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Understanding the Role of Receptor-Interacting-Protein Kinase 2 and X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Interactions on 5-Lipoxygenase Activation
Get PDFInflammation is an essential immune response. However, dysregulated inflammation can result in chronic inflammatory diseases, like Crohn’s disease, Blau syndrome, and early-onset sarcoidosis. Receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 2 (RIP2) is a kinase that plays a critical role in nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 and 2 (NOD1 and 2) signaling pathways, ultimately triggering NF-kB activation and the secretion of pro- inflammatory cytokines. Our laboratory discovered that RIP2 also promotes the activation of arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase (ALOX5 or 5LO), an enzyme important for producing lipid mediators. Interaction of RIP2 with the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) has been demonstrated to be crucial for NF-kB activation and cytokine production. The purpose of this project is to determine if and how RIP2:XIAP interactions influence ALOX5 activity. This project utilizes transient transfection, competitive inhibition, fractionation, co-immunoprecipitation, SDS- PAGE, and Western blotting to analyze how disrupting RIP2:XIAP interactions influences ALOX5-activating phosphorylation and ALOX5 association with FLAP (5-Lipoxygenase Activating Protein). This study also discusses the development of a fluorescenct imaging assay to capture ALOX5:FLAP interactions. Our results indicate that RIP2:XIAP interactions are dispensable for RIP2-mediated ALOX5 activation. Understanding the mechanisms by which RIP2 influences ALOX5 will be helpful in the design, development, and testing of drugs treating NOD2-associated inflammatory diseases
Family Perceptions of End-of-Life Care for Terminally Ill Individuals in the Intensive Care Unit
Get PDFThe Intensive Care Unit (ICU) provides specialized care for critically ill individuals, but despite aggressive treatments, the risk of mortality remains high. Transitioning from life-saving interventions to end-of-life care (EoLC) can be emotionally challenging for families and the healthcare team. Fear of EoLC can lead to a continuation of futile treatments, leading to ethical conflicts, emotional distress, and unnecessary suffering. The primary purpose of this literature review is to explore incongruencies in family expectations for EoLC in terminally ill individuals in the ICU in the transition of care from life-saving measures to EoLC. The secondary purpose of this literature review is to explore interventions the healthcare team provides for families during the transition to EoLC to ease the decision-making process. A systematic literature search was conducted using EBSCOhost, MEDline, and CINAHL databases using search terms “critical care,” “physician-family relation,” “decision-making,” and “end of life.” Fourteen out of seventeen articles identify interventions to mitigate family and healthcare staff differences at EoLC. Results suggest combining communication with comprehensive EoLC needs catered towards the needs of critically ill individuals and relatives meaningful to the individual. The findings highlight the need to address this critical gap in providing family support during one of life’s most challenging transitions
Effects Of Invigorating And Relaxing Music On Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, And Heart Rate Variability
Get PDFHeart-rate variability (HRV) has been documented to correlate with several health measures, including autonomic nervous system longevity and athletic performance (Zulfiqar, 2010). While increasing age does not affect heart rate, there is a steady decline in HRV, which is a biological marker of aging and the decline of autonomic nervous system function. Furthermore, men who exercise regularly tend to have increased HRV, suggesting a mitigation of the typical age-dependent loss of HRV (Kristal-Boneh et al., 1995). Previous studies have suggested that music may have a physiological effect (e.g., fluctuating vitals, emotional changes) on cardiovascular parameters. However, little is known about the quantitative measure of music’s influence on this association. The present study examines the effects of invigorating and relaxing music on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and heart-rate variability.HR and BP are well-known measures of physiological changes, and adding HRV may increase our understanding of the physiological changes induced by exposure to music. Participants completed an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved protocol. Each subject chose music that they identified as having an invigorating or relaxing effect. The results suggest that self-identified relaxing music may modulate parasympathetic nervous system activity, lower systolic blood pressure, and reduce heart rate, while invigorating music appeared to have the opposite effects. Instantaneous heart changes showed a gradual increase in heart rate during invigorating music and a decrease with relaxing music. HRV showed no clear trend in the initial analysis, and further analysis will be conducted
Artificial Intelligence Effects on Popular Magazines and the Writing Profession
Get PDFArtificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly popular as an assistant to writers across the globe. However, it is also affecting writer’s jobs in negative ways. Writing professions have been especially hit hard with the inclusion of AI. Many companies are now using AI to save money, and it has put the jobs of writers everywhere in danger as they are being fired or earning significantly less wages. Writers must find mutually beneficial ways to work together with AI in order to secure their jobs in the future.
