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Effects of simulating hearing loss, an audiological approach to increase communication partners' knowledge and empathy.
No full textThis study aimed to determine if providing a simulation of a patient’s hearing loss results in a change in a communication partner’s (CP) beliefs and attitudes regarding the implications of their partner’s hearing abilities. A six-question survey concerning the CP's knowledge and attitudes of their partner’s hearing loss, hearing aids, and speech perception was conducted before and after a brief simulation of their partner’s hearing loss. The comparison of preand post-survey outcomes shows a significant change in beliefs and attitudes for five out of the six questions. These results indicate that providing a CP with a brief simulation of a patient’s hearing loss positively influences the CP's beliefs and attitudes regarding hearing loss's implications and increases knowledge and empathy. By providing a brief hearing loss simulation for CPs, audiological counseling could be enhanced and play a supporting role in successful audiological rehabilitation outcomes
Nihil ex nihilo : a study of identity through myth, translation, and poetry.
No full textNihil ex Nihilo is an illustrated poetry collection that intersperses original poetry inspired by Southern culture and identity with original translations from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a Latin work reconciling man’s relationship with power and the divine through stories of violence and change. Nihil ex Nihilo explores how art is innately intertwined, and how nothing comes out of nothing. By pairing Latin translations with original poems, Nihil ex Nihilo explores the evolution of identity through myth and culture from the classical period to contemporary literature. The combination of contemporary poetry, literary translation, and original illustration unites several mediums through the exploration of myth and personal identity, joining in a larger tradition of myth making that continually reinvents itself. The companion to Nihil ex Nihilo features a collection of essays analyzing this act of cultural revitalization through mythmaking, focusing on poetry from the classical period, art from the neoclassical period, and poetry from the modern era. This collection as a whole explores the mythology of the American South in terms of the divine and personal identity, comparing it to translated stories from Ovid’s Metamorphoses alongside thematic illustrations to challenge how we view our relationship with the past, the divine, and Southern culture
Exploring the role of indole metabolites in modulating junctional integrity in colorectal cancer cells.
No full textColorectal cancer (CRC) stands second in cancer related deaths in the United States. Overabundant in CRC, Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes cancer cell metastasis and is a strong producer of the biofilm quorum signal, indole. Indole has multiple derivatives, though their individual effects are not well-defined. Interestingly, indole, indole-3-aldehyde (I3A), and indole-3-carboxylic acid (I3CA) inhibit invasion of Fusobacterium nucleatum into host cells 4 hours (p<0.01, p<0.001, p<0.001). We hypothesize that indole derivatives increase expression of tight junction (TJ) and adherens junction (AJ) genes in CRC epithelial cells to increase barrier functioning and inhibit bacterial invasion. In Caco-2 cells I3A increased E-cadherin levels (1.833, p<0.01) and decreased Claudin-2 levels (0.545, p<0.05). In HT-29 cells I3A increased E-cadherin (1.47, p<0.05), Claudin-1 (3.23, p<0.01), and Occludin levels (2.148, p<0.01), and decreased Claudin-2 levels (0.054, p<0.01). These changes in TJ/AJ gene expression after I3A treatment provide evidence for its role in increasing barrier functioning in both Caco2 and HT-29 cell lines. Treatment with other indole derivatives did not provide clear or consistent patterns between cell lines. These findings suggest that indole derivatives differentially influence the intestinal epithelial barrier, underscoring the need to further study each derivative’s unique impact in the context of colon carcinogenesis and treatment
What is the distinction between a condition and an identity? : exploring bioethical issues in the application of gene editing for deafness.
No full textThe goal of this thesis is to explore the ethical tensions surrounding gene editing technologies designed to reduce the incidence of deafness. Discussions of gene editing in the context of deafness often frame it as a medical condition to be corrected, but for many in the Deaf community, it is also a core part of identity. This thesis examines how evolving technology, and cultural perspectives have shaped the ways deaf individuals interact with society. We will apply principlism and disability ethics models to analyze recent case studies of gene-editing therapies in both hearing-impaired children and adults. By considering how gene editing intersects with broader conversations about disability and bioethics, this paper highlights how scientific advancements, while promising, also challenge the ways we define identity and human difference
Evaluating and refining music recommendation systems : a combined study of algorithmic techniques and user feedback.
No full textThis two-sided study explores improving music recommendations through both computational modeling and user interaction. In the first phase, the TF-IDF (Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency) algorithm is applied to song lyrics, generating recommendations based on thematic word patterns. ChatGPT is used to evaluate these recommendations, revealing strengths in identifying lyrical themes but also limitations in emotional and contextual understanding. To address these gaps, the second phase introduces an interactive survey where users engage with ChatGPT over ten rounds, providing binary feedback (like/dislike) to refine recommendations. Results show growing user satisfaction, though participants noted issues like repetitive suggestions and limited genre diversity. While most found ChatGPT’s final summaries accurate, they also expressed a need for richer feedback and better emotional context
Lead in drinking water : a case study of community exposure in Waco, Texas.
