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Centering Sisterhood: An Exploration Of Black Mothers’ Wellness Experiences Through A Group Therapy Intervention
No full textThe brilliance of Black mothers has centered their community’s progression and perseverance for centuries. Yet, most of the psychological research is either absent or promotes a deficit-framing of their experiences. In the present study, I use critical qualitative methodology to center the wellness experiences of Black mothers through analyzing a group therapy intervention entitled, Invincible Black Women. I aimed to promote strength-based, holistic research and practice for Black mothers. The research questions guiding this study focused on group participants’ definitions and applications of care practices as well as the role of mothering as explained in group therapy sessions. Sessions were conducted virtually with seven participants for five consecutive weeks. Following a within and across-case analysis, four overarching themes emerged: the balancing act of caregiving, redefining one’s identity through self-discovery, exploring and embracing spirituality, and activating self-care practices. Findings revealed the necessity of this culturally grounded group therapy intervention to promote mothers’ access to and comfortability with therapeutic care. Findings and implications toward the advancement of psychological research and clinical practice for counseling psychologists are discussed
Metabolic And Ecological Complexities Of Sneathia: A Fastidious Emerging Pathogen In The Female Reproductive Tract
No full textMuch like every other part of the human body exposed to the environment, the vagina hosts its own ecological community of microbial species, collectively referred to as the microbiome. A dysbiotic vaginal microbiome is characterized by increased microbial diversity and decreased lactobacilli, the most common form being bacterial vaginosis (BV). Defining the pathogenesis of BV, including cause of recurrence and what roles the microbiota play, is important in preventing the complications of recurrent BV. Sneathia species, are Gram-negative, rod-shaped, anaerobic, non-motile bacteria. There are currently two known species of Sneathia, named S. vaginalis and S. sanguinegens, both of which are prominent members of CST IV of the vaginal microbiome, which is prevalent in women with complications such as bacterial vaginosis. Sneathia is perceived as an indicator of a suboptimal vaginal microbiome, given its associations with BV, STIs, spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), and other severe pregnancy complications. Yet, the mechanisms by which Sneathia spp. are involved in these complications remain unknown, in part due to how little is known about its virulence and pathogenicity given its fastidious nature and thus our inability to use it in experimental models. Elucidating Sneathia’s metabolism and growth requirements is essential for not only success in its isolation, but also for furthering understanding of its pathogenicity.
The widespread majority of existing Sneathia spp. isolates have been obtained from the blood of patients with sepsis or amniotic fluid of patients with intra-amniotic infection. The lack of Sneathia isolation from the vaginal cavity is likely due to its fastidious nature, paired with its tendency to be dominated by faster growing vaginal bacteria in mixed culture. Pure bacterial cultures obtained from vaginal fluid are necessary for the genomic study of Sneathia’s virulence, pathogenicity, and antibiotic susceptibility in order to facilitate the understanding and treatment of associated gynecological and obstetric diseases such as BV and sPTB. The use of the transport solution, X-gluc dye, MUG fluorescence, and the uxuA primer allowed for the isolation of Sneathia species from the vaginal fluid of women with BV. However, there were some samples that were shown to have a high abundance of Sneathia, but isolation was not successful. This includes a higher incidence of S. vaginalis isolation than S. sanguinegens isolation, alluding to a benefit in refining these techniques to expand on the isolation of both species, especially S. sanguinegens.
