Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Concurrent Validity Study Of Listening Comprehension Measures In English Language Learners (Ells), Jessica A. Day

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate valid measures of listening comprehension for English Language Learners (ELLs) in elementary school. The participants were Hispanic and recruited from the Hispanic Community Services Inc. in Jonesboro, AR. Each participant was administered a series of test batteries in the fall 2016 academic semester. The concurrent validity of the following assessments was determined through a correlational analysis: the Listening Comprehension subtest of the Woodcock Language Proficiency Battery- Revised (WLPB-R), the Listening Comprehension subtest of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test- Third Edition (WRMT-III), and the Test for Auditory Comprehension of Language- Third Edition (TACL-3). …

Oct4 Is Crucial For Transdifferentiation Of Hepatocytes To Biliary Epithelial Cells In An In Vitro Organoid Culture Model, Mboya Doffou, George Adams, William C Bowen, Shirish Paranjpe, Harish S Parihar, Huy Nguyen, George K Michalopoulos, Vishakha Bhave

PCOM Scholarly Works

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte to biliary transdifferentiation has been documented in various models of bile duct injury. In this process, mature hepatocytes transform into mature biliary epithelial cells by acquiring biliary phenotypic markers. Several signaling pathways including PI3 kinase, Notch, Hes1, Sox9, and Hippo are shown to be involved in the process. However, if Oct4 is involved in hepatocyte to biliary transdifferentiation is unknown.

METHODS: We investigated the role of Oct4 in hepatocyte to biliary transdifferentiation utilizing an in vitro organoid culture system as a model of transdifferentiation. Oct4 was inhibited using adenovirus containing Oct4 shRNA. Hepatocyte specific HNF-4α and biliary specific …

Simultaneous Uplc–Ms/Ms Analysis Of Two Stable Isotope Labeled Versions Of Sucrose In Mouse Plasma And Brain Samples As Markers Of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability And Brain Vascular Space, Ekram Ahmed Chowdhury, Saad Alqahtani, Raktima Bhattacharya, Reza Mehvar, Ulrich Bickel

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) permeability is frequently compromised in the course of diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Sucrose is a low molecular weight, hydrophilic marker with low permeability at the naive BBB and therefore one of the widely used indicators of barrier integrity. Our laboratory recently developed a highly sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method for stable isotope labelled [13C12]sucrose in biological matrices. Correction of total brain concentration for contribution of intravascular space is required in such experiments in order to accurately measure BBB permeability, and it is often accomplished by vascular perfusion with buffer solutions prior to brain sampling. The …

Reducing Biomass Recalcitrance By Heterologous Expression Of A Bacterial Peroxidase In Tobacco (Nicotiana Benthamiana), Ayalew Ligaba-Osena, Bertrand Hankoua, Kay Dimarco, Robert Pace, Mark Crocker, Jesse Mcatee, Nivedita Nagachar, Ming Tien, Tom L. Richard

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

Commercial scale production of biofuels from lignocellulosic feed stocks has been hampered by the resistance of plant cell walls to enzymatic conversion, primarily owing to lignin. This study investigated whether DypB, the lignin-degrading peroxidase from Rodococcus jostii, depolymerizes lignin and reduces recalcitrance in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana). The protein was targeted to the cytosol or the ER using ER-targeting and retention signal peptides. For each construct, five independent transgenic lines were characterized phenotypically and genotypically. Our findings reveal that expression of DypB in the cytosol and ER does not affect plant development. ER-targeting increased protein accumulation, and …

Protocol For Project Impact (Improving Millions Hearts For Provider And Community Transformation): A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation Of An Integrated Electronic Health Record And Community Health Worker Intervention Study To Improve Hypertension Management Among South Asian Patients, Priscilla M. Lopez, Jennifer Zanowiak, Keith Godfeld, Katarzyna Wyka, Ahmad Masoud, Susan Beane, Rashi Kumar, Phoebe Laughlin, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, Lorna Thorpe, Nadia Islam

Publications and Research

Background: The Million Hearts® initiative aims to prevent heart disease and stroke in the United States by mobilizing public and private sectors around a core set of objectives, with particular attention on improving blood pressure control. South Asians in particular have disproportionately high rates of hypertension and face numerous cultural, linguistic, and social barriers to accessing healthcare. Interventions utilizing Health information technology (HIT) and community health worker (CHW)-led patient coaching have each been demonstrated to be effective at advancing Million Hearts® goals, yet few studies have investigated the potential impact of integrating these strategies into a clinical-community linkage initiative. Building …

Impact Of Men's Shed On Social Participation And Health Outcomes, Joshua Grimmer

Honors Theses

This paper will explore the concept of a community-based organization, known as a Men’s Shed. The purpose of the research is to determine the positive impacts the North Belfast Men’s Shed has on social participation and overall health outcomes. The key factors observed in this study were the safe environment, camaraderie, social acceptance, and variety of activities the shed offers. The study included a sample of 11 men primarily over the age of 60. At the time of the study, all of the men were retired or unemployed and came from diverse occupational backgrounds. A set of semi-structure questions was …

Idiopathic Colonic Varices: A Rare Cause Of Recurrent Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding., Ryan Kahl, Kruti Patel, Khalid George, Michael Piper

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

No abstract provided.