Full text linkDrinking water is essential for human survival, however, ensuring its safety remains a significant challenge. Despite the existence and enforcement of regulatory standards at the federal, state, and local levels, these measures have not been entirely successful in eliminating all risks. Among the most concerning contaminants still present in drinking water is lead, which persists largely in part due to its history of use in drinking water infrastructure nationwide. In this paper, Waco, Texas, is used as a case study for assessing a possible correlation between socioeconomic status and exposure to lead through drinking water, using median household income and the percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) as indicators. Results of the study showed a relatively weak negative correlation between the number of children with elevated BLLs and median household income, however, they do not entirely discount the possibility of a correlation between socioeconomic status and exposure to lead in drinking water. In spite of methodological problems with both variables, a relationship appeared, which while weak, is worth pursuing. Such a correlation has important implications in the field of environmental justice and for communities across the country
Syllabus information literacy miner in STEM : inform instruction, map curricula, and improve outreach.
No full textJoin academic librarians in lively conversation and share ideas about using the award-winning Syllabus Information Literacy Miner (SILM). Learn about adapting SILM for STEM disciplines and explore how SILM can inform information literacy instruction, develop learning objects, enhance outreach, align and scaffold learning outcomes, and discover opportunities for OER integrations
Museum shareholders : the mutually beneficial relationship between communities and local history museums.
No full textIn the United States, there is a decline in the number of people who are invested in local history museums through patronage and participation. This is due to several factors such as technology, cultural shifts, and urbanization. Even before the pandemic, local history museums in particular struggled to stay afloat while fostering meaningful relationships with their communities. The relationship between museums and their communities varies across national and cultural barriers specifically in central Texas and Lazio Italy. Because of these differences, every museum meets the needs of its community differently. By studying the governance, exhibits, and programming of local history museums in Central Texas, it can be determined what challenges and solutions are being faced by local history museums and how museum professionals can learn from one another to become stronger connected to local communities. Museums that allow patrons to be stakeholders in local history and the running of the museums see the most success amid a challenging industry to stay relevant in their local communities. Museums must continue to be places where people can take ownership and stewardship of history
The role of ferroptosis in mediating muscle atrophy under hyperglycemic conditions.
No full textThis study investigates the potential role of ferroptosis, a recently identified form of cell death mechanism, in diabetic myopathy. We hypothesized that ferroptosis plays a role in modulating the morphology and size of C2C12 myotubes under hyperglycemic conditions, potentially through the regulation of ferroptosis-related genes and the induction of oxidative stress. C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle myoblasts were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. To induce myotube differentiation, C2C12 myoblasts were seeded at a density of 50,000 cells per well in 12-well plates. Three different paradigms were examined to identify the best model for mimicking hyperglycemic conditions in the muscle differentiation process. RNA was then isolated for cDNA library construction and real-time PCR analysis of ferroptosis-related gene expression. Key biomarkers of ferroptosis, including ACSL4, PTGS2, TFR1, FTL, FTH1, GPX4, and SLC7A11, were analyzed. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in myotubes were assessed using the H2DCFDA fluorescent probe. Mitochondrial respiration parameters in myotubes were assessed using Seahorse Analysis.
Under high glucose conditions, myotubes exhibited altered morphology, being shorter and fatter compared to those under normal glucose conditions. Ferroptosis-related gene expression correlated most to expected levels in paradigm 1, a model of muscle regeneration. Additionally, intracellular ROS were elevated in the high glucose condition of paradigm 1, suggesting increased oxidative stress. suggest that hyperglycemia disrupts myotube integrity. The Seahorse Analysis revealed disturbed mitochondrial function. The morphological differences observed, elevated oxidative stress levels and mitochondrial dysfunction under hyperglycemic conditions further link hyperglycemic muscle atrophy to the induction of ferroptosis
What causes competitive imbalance in Major League Baseball (MLB)? : the role of differential financial incentives to win.
Full text linkCompetitive imbalance has been a persistent issue in Major League Baseball (MLB), more so than in other major professional sports leagues in North America. This paper examines how variation in the value of a win across teams contributes to competitive imbalance in MLB by estimating the value of a win using two different methods of linear regression. Results show that there are large differences across teams in the value of a win, and that these values are correlated with market size. These differences in win value lead to large disparities in team willingness to pay for quality. For example, I show that while the Yankees, Dodgers, and Mets all valued Juan Soto’s expected wins above replacement for his 15-year contract at around 17 million per year. These differences in how teams benefit from marginal wins likely drive a substantial portion of the competitive imbalance in MLB