It has been shown that Sneathia sanguinegens requires whole blood for optimal growth. Uncovering exactly how S. sanguinegens utilizes whole blood and what aspects of it are required is consequential for cultivation efficiency, homogeneity, and further understanding of its pathogenicity. Overall, Hb alone has yielded the highest growth rate of S. sanguinegens, leading to the new hypothesis that it is a critical part of S. sanguiengens growth and metabolism. Given that supplements added to Hb only hindered S. sanguinegens growth, it is likely that whole blood hosts many inhibitory molecules that are not present in Hb, resulting in a lower growth rate. This new hypothesis must be tested further for a deeper understanding of S. sanguinegens metabolism and why Hb is required for growth
Exploring Canagliflozin An Sglt2i As A Gerotherapeutic For Cognitive Decline And Brain Aging
No full textABSTRACTEXPLORING CANAGLIFLOZIN, AN SGLT2i, AS A GEROTHERAPEUTIC FOR COGNITIVE DECLINE AND BRAIN AGING by HASHAN S.M. JAYARATHNE May 2025 Advisor: Dr. Marianna Sadagurski Major: Biological Sciences (Cellular, developmental & neurobiology) Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Aging is a significant risk factor for chronic diseases, particularly neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent evidence suggests that pharmacological interventions targeting aging-related molecular pathways may delay disease progression and alleviate late-life illnesses. In this study, we examined the effects of Canagliflozin (Cana), an FDA-approved SGLT2 inhibitor, which extended the lifespan of genetically diverse male UM-HET3 mice by 14% without affecting female mice. Cana exhibited notable neuroprotective effects in Cana diet-fed males in both the hypothalamus and the hippocampus regions. Cana also improved locomotor activity and reduced anxiety-like behavior in aged nondiabetic males. In female mice, improvements were limited to decreased neuroinflammation in the hypothalamus. Additionally, Cana showed early and sustained benefits in body composition and energy metabolism in males, while females showed metabolic improvements later in life. Hypothalamic transcriptomic analysis indicated that Cana activated genes in a sex-specific fashion, with males displaying more pronounced beneficial metabolic alterations with age. Moreover, cognitive enhancements were also observed in middle-aged males on the Cana diet. Utilizing a multi-omics approach, we demonstrated that Cana promotes cognitive function and cellular metabolism by regulating key pathways at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels, including the negative regulation of β-amyloid formation. Our findings highlightCana\u27s sex-specific and regional neuroprotective benefits, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases and advancing our understanding of gerotherapeutic approaches
Ozone Atmospheric Chemistry In Southeast Michigan
No full textSurface ozone (O3) levels in Southeast Michigan (SEMI) have often exceeded U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), posing threats to human and ecosystem health, and air quality. Although SEMI is generally small in comparison to the rest of the state, it is home to most businesses and industries, as well as more than half of the state’s population. With current advancements in high-resolution global chemistry-climate modeling, studying the impacts of O3 at exposure relevant scales has become more feasible. The central objective of this dissertation is to contribute to the understanding of O3 atmospheric chemistry in urban and semi-urban areas, using a high-resolution global modeling approach. To achieve this, an optimized high resolution modeling approach is used with observations to determine scenarios for mitigating O3 air pollution.
To do this, two approaches are followed, using the summer of 2021 as a reference period: (i) to explore the distribution of O3 and its precursors (e.g., NOx and VOCs) in SEMI, I evaluate the global chemistry-climate model, MUSICAv0 (Multi-Scale Infrastructure for Chemistry and Aerosols, Version 0), with a custom regionally refined grid mesh over the state of Michigan and diurnally applied anthropogenic NO emissions, with field campaign measurements from the Michigan-Ontario Ozone Source Experiment (MOOSE); and (ii) use the optimized and evaluated model to understand the contribution of different anthropogenic emission sectors (e.g., power generation, transportation) and transport on O3 photochemical production and loss processes, and inform policy makers on different methods for mitigating O3 pollution in the region.
In approach (i), the regional refinement capabilities of MUSICAv0 are used to create and test a custom grid over the state of Michigan of ~7 km (1/16˚). In addition, a diurnal cycle for anthropogenic emissions of NOx is applied within the simulation to better optimize and simulate O3 in the region, using sector- and country-specific temporal profiles. The model is then evaluated with stationary, mobile, and aircraft-based remote sensing during the MOOSE field campaign. This work shows that grid resolution is important for simulated O3, but becomes far more important for O3 precursors. Additionally, applying a diurnal cycle for anthropogenic NO emissions from CAMSv5.1 (Copernicus Atmosphere Modeling System Version 5.1) can play a large role in nighttime O3 formation.
