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Tissue and Sex-Specific RNA Editing During Induced Acute Inflammation
No full textA-to-I RNA editing is a process where select adenosine (A) nucleotides are deaminated by an editing enzyme, ADAR, to become inosines (I) in RNA transcripts. RNA editing can affect the sequence of the encoded protein and the regulation of the RNA. ADAR1 also plays a role in regulating innate immunity and its expression is upregulated during inflammation. Current data on the effects of increasing ADAR1 on RNA editing is limited, and most studies are completed only in male animals. We are interested in expanding RNA editing data to include female animals. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce acute inflammation and increase ADAR1. Organs were dissected four hours after LPS injection and RT-PCR was used to amplify regions around editing sites of known targets. The amplicons were sequenced and analyzed by measuring the amount of nonedited nucleotides and edited nucleotides at select sites. Inflammation did not affect levels of RNA editing in the heart or brain. There was also no significant difference in editing between males and females in the heart or brain. However, our analysis did reveal sex- and inflammation-dependent editing in the skeletal muscle. This indicates that the level of RNA editing is independently regulated in each tissue. The process by which sex-dependent editing might occur in the skeletal muscle but not in other tissues is currently unknown. Overall, this work helps us understand how the effects of infection and inflammation are regulated to minimize damage and unwanted physiological consequences
The Development and Validation of Implicit Measures for Power Motivation
No full textPower motivation has been operationalized and explicitly measured both as a global and a multi-dimensional construct. However, implicit measures have focused on evaluating power motivation as a unidimensional construct. Thus, it is worth evaluating whether an implicit measure of power motivation can also measure power motivation as three distinct constructs – Dominance, Prestige, and Leadership (Social) motivation. This study used Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures to develop implicit measures for power motivation both as a global and multi-dimensional construct. A multitrait-multimethod design was used to examine the construct validity evidence for the new measures. Confirmatory Factor Analyses provided moderate evidence for convergent and discriminant validity
Effects of Natural Products on Inflammation
No full textChronic inflammation is characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and lymphocytes into the tissue where they produce inflammatory cytokines that contribute to tissue damage. Worldwide, 3 out of 5 people die due to chronic inflammatory diseases like cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Since it is well-documented that diet and metabolism are key mediators of inflammation, I investigated the effects of dietary lectins on inflammatory cytokine production and the ability of sodium pyruvate, a metabolite, to decrease inflammation. In chapter 1, I examined the effect that lectins from either Triticum vulgaris (common wheat) or Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) had on bone marrow derived macrophages infected with LPS + ATP or IAV. During infection, neither lectin significantly affected the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β or IL-6. However, when the cells were uninfected but treated with the bean lectin, a significant amount of background inflammation was observed. While the presence of the lectins may not exacerbate an infection, they could contribute to a pre-existing inflammatory condition. In chapter 2, I collaborated with a company (Emphycorp) and investigated the effects of sodium pyruvate nasal spray on the symptoms of lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis (PF), COVID-19 and long-COVID. All of these respiratory diseases result from excessive acute or chronic inflammation and can exacerbate each other (i.e. PF patients have more severe COVID-19, and COVID-19 can result in PF). Three separate clinical trials were conducted in COVID-19 infected patients, long-COVID patients, and pulmonary fibrosis patients to determine the efficacy of N115, a sodium pyruvate nasal spray. During an active COVID-19 infection, N115 decreased viral titers and improved some patient symptoms. However, it was more effective in chronic diseases (long-COVID and PF patients), where N115 significantly increased SaO2 levels, improved lung function, headache, coughing/sneezing and breathing. Overall, my research demonstrates that dietary constituents and metabolic products can have harmful or beneficial effects on inflammation
Splitleaf
No full textSet in the fantasy world of Vriim, Splitleaf follows the story of the protagonist Dellum Lovira as he journeys to regain his freedom, find purpose in his life once he has freedom, and develop into a self-actualized person beyond the shadow of his mother and the societal judgement for his multiracial status. Raised on the island chain of Riitol, Dellum is a half-blood between a human father and a Nifaren mother, a race of scaled and feathered people whose emotional investment struggles to move beyond self-interest. He must in the early chapters included here travel back to his original home, a ruin on an offset island, to defeat the demon that cursed him to never leave the islands as a child. However, upon fighting the demon, he encounters a woman named Tavi who knows more than she is willing to tell about the demon, the ruins, and the magical sword hilt the demon wielded, Splitleaf. She departs with a clue to Dellum that the island Naruk may hold answers, and that she will tell more if he can impress her before their next meeting. Once she is gone, Dellum is left to return home, learn the truth about his father’s curse and infidelity, and his mother’s lack of paternal affection for him. They then head to meet the crew they will be sailing with to leave Riitol, including Dellum’s fully human siblings who he struggles to connect with before the departure. In the end, Dellum is left on the brink of leaving the only home he knows to embark on a journey to a foreign corner of the world, surrounded by family who are almost just as foreign to him
An Incentive Mechanism Based on Behavioural Economics in Location-Based Crowdsensing Considering an Uneven Distribution of Participants
No full textThe location of participants in Location-based CrowdSensing (LCS) represents important information for task completion. Tasks in areas with high concentration of participants (AHCP) can be completed quickly, whereas task completion is difficult in areas with sparse participants (ASP). Incentive mechanisms are necessary to motivate participants to move toward ASP. Previous studies have faced two main problems. First, most incentive mechanisms assume that participant motivation is not affected by external factors. Second, when participants fail to complete tasks, only the cost of the participant is considered the loss. However, reference effect from behavioral economics proves that participants are influenced by both internal and external factors. Furthermore, loss aversion studies have shown that participant evaluations of loss are more severe than simple costs. Therefore we propose an incentive mechanism based on behavioral economics (IBE) consisting of two schemes for participant selection (IBE-PS) and payment decisions (IBE-PD). Based on reference effect, IBE-PS is proposed to control the task selection and pricing of participants. Based on loss aversion, IBE-PD is proposed to encourage participants to complete tasks in ASP many times. Theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that IBE can improve the task completion rate, the participant utility, and the platform welfare
Media, Journalism, and Film
No full textNOTE: A BearPass Login is required to access files.
