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PATELLOFEMORAL JOINT FORCES DURING RUNNING IN MENISCECTOMISED KNEES
Get PDFMeniscal injuries in sports are common and often require surgical treatment. Individuals who undergo a partial meniscectomy often complain of patellofemoral pain and later develop degenerative changes in the patella. This study compared peak patellofemoral joint (PFJ) stresses during running in those who have had a meniscectomy (both affected and contralateral limbs) with healthy individuals. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected during running and used to estimate PFJ stresses. Peak hip, knee, ankle angles and moments were calculated. PFJ stresses were lower in the affected limb compared to the contralateral limb and healthy group. The affected limb also demonstrated reduced knee and ankle moments compared to the healthy group. Reduced PFJ stresses following a meniscectomy are likely to be a result of a quadriceps avoidance strategy which is likely to be used to compensate for the quadriceps weakness and atrophy often reported following a meniscectomy. Reduced PFJ stresses, if prolonged, could lead to tissue atrophy and a greater risk of injury
THE EFFECT OF RUNNING ECONOMY IN MALE RUNNERS WEARING 3 TYPES OF FOOTWEAR
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to identify the effect of running economy in male runners wearing Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%2(N), Qiaodan Feiying pb2(Q), and Xtep2(X) footwear. Twelve male middle-caliber runners (mean±SD, age: 21.0±2.0year, maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max): 51.2±3.7ml/kg/min) attended 4 sessions. The first session consisted of a VO2max test to inform subsequent RE speeds set at 60%, 70%, and 80% of the speed eliciting VO2max (ʋVO2max). In subsequent sessions, treadmill RE was assessed in the 3 footwear conditions in a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design. Oxygen consumption (ml/kg/min) and energy expenditure (W/kg) was lesser in Q vs. X at 80% of ʋVO2max, and there had a significant difference between Q、N and X (p2max (p\u3e0.05). Overall, Qiaodan Feiying pb2 improved RE and energy expenditure in middle-caliber male runners at 80% of ʋVO2max compared to Xtep2, but these improvements had no differences among the 3 types of footwear at 60% and 70% of ʋVO2max
Genetic analysis of CRISPR/cas9 basigin knockout T98 glioblastoma clones
Get PDFThe focus of the research in our laboratory is the transmembrane glycoprotein basigin. This interesting, multifunctional protein is involved in multiple cell processes, including embryonic development, embryo implantation into the uterus and metabolic regulation. Early studies demonstrated that basigin expression is elevated in rapidly growing cells such as cancer cells. This work suggested that releasing soluble basigin might stimulate the surrounding normal tissues to express a group of enzymes called extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs play a central role in proliferation by breaking down the extracellular matrix surrounding layers of cells. We hypothesize that basigin expressed by cancer cells can induce MMP expression in normal tissues. To test this hypothesis, we sought to generate cell lines lacking a functional Basigin gene. Our lab used CRISPR/cas9 technology to attempt to disrupt the basigin gene (BSG) in T98 glioblastoma cells with the aim of eliminating basigin expression in these cells. For this, a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) DNA sequence was targeted for insertion into BSG. The work described herein shows the genetic analysis of the potential CRISPR/cas9 Basigin knockout clones using high-fidelity Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Custom-designed oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify GFP DNA sequences from the T98 genomic DNA. The results of this study show that multiple independent T98 glioblastoma clones contain GFP DNA sequence in the genome. Future analysis of these clones will be performed to determine whether basigin protein expression was eliminated as a result of the CRISPR/cas9 targeting of the basigin gene
Differences Between First-Generation and Continuing-Generation College Students in Psychological Need Fulfillment, Academic Engagement, and Retention
Get PDFFirst-generation college students (FGCS) often struggle to find academic success unlike continuing-generation college students (CGCS) who often obtain higher GPA by the end of the semester. Using self-determination theory (SDT) as a lens, differences between FGCS and CGCS both at the beginning and end of the semester were investigated. Measures included psychological need fulfillment (autonomy, competence, relatedness), academic self-regulation (relative autonomy index), stress, academic engagement (learning involvement), academic performance (GPA), and retention. Between groups t-tests were used to assess differences in FGCS and CGCS, whereas multiple regression analyses were conducted to test relationships among the measured variables. FGCS reported being more stressed than CGCS. Psychological need fulfillment significantly predicted higher academic self-regulation and lower stress. Academic self-regulation and lowered stress significantly predicted higher academic engagement. Academic engagement significantly predicted academic performance, but did not predict retention. Implications for these results help to reinforce that by increasing psychological need fulfillment within students, stress can be reduced and academic self-regulation along with academic engagement can increase leading students to perform better in college
THE IMPACT OF EARLY GOAL DIRECTED SEPSIS BUNDLE SETS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THE IMPACT OF SEP-1 COMPLIANCE RATES
Get PDFSepsis is a medical emergency that is prevalent throughout hospitals everywhere. Due to the growing crisis, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in collaboration with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) adopted core measures for sepsis (SEP-1) which aim at improving overall compliance of evidence-based treatment standards for sepsis. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine if incorporating early goal directed sepsis bundles in a rural Midwestern ED was effective in increasing compliance with SEP-1 rates. The secondary purpose evaluated how nursing knowledge, awareness, and compliance with sepsis bundles affects SEP-1 compliance rates. A permutation t test was performed to compare SEP-1 compliance rates for 2019 before any sepsis protocol was implemented, which was 43.9%. A formal sepsis protocol started March 2, 2020, with data collection occurring from March 2020 to March 2021 and included 37 patients, showing an overall ED SEP-1 compliance of 64.9%. No significant findings were seen in nursing compliance with the sepsis bundle. Overall, these findings show that an organized approach and incorporating an early goal directed sepsis protocol to clinical practice guidelines did show an improvement in SEP-1 compliance scores
Ecological Impacts of Invasive Species
Get PDFNearly 6,500 nonnative species are present in the United States and are responsible for the extinction of over 760 native species. The introduction of invasive species is ongoing and the ecological ramifications of these invasions are diverse but could include competition between invasive and native species, disruption of natural ecological processes, and reduced ecosystem services. While invasive species are able to severely damage vital ecosystems, there are methods of predicting and lessening the impacts. Our goal is to educate our campus community about the impact of invasive species on native ecosystems, including the dangers of invasive species, and how we can prevent future invasions. To accomplish this, we conducted an extensive literature review to examine how invasive species are controlled and managed, and how current preventative measures can be improved upon. We hypothesize that a greater focus on successful preventative measurements will reflect a decrease in overall human transportation and the spread of invasive species. The connection between conservation and invasive species plays an important role in understanding and implementing preventative actions in ecosystems that are potentially susceptible to invasive species and is critical to protecting and maintaining biodiversity on our planet
What Keeps Teachers of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Teaching?
