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Image and the Photographic Allusion
No full textCatalog of an exhibition held at the Oakland University Art Gallery, January 14 – April 3, 2022. Contains essay by Dick Goody.Excerpt from essay by Dick Goody: All photography is staged. Every image is objectified, yet certain images possess something indisputably allusive, undirected, inexplicit and enigmatic. The desirable ineffaceability of an indirect allusion, with all its implied ambiguity, is invariably an unnamable quintessence. Our most poignant connection to such photographic paradoxes, which have the power to change our social consciousness, occupies part of our thinking mind far away from the bluntness of a direct index of a particular thing or narrative. To enter the unrestricted territory of meditative intimations, the artist must convey the information without directly unveiling it. This lies at the heart of this exhibition: the revelation sans the reveal
The New Zealand Mud Snail (Potamopyrgus Antipodarum) Ecology And Management Of A Global Invader
No full textThe New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum; NZMS) is among the most globally widespread aquatic invaders, colonizing at least 40 countries across 6 continents. NZMS have recently colonized rivers of the Laurentian Great Lakes region. where little is known about their impacts on the native communities of the ecosystems they invade. In chapter one, I present the results of a systematic review of 245 articles, and outline NZMS impacts, distribution, population dynamics, vectors of spread, and management. The invasion success of NZMS stems from their opportunistic traits allowing them to tolerate broad ranges of environmental conditions. However, optimal conditions for successful establishment are evident. NZMS can become exceptionally abundant and impact multiple facets of aquatic ecosystems, though populations can fluctuate seasonally and over longer time scales, likely due to environmental constraints. In chapter two, I tested the efficacy of three different chemical reagents for NZMS decontamination on recreational fishing gear and combined these results with results of a self-administered public survey gauging the level of willingness individuals have to participate in a given NZMS decontamination technique. The greatest mortality of NZMS was caused by Formula 409, and participants of the survey revealed Formula 409 to be the chemical they'd be most willing to use. Chapter three outlines an investigation of the effects of NZMS on the diets and condition of fish in a recently invaded stream, the Au Sable River (Michigan, USA). Trout consumed NZMS throughout the duration of the study, while sculpin minimally consumed NZMS. Of the 83 trout collected, 60% contained NZMS in their stomachs. Age 2 trout that consumed NZMS exhibited reduced condition relative to those that contained fewer NZMS. Lastly, chapter four consists of a study to characterize NZMS population dynamics and their effects on native benthic invertebrates in the Au Sable River. NZMS populations exhibited pronounced seasonality with peak densities typically occurring during the Summer and Autumn of each year. NZMS numerically dominated the benthic community and were associated with differences in the overall benthic community composition. The results of these studies highlight how NZMS can affect native communities and higher consumers in rivers of the Great Lakes region and contribute to a more robust understanding of the global NZMS invasion, such that undesired impacts can be minimized or averted
Genome of the Blueberry Stem Gall Wasp
No full textThe blueberry stem gall wasp, Hemadas nubilipennis, is a parasitic wasp species that lays
its eggs within the shoots of blueberry plants, inducing the formation of galls. These galls
provide larvae with nourishment and protect them from environmental threats, as well as
reducing the crop yields of affected blueberry bushes. Blueberries are a major agricultural
product in Michigan, so parasitism by blueberry stem gall wasps could have a significant
economic impact on the region. The assembly of the H. nubilipennis genome may help to
develop better pest management strategies. In this project we performed sequencing, size
estimation and assembly of the blueberry stem gall wasp genome. First, the DNA of a single
organism was extracted and sequenced using Illumina paired-end technology. Then, the data was
used to estimate genome size using k-mer counting. Finally, the genome was assembled de novo
using the SPAdes assembler. The genome size of H. nubilipennis was found to be approximately
1Gb, similar to other plant gall forming parasitic wasps, but larger than other closely related
non-plant gall forming parasitic wasps. The trend of significantly larger genome size associated
with the plant gall forming trait was observed in many other Hymenopteran parasitic wasps.