Self study (Summer 2022)
External reviewer report (Fall 2022)
Action plan (Spring 2023)https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/program-review/1073/thumbnail.jp
Beyond the Veil
No full textThree centuries after the Veil’s destruction reunited the land of Mishnal, archaeologists make a discovery in the wild Veiled Lands that will shed light on the cataclysmic event that changed the world forever. Through their analysis of the unearthed memories in the Veiled Lands and remnants of manuscripts penned by key governmental figures, we learn about Mina, a woman with demonic heritage who knows the only way to free herself of her oppressors is by her own clawed hands and the sharpened teeth that she knows can rend flesh from her victims. The first book of the Beyond the Veil series follows Mina’s journey from slavery to self-actualized freedom, from an animalistic heathen to understanding what it truly means for a demon to have humanity, and delves into the truths of two separate lands colliding in a torrent of deception that will leave the lands of Paros and Il’ma in shambles. This creative thesis includes a critical introduction analyzing my use of polyphony and dramatic irony in conversation with R.A. Salvatore’s Legend of Drizz’t novel, Homeland, followed by a selection of the first three Passus of my novel, Beyond the Veil
Effect of Electrocochleography Stimulus Rate and Intensity on Identification of Noise Induced Hidden Hearing Loss in Humans
No full textNoise exposure has been known to cause both temporary and permanent shifts in hearing thresholds in humans. Animal and human studies have shown noise exposure to lead to damage to the ribbon synapses of the cochlea. This damage, referred to as noise induced hidden hearing loss (NIHHL), is not detectable with standard hearing assessments, though can be the cause of difficulties understanding speech in the presence of background noise. Recent studies have begun to explore the use of electrocochleography (ECochG) to detect this neural damage in humans. Such studies strive to aid in the development of a clinical tool for the diagnosis of NIHHL in humans. To investigate the effects of stimulus intensity and presentation rate on ECochG responses, male and female participants were recruited and separated into high and low noise exposure groups based off noise exposure questionnaires. Individuals then underwent audiometric testing, speech-in-noise testing, and ECochG testing. All participants had hearing thresholds within normal limits. Speech testing was not found to be clinically significantly different between groups. While both the stimulus rate and intensity significantly affected the AP amplitude, there was only a borderline significant difference between effects of the stimulus intensity on the AP amplitude of the low-risk group as compared to the high-risk group. These results agree with previous human studies and indicate ECochG may be a potential diagnostic tool for NIHHL. No significant difference in SP amplitude was seen between groups with changes in stimulus intensity or rate was seen between groups. Stimulus intensity did, however, have an effect on SP amplitude. While ECochG shows promise as a potential diagnostic tool for NIHHL, further research is necessary both to confirm the usefulness of the measure and to develop a clinical diagnostic protocol
Largemouth Bass in the Upper Mississippi River: An Evaluation of Management Strategies and Understanding Potential Factors Influencing Dynamic Rate Functions
No full textThe Upper Mississippi River (UMR) supports ecologically and economically important commercial and recreational fisheries. One recreational fishery in the UMR is the Largemouth Bass fishery. Recreational fisheries can be effectively managed using information on population dynamics, though little is known about Largemouth Bass population dynamics in large river ecosystems. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate recruitment, growth, and mortality of three Largemouth Bass populations in the UMR, specifically within Pools 4, 8, and 13, and 2) to use those estimates of recruitment, growth and mortality to inform exploitation models to evaluate best management practices for each study population. To quantify population dynamics, we studied Largemouth Bass sampled via standard electrofishing as part of the Long Term Resource Monitoring Element (LTRM) of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program. From these samples, we collected sagittal otoliths for ageing, and collected length and weight information from each individual. Using the empirical data collected from each fish, we were able to model recruitment, growth, and mortality. Recruitment variability index (RVI) values showed that Largemouth Bass recruitment in Pool 4 (RVI = 0.51) was more variable than that of Pool 8 (RVI = 0.81) and Pool 13 (0.73). However, growth and mortality estimates were varied somewhat among the three study populations. Furthermore, using the dynamic rate estimates as inputs into Fisheries Analysis and Modeling Simulator (FAMS), we developed Yield-per-recruit (YPR) models and models of preferred size fish. YPR models suggest that a more liberal length limit of 279 mm, as opposed to the current 356 mm minimum Length limit, would maximize yield in each pool. Additionally, number of preferred-size fish models suggest that the current 356 mm minimum length limit considerably increased the number of preferred-size fish in each pool under exploitation rates of 20-40%. This information could benefit managers’ decision-making by providing them with information on the Largemouth Bass populations in these recreational fishing areas of interest