Get PDFCurrently, staff shortages exist in all areas of education. In the field of special education, there are sub-groups of teachers and classrooms, each with unique challenges. This study explores the experiences of teachers of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) disability in order to identify important retention factors specific to them. In this qualitative, phenomenological study, the researcher conducted four, one-on-one interviews to discover the district-related factors shared by teachers of students with ASD when considering staying or leaving their current position. Interview responses were categorized into the four themes critical to teacher retention according to the four capital theory (Mason & Matas, 2015): human capital, social capital, structural capital, and positive psychological capital. While findings from this study revealed teachers of students with ASD experienced a lack of relevant district provided professional development, leadership presence and support, and various other supports needed to meet job expectations, the findings also revealed the positive factors of the participants’ relationships among students and TEAMs as well as the job reward and job motivation provided by their students. This data suggests the retention factors for teachers of students with ASD are strong, positive relationships between themselves and their students and TEAMs as well as the success of their students. It is also noted that the lack of necessary identified supports for this research group could ultimately have a negative impact on those positive relationships and student successes
LARVAL FISH EXPORT IN RESPONSE TO VARYING COMPENSATING GATE DISCHARGE AT THE SAULT RAPIDS, ST. MARYS RIVER
Get PDFThe St. Marys River (SMR) forms the border between Michigan, USA and Ontario, Canada connecting lakes Superior and Huron. Discharge is controlled by a compensating gate system upstream of the SMR rapids. Because spring and summer discharge fluctuates widely, resource managers required information on how flow variability influences larval fish drift. I estimated annual larval fish export in relation to variable discharge during 2018-2021 and compared results to published habitat model predictions. Mean discharge and water temperature were lowest in 2021 and highest in 2019. Water warming rates during high discharge differed from low discharge trends. Across years, I identified 10 families and 14 species of fish larvae drifting from the rapids. During my study, larval rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) densities were best explained by water temperature, discharge, and year of sampling while non-smelt densities were best explained by year of sampling and water temperature. Using a Bayesian state-space model, I estimated rainbow smelt larvae exceeded 30% of total export. Observed catch composition differed from previously published hydrodynamic models suggesting that modeled species did not spawn in the rapids. However, our catch composition was similar to prior river-wide studies conducted in the 1980s and 1990s. Future research on SMR larval fish export should be expanded to increase river coverage to identify spawning habitats for sensitive species included in the hydrodynamic model and of concern to resource managers
WOODLAND CARIBOU AS ECOLOGICAL DRIVERS OF FIR WITCHES\u27 BROOM INFECTIONS ON THE SLATE ISLANDS
Get PDFWoodland caribou herbivory on The Slate Islands altered the forest landscape and ground flora resulting in the emergence of the rust fungi, Melampsorella caryophyllacearum. This rust alternates between chickweeds and balsam fir, where it causes a broom deformity. My study identified factors influencing the spread of brooms across a remote archipelago and evaluated whether caribou affected the spread. Brooms were sampled in 240 5-m radius plots in eight sites representing two habitat types. In four sites, caribou browsing created open-glade forests, and the other four were closed-canopy, fir-dominated forests with minimal caribou influence. I used generalized linear mixed models to examine the relationship between broom infections and biotic and physiographic variables. The best model included habitat type, distance to chickweeds, their interaction, slope aspect, and total solar radiation. Infections were significantly higher in open forests (mean 15.7%) than in closed (1.7%). Infections were also strongly related to the distance to chickweed in open forests, highlighting the role of local spore dispersal from chickweed to fir. Aspects exposed to prevailing winds had significantly higher infections, suggesting that long-distance spore dispersal from the broom stage may be important at broader scales. Forest composition and proximity to the intermediate host emphasize the indirect effects of herbivory on rust dispersal and host abundance
The Diaries of a Marshall Islands Peace Corps Volunteer
Get PDFThis book has been published for the sole purpose of preserving and sharing my memories of my time as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Marshall Islands