement. However, sustainability concerns remain, particularly with …

Stakeholder Perspectives On The Status And Conservation Management Of Critically Endangered Nassau Grouper In The Bahamas, Krista D. Sherman, Lester Gittens

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Ensuring the sustainability of marine resources that provide food, economic security and other critical ecosystem services is a major challenge globally. Assessing stakeholders’ knowledge and perceptions of the status of fisheries and how they should be managed can yield important insights to facilitate the development of management frameworks that are likely to assist with achieving sustainability. As a socioeconomically and culturally important and critically endangered species, evaluating stakeholder perspectives on the status of the Nassau Grouper fishery is critical to help inform policy. Knowledge and perceptions of stakeholders working in The Bahamas were assessed using voluntary participatory approaches, including a …

Modeling Forest Stewardship In Goukdi’N: An Assessment Of Carbon, Wildlife Habitat, And Fire Resilience In A University Forest, Benjamin Stock

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This thesis presents a forest management plan for Goukdi’n (also known as the Jacoby Creek Forest University Tract), a coast redwood–tanoak–Douglas-fir forest within the ancestral homelands of the Wiyot Tribe. This project addresses the need for a forest stewardship approach that supports ecological resilience, cultural values, and long-term forest health in a landscape shaped by industrial logging, fire exclusion, and decades of under-management. To evaluate potential management pathways, forest growth modeling was conducted using the USFS Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) to compare three management prescriptions focused on carbon storage, fire resilience, and structural heterogeneity and a no-action alternative. Model outputs …