Structural and functional annotation of the assembled reference genome produced in this study
will allow for the identification of genes associated with the plant gall forming trait.
Additionally, identification of cytochrome p450 genes may be a starting point for the study of
insecticide resistance in the species
Minutes of the Formal Session of the Oakland University Board of Trustees, August 8, 2022
No full textA. Pledge of Allegiance B. Call to Order | C. Roll Call | D. President's Report | E. Consent Agenda for Consideration/Action: Consent Agenda; Treasurer's Report; Minutes of the Board of Trustees Formal Session of June 13, 2022 and Board of Trustees Special Formal Session of July 1, 2022; University Personnel Actions; Acceptance of Gifts and Pledges to Oakland University for the Period of June 1, 2022 through July 25, 2022; Acceptance of Grants and Contracts to Oakland University for the Period of May 1 – June 30, 2022; Final Undergraduate School and Graduate School Reports, Winter 2022 - April 26, 2022; Final Medical School Report, Winter 2022 - June 1, 2022; Approval of Honorary Degree for Ewa Matuszewski; BIS Name Change: Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies; Intercollegiate Athletics Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2023; Agreement Between Oakland University and the Command Officers Association of Michigan (COAM) July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025; Agreement Between Oakland University and the Michigan Education Association - Oakland University Professional Support Association (MEA-OUPSA) July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025; Reconveyance of Science and Technology Building from the State of Michigan to Oakland University; Approval of 5450 Palo Perimeter Firewall and M700 Appliance Upgrade; Acceptance of Meadow Brook Subdivision Guarantee Report; Board Appointment to the Board of Trustees' Audit Committee; 2023 Oakland University Board of Trustees Regular Formal Session Dates | F. New Items for Consideration/Action: Appointment of Board Chair and Vice Chair; Resolution Honoring Melissa Stolicker; Resolution Honoring W. David Tull | G. Other Items for Consideration/Action that May Come Before the Board | H. Adjournmen
The Presence of Lateral Violence in the Operating Room Experienced by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists: An Opportunity for Change
No full textLateral violence (LV) is an unfortunate aspect of any workplace and can be referred to as incivility or bullying. Lateral violence is defined as a repetitive disruptive behavior among peers that is considered offensive, abusive or intimidating by the target. Incivility comes in many forms. It is considered any disruptive behavior between peers that would be identified as workplace incivility or bullying. The prevalence of incivility or bullying between healthcare providers is a rising concern. The stressful nature of surgery demands a calm, LV-free interaction between all parties in the operating room involved in patient care. The purpose of this project was threefold. First, to survey the presence of LV within the operating room among Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who are active members of the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA). Next, to educate these CRNAs on the scope and manifestations of LV and provide these learners with tools and coping mechanisms for appropriately dealing with lateral violence via a video platform. Lastly, to have the participants evaluate the effectiveness of the program on LV. The results obtained from this doctoral project met our primary objective of developing and evaluating a professional program that informs and educates CRNAs about lateral violence. All the pre- and post- test comparison items were statistically significant for improvement. Lateral violence education should be incorporated into CRNA workplace
Phosphorylation Patterns, Aggregation Propensities, and Morphological Studies of The Various Tau Protein Isoforms
No full textTau protein is a microtubule-binding protein as well as a biomarker of neurodegeneration. Its core function is to stabilize microtubules for proper neuronal communication. When hyperphosphorylated, it detaches itself from microtubules and self-assembles into cytotoxic structures. However, little is known about how phosphorylation, the commonest posttranslational modification process found in eukaryotic cells regulate Tau protein structure, conformation, and function. Herein, the role of specific kinases or kinase combinations from the three main classes of proteins kinases that phosphorylate Tau: Proline-directing protein kinase (Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3β)) and non-proline directing protein kinase (Microtubule associated regulating kinase (MARK4)) and Tyrosine kinase (Fyn) were systematically evaluated in vitro. After the expression and purification of all the six Tau isoforms from E. Coli cells, Tau 441, also known as full-length