Methylglyoxal Requires Ac1 And Trpa1 To Produce Pain And Spinal Neuron Activation, Ryan B. Griggs, Don E. Laird, Renee R. Donahue, Weisi Fu, Bradley K. Taylor

Physiology Faculty Publications

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a metabolite of glucose that may contribute to peripheral neuropathy and pain in diabetic patients. MG increases intracellular calcium in sensory neurons and produces behavioral nociception via the cation channel transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). However, rigorous characterization of an animal model of methylglyoxal-evoked pain is needed, including testing whether methylglyoxal promotes negative pain affect. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether methylglyoxal is sufficient to activate neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn, whether this requires TRPA1, and if the calcium-sensitive adenylyl cyclase 1 isoform (AC1) contributes to MG-evoked pain. We administered intraplantar methylglyoxal and then evaluated …

A Novel Mutation In St14 At A Functionally Significant Amino Acid Residue Expands The Spectrum Of Ichthyosis-Hypotrichosis Syndrome., Leila Youssefian, Andrew Touati, Amir Hossein Saeidian, Omid Zargari, Sirous Zeinali, Hassan Vahidnezhad, Jouni Uitto

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the ST14 gene, encoding the serine protease matriptase, have been associated with ichthyosis-hypotrichosis syndrome (IHS), a Mendelian disorder with skin and hair manifestations which include, in addition to ichthyosis and hypotrichosis, hypohidrosis and follicular atrophoderma. However, the understanding of the specific consequences of mutations in ST14 on the development of this syndrome is incomplete.

RESULTS: Using a targeted next-generation sequencing array of 38 ichthyosis-associated genes on a large cohort of 180 ichthyosis patients from a primarily consanguineous background, a previously unreported homozygous p.Asp482Asn mutation in ST14 was identified in a patient with IHS. This mutation affects an …

The Pul37 Tegument Protein Guides Alphaherpesvirus Retrograde Axonal Transport To Promote Neuroinvasion, Alexsia L. Richards, Patricia J. Sollars, Jared D. Pitts, Austin M. Stults, Ekaterina E. Heldwein, Gary E. Pickard, Gregory A. Smith

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

A hallmark property of the neurotropic alpha-herpesvirinae is the dissemination of infection to sensory and autonomic ganglia of the peripheral nervous system following an initial exposure at mucosal surfaces. The peripheral ganglia serve as the latent virus reservoir and the source of recurrent infections such as cold sores (herpes simplex virus type I) and shingles (varicella zoster virus). However, the means by which these viruses routinely invade the nervous system is not fully understood. We report that an internal virion component, the pUL37 tegument protein, has a surface region that is an essential neuroinvasion effector. Mutation of this region rendered …

Validation Of Minimally-Invasive Sample Collection Methods For Measurement Of Telomere Length, Stephanie A. Stout, Jue Lin, Natalie Hernandez, Elysia Poggi Davis, Elizabeth Blackburn, Judith E. Carroll, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology: Faculty Scholarship

Objective: The discovery of telomere length (TL) as a biomarker of cellular aging and correlate of age-related disease has generated a new field of research in the biology of healthy aging. Although the most common method of sample collection for TL is venous blood draw, less-invasive DNA collection methods are becoming more widely used. However, how TL relates across tissues derived from these sample collection methods is poorly understood. The current study is the first to characterize the associations in TL across three sample collection methods: venous whole blood, finger prick dried blood spot and saliva.

Methods: TL …

Validation Of Minimally-Invasive Sample Collection Methods For Measurement Of Telomere Length, Stephanie A. Stout, Jue Lin, Natalie Hernandez, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Judith E. Carroll, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: The discovery of telomere length (TL) as a biomarker of cellular aging and correlate of age-related disease has generated a new field of research in the biology of healthy aging. Although the most common method of sample collection for TL is venous blood draw, less-invasive DNA collection methods are becoming more widely used. However, how TL relates across tissues derived from these sample collection methods is poorly understood. The current study is the first to characterize the associations in TL across three sample collection methods: venous whole blood, finger prick dried blood spot and saliva.

