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Changes in Nuclear Displacement Over Time Reveal Cellular Adaptation to Low-Intensity Vibration
No full textLow-intensity vibration (LIV) has been shown to elicit mechanosensitive responses in cells. In this study, the mechanical behavior of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exposed to a vibration signal of 45 Hz and 0.2 g was investigated. The cells were imaged during vibration at 1000 fps using high-speed fluorescence microscopy. The cell membrane and nucleus were tracked, and a sine wave was fitted to the positions of each over time. The phase difference between the two was found and used to quantify the relative nuclear displacement. Initially, the nucleus was found to lag the membrane by 0.14 ms which corresponded to a maximum relative displacement of 0.76 μm. After applying the vibration signal to cells for 30 minutes followed by a 6-hour rest, the lag increased by approximately 50% to 0.20 ms and 1.12 μm of displacement. The phase difference returned to baseline after a 12-hour rest. This indicates a time-dependent cytoskeletal remodeling in response to the vibration stimuli. These results align with previous findings on actin depolymerization and reorganization following mechanical stimulation. These findings highlight the sensitivity of nuclear-cytoskeletal coupling to LIV and its potential role in MSC mechanotransduction
Determining the Sensitization of Stainless Steel Using Electrochemical Testing
No full textStainless steel is a metal alloy that often undergoes metallurgical phase changes based on the heat applied to the steel, and the amount of time the heat is applied. When a specific metallurgical phase of stainless steel is desired, the heating/cooling process can be very precise. Joining stainless steel parts through welding or brazing requires heat input. When brazing stainless steel parts together, the stainless steel may undergo metallurgical phase changes that alter the material’s performance. When the stainless steel is heated between 500C and 850C, atoms within the stainless steel begin to move, this is known as diffusion. Diffusion within stainless steel can cause chromium atoms to rearrange and react with carbon which is called sensitization. The chromium atoms bond with oxygen to form an oxide layer to protect the stainless steel from corrosion, but when these atoms diffuse, the oxide layer breaks down, and the material can become susceptible to corrosion. This research will use a potentiodynamic polarization scan to identify if sensitization has occurred on a stainless steel sample that has been subjected to a braze heat treatment process
Fin-tastic Contenders! Does Dorsal Fin Size Influence Hierarchy?
No full textAnimals hold different social values depending on their position within a group’s hierarchy, directly impacting their fitness. The bluebanded goby (Lythrypnus dalli) is a sexually plastic, highly social fish. These fish use aggressive displays involving morphological features to gain and maintain social status. Often, they start with low intensity aggressive behavior, known as a dorsal fin raise, as a size display before escalating to higher intensity aggression. We aim to understand the relationship between dorsal fin ray length and hierarchy status. Using ImageJ, we measured each individual fin ray of the dorsal fin. Fin ray length was then averaged to compare between dominant and subordinate fish. Additionally, a comparison between the longest fin rays between the dominant and subordinate fish was performed. Because the dorsal fin ray can affect the perceived size of an individual, we predicted that fish with longer fin rays will become the dominant fish. This data begins to untangle and elucidate the importances of additional morphological features other than standard length in size demonstrations during social instability
Latinx Farm Workers: The Paradox of Gratification Versus Exploitation
No full textThere have been extreme changes in the climate in recent years. Without sufficient legislation to provide protection in Idaho to Latino farmworkers they have become vulnerable to health risks related to climate change. Including heat exhaustion, sun strokes, dehydration, and death. Along with the dangers of physical well-being, precarity revolves around the current anti-immigrant and political climate. The state of Idaho, in particular, has blocked federal rules designed to protect H-2A workers, which will unfortunately continue to allow working violations to occur. Although Idaho agriculture and food processing contribute significantly to the state\u27s economy, representing 13% of the Gross Domestic Product, minimal research has been done with Latinx farmworkers in this state. In this research, I received transcripts collected from 16 farmworkers in South Central Idaho during June-August 2023. These interviews were semi-structured, a bilingual study, and a part of a digital story project. Through thematic analysis in qualitative research as well as emergent coding. My current findings from an inductive analysis show a paradox with enjoying agricultural labor but then experiencing exploitative work conditions. This research will further the scholarship by looking at how to improve working policies for Latinx farmworkers facing intersectional barriers on ethnicity and immigration status
Stigmatization of Autism: Analyzing Caregiver Affiliate Stigmatization Experiences
No full textStigmatization is detrimental to all identities, and the autistic community is particularly vulnerable to these social discriminations. Unfortunately, caregivers and family members of people with autism often experience stigma by association, known as affiliate stigma, which can lead to significant psychological distress. This study aims to explore caregiver-affiliate stigmatization of their child’s autism diagnosis during the diagnostic feedback session and the factors contributing to affiliate stigmatization. Understanding the intricacies of caregiver-affiliate stigmatization is crucial to both alleviating and assisting clinicians in preventing it. Caregivers (N = 455, M = 36.2 years old, SD = 8.3) of a diagnosed autistic child (M = 6.1 years old; SD = 3.8) were recruited via specialized social media groups and answered a nationwide Qualtrics survey regarding stigmatization. Hierarchical linear analyses examined the relationships between the child-intrinsic (i.e., child’s age at diagnosis, the child’s symptom quantity), caregiver-intrinsic (i.e., age at diagnosis, whether finances were a stressor), clinician (i.e., helpful characteristics score) and community (i.e., community support, RUCC code) variables in relation to reported affiliate stigmatization. Preliminary analysis revealed significant correlations between the caregiver’s age at diagnosis (r = -0.07), clinician’s helpful characteristics score (r = -0.14), community support (r = -0.22), and financial stress (r = 0.19). Further analyses explored the contribution of other factors to affiliate stigmatization. Ultimately, this research aims to guide the development of tailored interventions, improve diagnostic feedback, and advocate more effectively in addressing the specific needs of families influenced by these facets
