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A New Generation of Inhaled Vaccines
Full text linkVaccines have stood the test of time as being one of the greatest developments in health history. Delivery of these life-saving vaccines has primarily remained reliant on intramuscular administration, which has its own collection of shortcomings. When considering what vaccine formulation is best suited to be a widely accessible and effective tool in the fight against respiratory pathogens, current data and science points to a number of improvements available to us. These improvements include:
• An inhaled formulation, uniquely stimulating mucosal immunity
• A dry powder formulation to improve long-term stability
• A live attenuated vaccine to increase immunogenic response
• Liposomal encapsulation to increase overall stability and delivery
• Utilization of a single-use, dry powder inhaler device to increase ease of transport and opening the door to self-administration Many of these elements are already common practice in vaccine development.
Still, there are no FDA approved inhaled vaccines for use, and a vaccine formulation that harnesses all the points above together has yet to be seen. Through literary investigation, a vaccine as described above is possible and within the realistic bounds of what modern science is capable of. An inhaled vaccine is a viable option that has shown efficacy and safety outcomes non-inferior, if not superior, to intramuscular delivery
Impacts of a Yoga and Mindfulness Course on High School Students
Full text linkThis research investigates the impact of a yoga and mindfulness (YM) course taught by a high school counselor in the United States to address student anxiety, stress, and coping skills. Pre- and post-tests administered to participants and a control group indicated significant reductions in anxiety and stress among class participants, suggesting YM interventions can effectively enhance student wellbeing in school settings. Implications for educators include integrating YM practices into a comprehensive program to support holistic student wellbeing
ChatGPT and Biblical Studies
Full text linkThe use of computers in the study of theology has a long and positive history, yet the level of concern in response to the latest AI chatbots is understandable. This article explores how education and preaching need to adapt to this new technology and what its limitations are, as well as how it may make a positive contribution. The study concludes with a brief exploration of the kinds of sermon materials GPTs produced for the author when given prompts about the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4
Sympatric Behavior of Tree Squirrels in an Urban Environment
Full text linkThe eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) are ubiquitous in urban ecosystems like university campuses despite the habitat loss and fragmentation often associated with urbanization. While populations of both species usually do not overlap in their native geographic ranges, gray and fox squirrels are sometimes forced into coexistence in urban habitats where fewer green spaces are available. The coexistence of both species at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana refutes the competitive exclusion principle, and niche partitioning is likely necessary for them to coexist. This study assessed the activity patterns of fox and gray squirrels at Butler to determine if the two species partition the campus spatially or temporally to avoid interspecific competition. Different areas of a survey transect established throughout campus were characterized spatially into “high” or “low” canopy areas based on percentages of tree canopy cover, and observations of both species were made during three different time periods throughout the day. An analysis of observations between species in different canopy groups and at different times of day found evidence for spatial partitioning. In the summer, gray squirrels were more frequently active in high canopy areas, while fox squirrels were more frequently active in low canopy areas. There was little evidence for temporal partitioning throughout the day, as the activity of both species did not typically vary between time periods. Behavior of fox and gray squirrels did change between seasons. In the fall and winter, fox squirrels were equally active in high canopy areas as they were in low canopy areas, and they outnumbered gray squirrels in both types of habitat. Gray squirrels remained more active in high canopy areas as they were in low canopy areas. The difference in variation between seasons indicates temporal partitioning may occur seasonally
Voluntary intermittent access to combined alcohol and nicotine in mice—consumption and withdrawal effects
Full text linkThe prevalence of alcohol and nicotine use is widely known, though the co-abuse of the two is often understudied. Studies have shown that nicotine dependence and daily nicotine consumption increase with higher levels of alcohol consumption1. Nicotine use has been shown to decrease the subjective effects of alcohol and increase alcohol craving. Previous studies using the intermittent access (IA) paradigm in C57BL/6J (B6) mice have shown that B6 mice readily increase or escalate consumption of alcohol in this paradigm. Still, there is little information on alcohol and nicotine co-consumption and withdrawal using the IA paradigm. The goal of this study was to investigate the use of the IA paradigm for nicotine consumption, preference, and withdrawal, both alone and in combination with alcohol. It was hypothesized that the combination of alcohol and nicotine would lead to increased consumption and worsened withdrawal outcomes. This experiment used B6 mice (n=32, 16 females, 16 males) that were given intermittent 24-hour access to the experimental bottles over 4 weeks. There were 4 experimental groups: water (control), alcohol only (5% v/v), nicotine only (30 μg/mL), and alcohol and nicotine (5% v/v and 30 μg/mL). The concentrations of alcohol and nicotine were held consistent throughout the 4 weeks. Consumption and preference data were analyzed via a series of 2 (sex: male vs. female) x 4 (week) mixed factor ANOVAs. Open Field Test (OFT) was used to examine anxiety-like withdrawal behavior approximately 6 hours after the removal of the experimental bottles following the 4 weeks. Results showed a significantly higher consumption of and preference ratio for the combination of alcohol+nicotine compared to nicotine alone in both male and female mice. The OFT showed that female mice in the nicotine-only group spent significantly more time freezing compared to either group that received alcohol, which could be indicative of anxiety-like withdrawal behaviors. Studies such as this one that examine the co-consumption of two commonly abused drugs are crucial in improving our understanding of substance dependence as well as withdrawal