Methods: TL …

The Climate Of Neurofeedback: Scientific Rigour And The Perils Of Ideology, Robert T. Thibault, Michael Lifshitz, Amir Raz

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Over the last six decades, an in-group with ideological and financial stakes has been conducting sub-par research to develop an ostensibly effective clinical intervention: EEG-neurofeedback. More recently, however, a string of independent studies featuring increased scientific rigour and tighter experimental controls has challenged the foundation on which EEG-neurofeedback stands. Earlier this year, Brain published one of the most robust EEG-neurofeedback experiments to date (Schabus et al., 2017), which sparked a flurry of correspondence concerning the therapeutic value of neurofeedback (Fovet et al., 2017; Schabus, 2017); notably, a parallel discussion continues in Lancet Psychiatry …

In Silico Study Of Newly Synthesized Opioid Analgesics Bound To Three Opioid Receptors, Abdullah Allaoa, Mai Zahran

Publications and Research

Opioids are the most widely used drugs for the treatment of moderate to severe, chronic pain. They achieve antinociception by activation of mu (MOR-1), kappa (KOR-1), and delta (DOR-1) opioid receptors. Natural products found in kratom plant, Mitragyna speciosa, represent diverse chemical groups with opioid activity, providing opportunities to better understand opioid pharmacology. Pharmacology studies show that Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl is a mu agonist/delta antagonist opioid with a signaling bias for G-protein-mediated signaling pathways in vitro and which produced potent antinociception in vivo. Respiratory depression assays along with other behavioral testing also showed that some of the major problems …

Prenatal Opioid Exposure And Intermittent Hypoxemia In Preterm Infants: A Retrospective Assessment, Elie G. Abu Jawdeh, Philip M. Westgate, Amrita Pant, Audra L. Stacy, Divya Mamilla, Aayush Gabrani, Abhijit R. Patwardhan, Henrietta S. Bada, Peter J. Giannone

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Introduction: Intermittent hypoxemia (IH) is defined as episodic drops in oxygen saturation (SpO₂). Preterm infants are at increased risk for IH due to their immature respiratory control/apnea of prematurity. The clinical relevance of IH is a relatively new observation with rising evidence linking IH to neonatal morbidities and long-term impairment. Hence, assessing factors that influence IH in preterm infants is imperative. Given the epidemic of opioid misuse in the USA, there is an urgent need to understand the impact of prenatal opioid exposure on neonatal outcomes. Hence, we wanted to assess the relationship between isolated prenatal opioid exposure …

Reflections From The Road: Vincentian Hospitality Principles In Healthcare Education For The Indigent, John M. Conry

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

Hospitality and health care are clearly connected, both etymologically and practically. Health care has traditionally been delivered in hospitals. Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac developed the concept and practice of Vincentian health care, demonstrating a preferential option for the poor. It is important that those who work in healthcare understand and remain committed to Vincentian and hospitality based health care, particularly for the indigent and marginalized. The need for Vincentian and hospitality-based health care remains relevant and necessary in contemporary society, as there remains health inequity, particularly for the poor.

Table Of Contents

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

Editors

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

Cover Page

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

Frankenstein's Fixations: A Psychoanalytic Approach To Childhood, Sexuality, And Outsiders, Kaitlin Harris

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

By using Frankenstein by Mary Shelley as a case study, my project explores readers’ and characters’ experiences with others that might appear as a threat. Furthermore, I intend to deconstruct the ambiguity of relations with others and the self based on the concepts of the sublime and uncanny affect. My argument displays how isolating a living being from society recapitulates a cycle of unconscious abuse. Due to the different critical approaches in relation to the unconscious and the unreachable double, it is difficult to find research in literature that approaches familial and sexual relationships that incorporate the two simultaneously. I …

Design, Synthesis, And Biological Activity Of O-Phenyl-N-(9’-Acridinyl)-Hydroxylamines, Matthew Deselm

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

DNA intercalates, such as derivatives of 9-aminoacridine, can be effective anti-tumor agents. These compounds associate strongly with DNA, which can lead to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; however, they can also have a similar effect on healthy cells. O-phenyl-N-(9’-acridinyl)-hydroxylamine, a novel anti-tumor compound, should be less susceptible to hydrolysis in vivo than existing 9-aminoacridine derivatives. The result would be a decrease in required effective dose in patients and a wider therapeutic window. The goal of this research is to synthesize O-phenyl-N-(9’-acridinyl)-hydroxylamine via the condensation of chloroacridine and an appropriately substituted O-phenylhydroxylamine. This compound will be isolated from the reaction mixture …

Investigating The Effects Of Metformin On Pyruvate Carboxylase, Guadalupe Solis

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Metformin is most commonly prescribed for the treatment of Type II diabetes, a disease in which the effects of insulin are desensitized leading to hyperglycemia. While the clinical effects of this generic drug are clearly established, the exact targets of metformin action remain unclear. The present study assesses the hypothesis that metformin lowers blood glucose through inhibition of pyruvate carboxylase, an anapleurotic enzyme involved in gluconeogenesis. Due to the relative low cost of metformin, it is widely accessible to communities around the world. Currently at 150 million per year, the number of users dependent on metformin for quality of life …

