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Digital Dilemmas: Navigating Ethical Challenges in Digital Archives
No full textThis presentation highlights complex ethical issues faced by library and museum archives in managing sensitive digital content, particularly when access conflicts with privacy and/or cultural concerns. In these slides, we share examples of how digital librarians and archivists who are managing specialized content such as medical, tribal, and those belonging to historically marginalized populations are addressing often overlooked areas of questions around ethical access in digital collections. The goal of the research is to provide practitioners with actionable guidelines for ethical decision-making, ensuring that ethical challenges are addressed and navigated with care and sensitivity
In Silico Calculation of Interhelical Angles in NCS1
No full textProteins are important macromolecules responsible for a variety of processes in living organisms. One of the most important features of proteins is their ability to respond to environmental stimuli, such as changes in intracellular metal concentration by binding metal ions, which in turns triggers structural changes within the protein that can modify its function or allow the protein to participate in a signaling pathway. One such signaling protein is the so-called neuronal calcium sensor 1 protein or NCS1, which binds Ca2+ along with other abiogenic metals such as Li+, and the metal binding regulates NCS1 interactions with other intracellular partners. NCS1 binds Ca2+ ions through the EF-hands, consisting of a helix-loop-helix motif. The exact nature of the structural changes triggered by Ca2+ binding to the EF-hands in NCS1 is currently unknown. In an attempt to elucidate the nature of these structural changes, we performed a variety of molecular dynamics simulations on NCS1 in the calcium bound, lithium bound, and metal unbound states. We then calculated the angles between helices in EF-hands to determine if these angles change upon metal ion binding. Using the outputs of the molecular dynamics simulations, we developed a python script in house using MDAnalysis and Numpy libraries to select and calculate the angle between each alpha helix pair as a function of simulation time. Based on our calculations, the EF-hand interhelical angles change significantly upon metal binding and are even sensitive to the specific identity of the metal ion. This method of interhelical angle calculation can serve as an important tool for determining the nature of structural changes caused by the binding of ligand molecules to sensor proteins
Animal Narratives as Core Components of Veterinary Medicine
No full textThe line between animal and human is often one that is heavily reliant on an individual’s identifications and sense of relationality. The depth of a human-animal bond shifts depending on the established terms of the particular human-animal relationship and the extent of its prior nurturing and the circumstances of its genesis. Animal narratives in turn provide insight into animal individuality that may allow for contemplation of unique, specific approaches applicable to a wide range of circumstances in veterinarian medicine. Some films encompass various facets of the human-animal divide, or lack-thereof, that may aid veterinarians in understanding patient stories. Megan Leavy (2017) examines the shared mindsets of human and canine soldiers shaped through shared circumstances of war. The Mustang (2019) considers similar themes within the confines of imprisonment. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) explores the manifestation of similar desires and character traits between human and animal and the paths undertaken to achieve camaraderie. These narratives create varying viewpoints regarding the importance and validity of relationships with animals all founded on a basic platform of consideration and admiration. Acknowledgement and familiarity with patients’ possible lived experiences become of crucial importance for the veterinarian due to the obvious blockade in communication. Essentially, examination of the animal narrative gives a possible voice to the animal, which bridges the gap between veterinarian and patient and serves as a conduit for more whole medicinal practice
Screen Time Activities of Adolescents with Depression Symptoms
No full textOver 90% of US adolescents own a smartphone. Adolescents commonly use smartphones to communicate through apps such as Snapchat and Instagram. Considering the rise in technology use and depressive symptoms amongst adolescents, communication patterns can provide insight into the communication habits of depressed adolescents. Prior research suggests that the effects of digital technology use on adolescents’ well-being differ based on the type of use and frequency of communication. We examined how adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms use smartphones to communicate, including apps, modalities, frequency of communication, and with whom they communicated. The sample (N=46) comprised largely female (70%) and Hispanic (80.4%) adolescents ages 12-18 years who met a cutoff of ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Data were collected from a larger study using smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and mobile sensing over one month to model idiographic networks of depressive symptoms and processes. At the follow-up visit, participants reported using native phone apps most frequently (100%), followed by Instagram (86.96%) and Snapchat (43.49%). Most participants reported texting as the most frequent method to contact friends (76.09%) and parents (56.52%). Findings demonstrate that adolescents use different communication methods to communicate with different people. Our sample used text most frequently, which may be due to convenience and autonomy. Findings are limited by self-report assessment of smartphone communication use and small sample size. Assessing content rather than the frequency of specific apps can provide insight into the nature and function of smartphone-based communication among depressed adolescents