In the complementary approach (ii), I use the optimized MUSICAv0 model and configuration to explore the different impacts of anthropogenic sectors on O3 atmospheric chemistry in SEMI. This is done by removing global and Michigan-based anthropogenic emissions from different sectors and assessing their impact on O3 concentrations. This work showed that by removing global anthropogenic emissions from sectors, such as transportation, power, generation and industry, leads to large decreases in O3 due to reduced O3 precursors. Michigan-based anthropogenic emission reductions showed minimal changes to peak O3, and moderate changes to O3 in the early mornings. This is indicative that transport plays a key role in driving O3 processes in the region. This also highlights the need for local emission controls, in conjunction with more regional controls in nearby areas.
The modeling framework and results described in this thesis are important for the design of effective O3 mitigation strategies in SEMI
Gap Junction Protein Che-7 Modulates The Insulin-Like Peptide Network From Sensory Neurons To Promote Developmental Plasticity
No full textThe C. elegans insulin-like peptide (ILP) network provides a means to coordinate the multiple outputs of the insulin signaling pathway, which are responses to the diverse environmental inputs that an animal receives throughout its life. This coordination is vital for the animal to thrive and is exemplified by the network’s integration of the combinatorial activities of the different ILPs that regulate the animal’s developmental plasticity. Thus, the developmental switches between growth under favorable environments and dauer arrest under harsh environments highlight the importance of the ILP network function for survival.
How then is this network regulated, where one ILP affects the expression of another ILP? This network is distributed across multiple neurons that can communicate through synapses, thereby making synaptic proteins candidate regulators of the network. Here I identify a component of electrical synapses, the gap junction protein CHE-7, to regulate the expression of a major node of this network, the ILP ins-6, as the animal switches between developmental programs. During the dauer entry decision stage, when the animal is weighing its decision to enter dauer or to stay in the growth program, CHE-7 modulates the ASJ sensory neuron expression of ins-6, where CHE-7 favors growth. Once in dauers, CHE-7 facilitates the rise in ins-6 expression, again in ASJ, as the animal prepares to exit into the growth program when the environment improves. Thus, I show that CHE-7, which also acts from the neuron ASJ, ensures reproductive growth through the activities of INS-6 and at least one other ILP of the network, DAF-28.
Gap junctions allow the flow of small molecules between two cytosols, which can be ions, secondary messengers, or metabolites, among others. The involvement of a gap junction protein in promoting developmental plasticity signifies the need for a rapid mechanism for intercellular communication that allows the animal to switch quickly between two programs in response to the changing quality of its environment. Thus, CHE-7 and potentially other gap junction proteins should promote the rapid integration of the different ILP activities within the network to coordinate their multiple outputs for increased survival of the animal.
Insulin signaling is conserved from C. elegans to humans. Gap junctions are also ubiquitous and important across the animal kingdom. Accordingly, it is very possible that gap junctions will also modulate neural insulin signaling in other animals, including humans, where gap junction dysfunction can underlie aberrant insulin pathway activities and multiple disease states
Social Support As A Predictor Of Health And Mental Health Outcomes Among Homeless Adults Before And After The Covid-19 Pandemic
No full textThe present study explored the impact of stress and social support on physical and mental health symptoms among people experiencing homelessness in the Metropolitan Detroit area before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Two types of social support were assessed in this study: structural and functional support. Results indicate that structural support decreased during the pandemic, while functional support was only impacted by significant decrease in sense of belonging. Mental health symptoms and stress were higher in the post-pandemic sample. Additional analysis utilizing hierarchical regression analysis support the hypothesis that stress and structural support predict both physical and mental health symptoms in both the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic samples. Structural support did not predict these outcomes. Two interaction effects between stress and support were noted and discussed in this paper, with results indicating that during high periods of stress, a high degree of social support may be detrimental. Implications in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed, as well as recommendations for future research and policy intervention
Moral Extremes and Suprahuman Potentialities in Tales and Adaptations of the East Asian Folkloric Fox Spirit
No full textThis article examines the East Asian folkloric fox spirit (huli jing, kitsune, gumiho) primarily in terms of its morality, connecting traditional and contemporary East Asian worldviews with globalized academic discourses. We question the relationship between its fox and human forms and its triad of moral extremes—indifferent amorality, villainy and supererogative self-sacrifice. Fox tales balance competing idealizations: the superhuman exotic fantasy of the fox spirit and the ideological dominance of human identity and values. An equilibrium emerges, celebrating transgression of patriarchal values while also containing these progressive moves within traditional social structures and the romantic marriage plot
Backward walking as a mobility assessment and exercise intervention for persons with neurologic disorders: A scoping review
No full textObjective: Backward walking (BW) has gained increasing attention as a clinically relevant assessment and intervention for individuals with neurological conditions. Given the heterogeneity in how BW has been applied and studied across neurological populations, the objectives of this scoping review were to synthesize the literature related to: 1) the reliability and validity of BW mobility assessments, 2) the utility of BW as a clinical assessment tool, and 3) the efficacy of BW as an exercise intervention.