This thesis is inspired by recent news that Sports Illustrated (SI), a popular and historic magazine, was recently caught using AI generated articles. This resulted in readers losing faith in the magazine, the CEO losing his job because of it, and the staff of SI who now felt threatened with being less essential or even terminated from their jobs because of it. How many other publications are using this AI method without the knowledge of their staff in the same way SI was caught doing it? It is a worrisome conundrum for readers and writers everywhere, and it forces journalists to justify their presence in their own industries.
Looking at the history of magazines can help in solving this issue by showing how beneficial they were to society during their inception, and how important it was for writers to have a well-paying writing space to showcase their written works without the hard deadlines and word count limits in the newspaper industry. Since the pandemic, reading seems to be making a comeback into the daily routines of many. Now is the time to take advantage of this surge in popularity and think of new ways using modern technology to reach readers while still sticking to the basics of what made magazines popular
Respiratory Cycle Influence on Lumbosacral Muscle Function: a Tensiomyographic Analysis
Get PDFIntroduction:
Tensiomyography (TMG) has significant potential in examining muscle functionality while evading the limitations found in other methods muscle analysis. Specifically, the erector spinae and other lumbosacral muscles can be analyzed with little challenge. Such analyses include data on muscle displacement (Dm), delay time (Td), contraction time (Tc), half-relaxation time (Tr), and sustain time (Ts). Of these parameters, the most evaluated and with the highest level of reliability are Dm, Td, and Tc. However, stiffness of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral muscles fluctuates throughout the respiratory cycle. These fluctuations may pose an issue when examining the functionality of muscles. This study aims to understand how such fluctuations alter the parameters measured via TMG and aid in creating a standardized protocol to mitigate differences that arise from increased muscle stiffness throughout the respiratory cycle.
Methods:
Thirty students at the University of Central Florida were examined under four breathing conditions. First, a baseline amplitude for electrical stimulation was found using the TMG machinery. Muscle at end-tidal inspiratory volume (ETIV), end-tidal expiratory volume (ETEV), total lung capacity (TLC), and residual volume (RV) were analyzed. Visual cues were utilized as signals of inhalation (ETIV) and exhalation (ETEV), when the diaphragm expanded and contracted, respectively. Participants were instructed to inhale as much air as possible (TLC) and to exhale all the air from their lungs (RV). Measurements were taken twice at all breathing conditions and the highest of two measurements was utilized for data analysis. This procedure was completed on both the erector spinae (ES) and latissimus dorsi (LD). Paired samples T-tests were run to compare data sets from the four respiration levels.
Results:
Ten males and 20 females [average age: 21.067 ± 1.552, average body mass: 64.818 kg ± 14.503, average height: 168.063 cm ± 9.940] participated in the study. When comparing measurements for ES taken at ETIV and ETEV, differences Dm (p \u3c 0.001), Tr (p = 0.010), and Ts (p \u3c 0.001) were statistically significant. For comparisons between ETIV and TLC, Dm (p = 0.017) differences were statistically significant. ETEV and TLC analyses showed Dm (p \u3c 0.001), Tr (p = 0.024), and Ts (p \u3c 0.001) were statistically significant. Comparisons for ETEV and RV illustrated significantly different Dm (p \u3c 0.001), Tr (p = 0.011), and Ts (p = 0.002) values. For LD, no comparisons were statistically significant.
Discussion:
The erector spinae functions differently at various points of respiration. When utilizing tools like tensiomyography, it is important to understand that data collected on erector spinae may be skewed based on the respiratory conditions of a participant at a given time.
This is the first study to explicitly examine how respiratory conditions can skew TMG measurements. This data serves to illustrate that muscle function is different throughout the respiratory cycle. Therefore, data collected using TMG on muscles that are affected by respiration may not be accurate to the true functioning of the muscle. This finding should be built upon to create a standardized protocol for analyzing muscles such as the erector spinae. Doing so would ensure all TMG analyses are valid, and diagnoses are accurate
The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Substance Use Amongst the Hispanic Maternal Population
Get PDFAim: To explore and synthesize existing research that focuses on the relationship between socioeconomic status and the use of substances amongst the maternal Hispanic population. By examining research and these factors, interventions can be identified to lower reported substance use rates amongst Hispanic mothers of childbearing ages.
Background: Minorities such as Hispanic women deal with a myriad of struggles, especially during motherhood. Socioeconomic status and substance use can contribute to a large part of the struggles faced by this population. Hispanic and Latina will be used interchangeably throughout this review of literature.