Tau, which comprises of all the domains found in the other isoforms was extensively investigated. Phosphorylation of Tau 441 by GSK-3β, MARK4 and Fyn was detected by immunostaining using phosphospecific antibodies. With Tau protein been identified to co-localize with sulfated aminoglycans such as heparin and heparin sulfates, single and multi-kinase phosphorylated aggregation studies of Tau 441 were conducted in the presence or absence of heparin. Functional assays including proteostat assays, turbidity assays and SDS-PAGE were used to evaluate the aggregation properties of Tau 441 after phosphorylation.The phosphosites on all the single and multi-kinase phosphorylated Tau 441 samples were characterized by Tandem mass spectrometry. Tau 441 protein structure and conformational changes after phosphorylation was also determined by Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). The flexibility and accessibility to the first and second hexapeptide repeats (H1 and H2), a repeat motif found in the MTBR of Tau protein identified to increase the aggregation tendencies of Tau protein were used to describe the single kinase or multi-kinase combinations evaluated ability to promote Tau fibrillization
Stochastic Planning And Scheduling For Reconfigurable Job Shops And Flow Lines
No full textThe uncertain and competitive market is leading manufacturers to look for fast and effective technological solutions to manage their production systems and make them highly responsive to market needs. Moreover, customers are requesting customized, high-quality products quickly and at low costs. Utilizing rigid manufacturing systems such as dedicated manufacturing systems (DMSs) or flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) limits manufacturers’ responsiveness. Reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs) were introduced to cope with these challenges. These systems are built around modularity and reconfigurability and use reconfigurable machine tools (RMTs) as their main component. The adjustable structure of RMT allows the system to adapt to market requirements. However, production management in RMSs is a particularly challenging task compared to traditional systems, which makes manufacturers skeptical about adopting these systems. To address this issue, this dissertation presents novel methodologies to manage production activities within RMSs regarding planning, scheduling, and control. The research was conducted in two main parts based on the system type (i.e., job shop or flow line). A novel mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for planning and scheduling is formulated for the former. Then, it was extended to a two-stage stochastic (TSS) formulation to incorporate the uncertainties in volume and machines’ productivity. A data-driven controller with predictive capabilities was developed for the latter. It collects real-time data to reschedule raw material injection time and control the inner-stage movement of work-in-process (WIP) units to optimize their levels. The applicability of the proposed models was validated using case studies adopted from the literature. The result of this dissertation showed the cost-benefits of utilizing RMSs and the effectiveness of adopting the proposed methodologies to manage RMSs
Divine Hiddenness, Cognitive Psychology, and the Problem of Unconscious Resistance
No full textThis paper examines the role that some of the psychological mechanisms posited by cognitive psychology play in strengthening the problem of divine hiddenness. First, there is an overview of the problem of divine hiddenness and how the argument from J.L. Schellenberg rejects the existence of an all-loving God. Next, there is an analysis of the implications of the existence of human psychological biases and their influence on the formation of core beliefs, specifically the belief in the existence of God. This analysis requires distinguishing between two types of resistance to belief in God: unconscious resistance and conscious resistance. The analysis shows that it is unlikely that an individual who does not currently believe that God exists would be able to entirely overcome all resistance to the belief in God’s existence. Then, there is consideration of responses to the problem of divine hiddenness that use psychological phenomena to support the theistic position. Next, the paper examines the role of cognitive psychology in recognizing a potential sign from God and concludes that it does not allow for a completely unbiased formation of the belief in the existence of God. Finally, there are proposed theistic solutions to the problem of unconscious resistance, and the shortcomings of these responses are addressed. Ultimately, the difficulty of forming a belief in God without bias, combined with the difficulty associated with attempting to remove all resistance towards belief in God, leads to the belief that the argument for divine hiddenness is especially cogent in light of contemporary cognitive psychology