A Systemic Analysis of Vascular Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease: Reviewing the Roles of Astrocytes and COX-2
No full textAlthough Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the U.S., the pathology remains an enigma. Many neuroinflammation hypotheses have been studied to explain its development. It’s shown that inflammatory markers such as COX-2 activity, which synthesizes the potent vasodilator PGE2, are overexpressed in PD. Additionally, astrocytes, regulators of inflammation in the brain and BBB, undergo important changes during PD. However, the vascular consequences that all this has for PD-led neurodegeneration are relatively unexplored. We conducted a systemic review of 793 articles of experimental studies that are publicly available across four online databases (PubMed, Florida International University Database, World of Science, and Scopus) related to the topic of vascularity and blood-brain barrier (BBB) in PD to summarize widely evidenced vascular changes in the disease. Present literature on astrocyte reactivity and COX-2 expression in PD was reviewed, to draw a parallel between these and the findings from our systemic analysis. Five important vascular changes were found in the systemic analysis drawn from the final 25 sources selected, with the most frequent change being an increase in BBB permeability. This observation was evidenced primarily in animal studies and was the only change noted through an in-vivo study. Other vascular changes found were a decrease in tight-junction proteins in the endothelium, the presence of angiogenesis markers, a change in vessel density, and a change in vessel width or thickness. Our literature review pointed to a connection between the function of astrocytes and the hyperactivity of COX-2 while our analysis observed changes in vascularity. The increase in BBB permeability and eventual disruption is an important hallmark of the vascular repercussions of PD. Due to astrocytes’ function in supporting the BBB and the vasodilating effect of COX-2 overexpression, we might consider this relationship a starting point for understanding neurodegeneration
A Comparative Analysis of Nanoparticle Sizing Techniques for Enhanced Drug Delivery Applications
No full textNanoparticle-based drug delivery systems hold promise for improving therapeutic efficacy and targeting precision. However, a critical challenge in their development is ensuring size stability, as particle size directly influences biodistribution, cellular uptake, and drug release profiles. This study establishes a streamlined methodology to assess nanoparticle size consistency by comparing three widely used characterization techniques: Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). Two types of nanoparticles were analyzed: 100 nm diameter Gold Nanoparticles (GNP) suspended in a stabilized sodium citrate buffer and Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN), both diluted in deionized water. DLS provides particle size distribution based on light scattering intensity, TEM offers high-resolution imaging for precise structural measurements, and NTA tracks individual particles to assess size and concentration through Brownian motion. Our findings highlight the complementary strengths of each technique, with NTA emerging as the most versatile method for rapid size assessment due to its broad size range and concentration capabilities. This research establishes a reliable, reproducible protocol for nanoparticle sizing, which can be integrated into computational models to predict drug release kinetics. These results contribute to the optimization of nanoparticle formulations for enhanced drug delivery applications
Guns, Gangs, and Borders: Tracking the Illicit Arms Trade in Honduras
No full textHonduras faces a serious problem of illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, which fuels the high rates of violence and crime in the country. This phenomenon has been exacerbated by a combination of structural weaknesses — including porous borders, corruption, limited stockpile management, and under-resourced law enforcement institutions. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Central America remains one of the regions most affected by illicit firearm flows, with trafficking often enabled by the diversion of state-held weapons, theft, and transnational smuggling routes that exploit weak controls and surveillance capacities (UNODC 2020, 15–17). Gangs, drug traffickers, and other criminal groups benefit from the proliferation of illegal weapons, reaching from pistols to assault rifles and explosives. Honduran authorities conduct frequent operations to seize these weapons; in recent years (2021-2024), dozens of weapon seizure incidents have been documented across the national territory in the SALW Dashboard. This report analyzes patterns and trends observed in these real cases – based on information from 95 documented incidents of firearm seizures that illustrate the dynamics of arms trafficking in Honduras. Additionally, the report will examine the trafficking routes of the seized weapons, the variety of weapon types and emerging trends, the main geographical “hotspots,” and the links of this phenomenon with the local criminal organizations.https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/jgi_research/1079/thumbnail.jp
Sociomaterial Approaches to Literacy Studies: Mapping Some (Anti)Methodological Orientations, Spaces, and Assemblages
No full textThis essay attempts to provide a brief overview of the key tenets of sociomaterialism and its relevance to literacy studies. Drawing on some recent literature in literacy studies, the first part of the paper discusses the premise of sociomaterial line of inquiry, followed by an elucidation of some of the (anti)methodological approaches (i.e., diffraction, rhizomatic analysis, intra-action or intra-actional methodology). The final part of the paper is an unsystematic attempt at identifying the assemblages of humans and more-than-humans