Relationships Between Ambient Noise Levels And Vocal Effort When Working As A Restaurant Bartender, Ashley Bautista

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Workers in many different fields depend upon their voice for job performance. Vocal load, the way a voice is used and how much it is used, increases as a function of the total time a voice is used and the intensity (“loudness”) of the voice. Speakers tend to increase pitch, intensity, and duration of speech in the presence of noise, known as the Lombard Effect, which can lead to greater vocal fold stress and subsequent complications. In addition to increased risk of vocal stress, high levels of ambient noise might put workers at risk of auditory damage. The National Institute …

Predicting Network Dynamics Based On Neural Connectivity, Samantha Moore

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Many networks in the brain exhibit internally-generated dynamics—patterned activity that does not reflect changes in external stimuli, but rather is generated intrinsically by the network itself. The source of this internally-generated activity is not well understood, but explanations range from single-cell properties, such as intrinsically oscillatory neurons, to network-level properties, such as complex network connectivity. Past efforts to model and explain the full range of behaviors have involved a variety of complex ingredients, making the models mathematically intractable. In this presentation, we focus on a new minimal model with simple threshold-linear neurons and two-valued synapses whose dynamics are controlled solely …

Chronic Inflammation, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, And Dietary Inflammatory Index In Cancer Survivors, Matthew Christensen

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Chronic inflammation has been linked to the development and progression of cancer. Age, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and dietary factors are associated with a global marker of inflammation, c-reactive protein (CRP), in healthy populations. However, few studies have explored the relationship between these variables with physically active cancer survivors. PURPOSE: To examine differences in fitness, and dietary characteristics of active cancer survivors when grouped according to serum CRP (Low vs. Moderate to High). METHODS: Cancer survivors (N = 14, mean age = 66 ± 15 years) were evaluated for body mass index (BMI), body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak). Diet …

Note From The Editorial Board

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science

No abstract provided.

Application Of Medical Nutrition Therapy In A Classroom Setting, Carol A. Denysschen

Fostering Innovation in Teaching with Technology (FITT) Academy

Project Scope:

Students in the dietetics program need to critically apply medical nutrition therapy to patients with one or more disease conditions. This applied learning can be difficult to present in a classroom setting.

It is the intent of this project to provide all dietetics students (didactic and dietitian education), in the medical nutrition therapy I course, with critical thinking examples on application of nutrition therapy.

Primary goal:

• Develop/Identify two clinical case studies, incorporating information and concepts learned in the course (one or two topics), that could provide summative evaluation that eliminates the issue of students finding answers online.

• Identify …

Inhibitory Or Excitatory? Optogenetic Interrogation Of The Functional Roles Of Gabaergic Interneurons In Epileptogenesis, Hui Ye

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Alteration in the excitatory/inhibitory neuronal balance is believed to be the underlying mechanism of epileptogenesis. Based on this theory, GABAergic interneurons are regarded as the primary inhibitory neurons, whose failure of action permits hyperactivity in the epileptic circuitry. As a consequence, optogenetic excitation of GABAergic interneurons is widely used for seizure suppression. However, recent evidence argues for the context-dependent, possibly “excitatory” roles that GABAergic cells play in epileptic circuitry. We reviewed current optogenetic approaches that target the “inhibitory” roles of GABAergic interneurons for seizure control. We also reviewed interesting evidence that supports the “excitatory” roles of GABAergic interneurons in epileptogenesis. …

Analysis Of Diagnostic, Preventive, And Disease-Modifying Therapeutic Measures Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Ghazal Habib Havoutis

HCNSO Student Capstones

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common late-onset neurodegenerative disorder and cause of dementia, characterized by the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaque deposits. The heterogeneous nature of the disease (both genetically and environmentally) makes it difficult to prevent or cure. Without prevention, the prevalence of AD is expected to triple by 2050. However, because the diagnosis of AD is usually preceded by years of cognitive impairment, early detection may aid in reducing prevalence. Thus, there is a need for validated diagnostic measures for early and improved diagnosis and prevention. In this review, current and ongoing classifiers of early …

Should It Stay Or Should It Go? The Case Of Silent 'E' In Derived Word Spelling., Olivia Peek Goodon

Student Theses and Dissertations

In English, sound-letter correspondence is not always consistent, and one letter or string of letters can represent many sounds. Additionally, there are many exceptions to spelling rules, making spelling difficult to master. Spelling is a linguistic skill. Children use a variety of linguistic strategies and spelling rules when spelling, including knowledge of morphology, phonology, orthography, and etymology. In the upper elementary years, derived word reading and spelling becomes integral to vocabulary growth and literacy development (Anglin, 1993). Taran and Shollenbarger (2011) found that 5th graders had a higher frequency of spelling errors involving derived words that originally ended in silent …