From Classroom to Cell: Education, Punishment, and the School-to-Prison Pipeline in New York City
Full text linkFollowing World War II, reformers and researchers in the United States debated how to properly rehabilitate so-called juvenile delinquents. Central to this debate was the role education played in children\u27s intellectual and moral development. New York City underwent significant changes during this discourse, enacting new disciplinary policies in public schools and opening Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, now regarded as one of the greatest failures of juvenile justice in American history. Though education has long been considered a fundamental avenue to lift individuals from poverty, its absence has also been weaponized by schools as a disciplinary technique. In what has become known as the school-to-prison pipeline, schools have used the denial of education—through in and out-of-school suspensions and expulsions—to reprimand students for inappropriate behaviors. By examining the role of education in New York City’s school-to-prison pipeline and youth detention centers, using Spofford as a case study, it is clear that education has a powerful role in rehabilitating youth offenders, though there have been many obstacles in its implementation. This historical review asserts that from 1960-2000, the school-to-prison pipeline in New York City systematically denied children—especially Black and Latino youth—quality education by criminalizing their behavior, removing them from school environments, and placing them at higher risk of incarceration. This punitive cycle not only undermined their educational development but also perpetuated a cycle of poverty and criminality by stripping them of tools necessary for academic and social mobility. By exploring this topic, the impact of education on New York City’s “at-risk” and incarcerated children, particularly on a disproportionately minority population, can be assessed to identify ways classrooms in both public schools and detention centers must be amended. Furthermore, these conclusions challenge the notion that “bad” kids deserve to be denied education as punishment—a central theme in the school-to-prison pipeline evident in the modern American classroom
The Evolution of Dental Aesthetics: An Artistic and Cultural Journey Through History and Race
Full text linkThis thesis explores the intersection of art, dentistry, race, and healthcare through a critical analysis of how visual culture has shaped societal perceptions of dental aesthetics from antiquity to the modern day. Beginning with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Renaissance anatomical drawings, the study traces how artistic portrayals of teeth evolved into tools of both medical education and social hierarchy. Particular attention is given to the racialization of dental aesthetics, examining how caricatures, colonial pseudoscience, and exclusionary marketing practices contributed to enduring stereotypes and disparities in oral healthcare. Through the lens of cultural symbols like grills—once markers of status among Etruscans, Mayans, and enslaved Africans, and later appropriated and stigmatized in mainstream media—this work illustrates the complex role of dental ornamentation in both resistance and oppression. The thesis also evaluates 20th- and 21st-century dental advertising, media portrayals, and clinical biases, showing how Eurocentric beauty standards continue to influence perceptions of oral hygiene and treatment access for communities of color. By interrogating the artistic and scientific narratives that inform dentistry’s racialized history, this research calls for a more inclusive and equitable approach to dental education, representation, and patient care—one that acknowledges the cultural diversity behind every smile
Trends in ESG Rating Changes Following Corporate Risk Incidents
Full text linkThe purpose of this research is to understand how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings have evolved over the past decade. To explore the proposed research question, this thesis will discuss the history of ESG, determine the current state of ESG ratings, and study the change in ESG ratings over the past decade. Through an analysis of ESG rating changes following a corporate risk incident, this paper will determine if ESG ratings have become more sensitive to risk incidents over the past eight years. Increased emphasis on the topic has led to an increase in public awareness about the importance of ESG. Based on the research, it has been found that ESG ratings have become more sensitive to corporate risk incidents in recent years, as larger changes in ESG ratings have been found following these risk incidents
“Death Leaves a Heartache No One Can Heal:” Musical Subversion in the Irish Caoineadh Tradition
Full text linkMy thesis details the subversive, inherently feminine nature of Irish caoineadh (keening). This research focuses on how a practice with pagan, druidic roots survived in a culture that was experiencing intense religious and structural upheaval including the arrival of Protestant English settlers, tensions with the Catholic church, and longstanding pagan traditions. I contend that early modern Irish lament (caoineadh/keening) was inherently subversive due to its feminine liminality, its origins from druidic ritual, and its musical, poetic, and lyrical content that was often condemnatory of patriarchal Christian and English power structures. This thesis investigates three main topics occurring from ancient times through the early modern era and into the nineteenth century. Firstly, I examine a brief history of caoineadh. Closely tied to the act and history of keening is the interstitial feminine quality of this art form—the second topic I explore. Keeners were responsible for assisting the community to mourn and come to terms with the intense feelings and emotions associated with a death. Many keeners were also midwives, existing at the doors of life and death itself. Examining the practices of funeral wakes and pagan mythology reveals these important spaces inhabited primarily by women. The third topic I describe is the political and oftentimes accusatory nature of Irish keens. My thesis delves into the rocky relationship between keeners and the Catholic/Protestant churches. To conclude, I discuss the far reaching consequences of retaining this practice in Irish music. The commentary housed in many lament texts influenced popular Irish female protest singers such as Sinéad O’Connor and the Cranberries. The legacy of Irish keening as a female, political subversive practice lives on through the musical and denunciatory art of these creators