Data Sources: A literature search of six electronic databases and citation searching were conducted through June 9th, 2025. Articles were included in this review if they were peer-reviewed studies involving adults with a central nervous system neurological disorder and met at least one of the following criteria: assessed the reliability or validity of BW, used BW as a clinical assessment tool, or implemented BW as part of an exercise intervention.
Results: Fifty-nine studies were included, examining BW’s reliability/validity (n=14), use as a clinical assessment (n=17), and role in interventions (n=28). BW showed high reliability and moderate-to-strong correlations with established measures, outperformed other assessments in discriminating fall risk and mobility status, and improved gait speed, balance, and postural control when used in interventions.
Conclusion: BW is a reliable, valid marker of mobility and balance that better distinguishes fall risk and mobility status than common assessments and shows promise as an intervention to improve gait, balance, and postural control. However, methodological inconsistencies and limited longitudinal data warrant further research to standardize assessment protocols and optimize intervention strategies
Empowering Fifth-Grade Urban Students In Science Learning: Exploring Earth’s Layers Through Argumentation Of Claim-Evidence-Explanation Embedded In Relational Conceptual Change
No full textThis study investigates the conceptions of Earth’s layers by N= 56 fifth-grade students attending an urban school’s science classroom. The study focuses on the students’ relational conceptual change of their imaginative perspectives of the Earth\u27s layers, from the crust to the core. The study employs a robust mixed-methods approach to the classroom’s discourse analysis approaching the experimental and control groups’ learning conducts. The methods incorporate the experimental and control groups’ learning activities into data collection, using pre- and post-tests, classroom observations, collecting students’ completed worksheets, and phenomenography interviews. The experimental group used a pattern of Predict-Observe-Explain (POE) during the “exploring and categorizing” phase of students’ conceptual models to identify their critical conceptions of the Earth’s layers as concepts in the lesson’s sequence activities. The teacher-student and peer groups’ oral discussions during the “constructing and negotiating” phase formed the students’ articulated ideas during writing, drawing, and sketching POE activities, while “translating and extending” their ideas are characterized through the argumentation pattern of Claim-Evidence-Explanation (C-E-E) activities. Both groups’ activities are audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed to identify which group is critically achieved the conceptual change. Findings revealed that the experimental group shows five conceptual categories related to Earth\u27s visible physical features, geographical organization, size and shape, technology and exploration, and human interaction, as well as three core-related categories focusing on layered structures, textures, and dynamic processes. Hierarchical descriptive and argumentation categories emerged from the experimental group, including Earth\u27s structure, physical properties, material composition, dynamic processes, and visualization. The experimental group engaged in the lesson’s activities that were designed based on the students’ background understanding during the “exploring and categorizing” phase, through which they demonstrated significant improvements in science achievement compared to the control group’s studying through traditional textbook lesson’s activities. This study highlights the importance of connecting abstract scientific concepts to students’ natures in the learning experiences of the concept’s insights, offering valuable implications for educators and curriculum developers emphasizing student-centered learning. Students’ natures in learning are empowered by learning the nature of science as their relational conceptual change into exploratory teaching approaches fostered s engagement and conceptual growth, particularly among underachieved populations.
Keywords: Mixed Methods, Students\u27 conceptions exploration, fifth-grade, science learning, Phenomenography, descriptive category, CEE Argumentation Embedded Relational Conceptual Change, Science Achievement, Earth\u27s Layer