Mild-Ligand Based Metal Dissolution: Evaluation of Aryldiazothiones for the Recycling of E-Waste Metals
No full textElectronic waste (e-waste) contains many precious metals including copper, nickel, gold, and more. Currently less than 18% of all e-waste is recycled, and the methods require harsh chemicals or energy-intensive techniques. This project looked at mild small molecule ligands based off of arylazothioformamides (ATF), compounds already known to oxidatively dissolve late transition metals through their N=N–C=S 1,3-heterodiene chelation motif. As the method is mild, there is the potential that both ligand and metal can be recovered, creating a sustainable recycling system. To fully understand the oxidative dissolution process of the ATF, a variant class of compound called aryldiazothiones (ADT) were synthesized, purified, and characterized by a variety of methods including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, and elemental analysis. ADT was then tested for dissolution of copper metal using UV-Vis spectroscopy and compared for efficacy and efficiency of the dissolution and recovery as well as the cost of synthesis. ADT represents a potential new ligand for use in e-waste recycling
Vitamin C B5 and B9 Binding to Proteins Under Various Conditions
No full textThe supplement industry has been growing in size and popularity recently, reaching 192.2 billion dollar global valuation as of 2024(Polaris Market Research). Supplements that are high in protein and micronutrients such as vitamins C, B5, and B9 are increasingly popular because they support the consumer’s goal of overall health. To support consumer’s goals, it is important to design the best supplements that provide the most nutritional value for the least cost. In this research project, the binding of vitamins C, B9, and B5 to whey protein concentrate (WPC) and βeta-lactoglobulin (B-LG) was examined. We analyzed the particle size distribution, zeta potential, and the polydispersity index (PDI) of the three vitamins mixed with WPC or B-LG at 3 different pH levels. The binding of vitamins to B-LG led to an increase in size, zeta potential, and PDI. We did not observe this trend in the WPC matrix. Overall, this shows that the binding characteristics of B-LG and WPC mixed with vitamins C, B9, and B5 are pH dependent and other components may impact the overall characteristics of the system. These effects may impact the formulation of supplements for consumers
P.L.A.Y. for All Pilot: Effects of a Community-Based, Inclusive After-School Program on Physical Activity and Motor-Skill Outcomes
Get PDFAfter-school programs for physical activity (PA) can contribute to helping children and youth achieve the suggested 60 minutes a day of PA. Previous research also suggests that developing motor competency can positively impact long-term PA participation. Additionally, parent and peer support can help children and youth overcome barriers to PA participation. The primary purpose of this pilot research study was to determine the effects of an inclusive after-school program on PA levels and motor-skill outcomes for children with and without disabilities. A secondary purpose was to examine parental support for physical activity and children’s physical activity and motor skills. 38 children participated in the 10-week P.L.A.Y. for Allprogram. Data collection included pre-post data from the TGMD-3 motor-skill assessment, daily accelerometer data, and a guardian survey. Paired-sample t-tests showed changes in the TGMD3 locomotor and ball skills were statistically significant from pre- to post-program (p \u3c .01). Moreover, parents self-reported PA engagement with their child increased from pre to post (p = .029), and parent support to participate in PA increased from pre to post (p \u3c .05). Correlations and linear regression analysis revealed that the children’s average MVPA across the program was not significantly related to their change in motor skills (p \u3e .05). The results of this pilot study reveal that the PLAY for All program had positive effects on children’s motor-skill outcomes and contributed to their overall PA levels
To Turn to Wind
Get PDFThe thesis is a poetry collection, titled To turn to wind. Each poem is distinct but connected, in turn creating a narrative, serial poem that explores an individual’s relationship with poetry and nature. There are four sections where the speaker a metamorphic journey, and the end of each section leads to the beginning of the next. The poems are written in free verse, and each individual line is indicative of the poet’s breath and wind patterns to further develop the themes of unity and poetry, as well as “form as an extension of content”.
The poems are inquisitive and seek to develop an understanding of the Poet’s place in the natural world. They frequently ask questions not for the sake of answers, but for the act of discovery. Each poem builds to the end, where the speaker turns into the wind through writing. All the poems except the last few are written in the first person, but the pronoun is dropped at the end to show that the speaker has become an unnamed collective. This loss of individuality is not a tragic one, as this is the realization that the speaker has arrived at: to sing about the natural world, one must join it.
These poems were written after exploring Idaho’s landscape. They were given attention to both sight and sound, specifically of the wind against leaves. The speaker at times expresses a frustration with wanting to capture the sound of the landscape with the knowledge that they cannot put into words the sounds that they hear. The work focuses on human’s separation and then connection with the natural world
Transformative Shift: Exploring Teachers\u27 Dispositions Toward Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in a Community of Practice
Get PDFIn this collaborative, embedded mixed-method study I explored the impact of teacher participation in a community of practice focused on improving attitudes toward and implementation of culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy. Using the Dispositions for Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Scale as a tool to induce critical reflection and dialogue; teachers collaboratively examined their beliefs, practices and perceptions regarding CRP. Through focus group interviews and exit tickets, changes in teacher behaviors and attitudes toward CRP were examined and identified. The goal of this study was to contribute to advancing knowledge on teacher empowerment through transformative learning experiences, CRP implementation, and professional learning in diverse rural settings