Method: A comprehensive electronic review of 3 databases was utilized to compile relevant research articles within the database of APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Ultimate, and MEDLINE. Articles followed trends within the defined population based on inclusion/exclusion search criteria. A review of common themes and interventions relevant to the studied demographic was compiled to obtain an in-depth grasp of current research and showcased as a reported analysis.
Key Issues: Low socioeconomic Hispanic women who are either pregnant, have/care for children, or who are a maternal figure amongst their household face adversities in various aspects ranging from socioenvironmental deficits to lack of health care access and education. Various studies suggest substance use rates tend to be higher among women with low socioeconomic status compared to Hispanic women with higher socioeconomic status. This factor must be perceived to allow for the discovery of interventions concerning substance use and Hispanic mothers facing various adversities.
Conclusion: At-home interventions, accessible community healthcare, involvement have demonstrated lower rates of substance use among Hispanic women within the maternal population. Numerous articles supported the conclusive evidence of interventions and the effectiveness of having public communal support resources available. Future research should focus on accessible community healthcare and having resources available to mothers struggling with substance use.
Keywords: Maternal, Hispanic, Latina, Substance use, Socioeconomic, Stress, Acculturation, Mental Healt
How Specific Factors Of Acculturation Affect Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitudes And Behaviors Among Asian American College Students
Get PDFAsian Americans are known as the “model minority” in the United States. “Model minority” refers to the pressure to be perfect and self-sufficient daily. This pressure contributes to a negative perception of mental health services, particularly among Asian American college students. Despite being at elevated risk for mental health challenges, these students tend to underutilize mental health help-seeking. However, limited research explores this underutilization.
This study aimed to understand the roles of acculturation on the attitudes and behaviors toward the use of mental health help-seeking amongst Asian American college students. Using a cross-sectional study design, data was collected from 32 self-identified Asian American college students at the University of Central Florida (UCF), all over the age of 18. Participants completed an anonymous Qualtrics survey assessing demographics (eg. age, gender), cultural identity, acculturation, depression, anxiety, and attitudes and behaviors related to mental health help-seeking.
Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS. Descriptive analyses looked at participant characteristics, while bivariate analyses (Chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests) examined the relationships between acculturation, mental health symptoms, and mental health help-seeking behaviors and attitudes.
Results indicated that there are no significant associations found between acculturation and informal or formal mental health help-seeking attitudes, as well as informal mental health help-seeking behaviors lifetime and formal mental health help-seeking behaviors lifetime. Additionally, anxiety and depressive symptoms had no statistically significant associations with informal and formal mental health help-seeking attitudes, as well as informal and formal mental health help-seeking behaviors lifetime.
Due to the lack of statistically significant association between mental health symptoms and mental health help-seeking attitudes and behaviors, there is a need for future research to look at other cultural, psychological, and structural factors. These efforts are necessary to develop more culturally competent and accessible mental health services tailored to each Asian American college student
The Relationship Between Evening Screen Time Use and Objectively Measured Sleep Outcomes in US College Students
No full textHigh amounts of nightly screen time have been thought to negatively affect sleep outcomes (sleep duration, quality, and latency). There is a lack of evidence exploring if this pattern exists in U.S. college students. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between evening screen time use and objectively measured sleep outcomes in U.S. college students. College students (N = 29) junior or senior standing in a Health Sciences major were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants wore accelerometers on their non-dominant wrist for 24hr/day for 7 days to capture sleep (duration, efficiency, awakenings, timing). Participants also completed a survey regarding their screen time habits and evening usage. Twenty-nine college students (86% female, ~21.5 years old, 38% White, 35% Overweight/Obese) provided valid accelerometer data. The accelerometer recorded 180 observations of nighttime sleep total. Average nighttime sleep duration was 433.8 minutes with an average of 22.3 awakenings. The mean sleep efficiency was 87.3%. The average self-reported daily screen time of participants was 419.1 minutes, and in the evening after 10:00 p.m. was 112.2 minutes. Preliminary evidence suggests that a negative relationship between evening screen time use and objectively measured sleep outcomes may exist for U.S. college students. This study provides reliable, objective data of college-student sleep that may inform future public health interventions in this population
Dual or Full Immersion - What do WIDA ACCESS Scores Reveal Might Work Best for Primary Grade ELL Students?
No full textThe purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the academic performance of primary-grade English Language Learner (ELL) students attending Dual Immersion programs compared to their ELL peers in Full Immersion programs. This Indiana study employed a quasi-experimental design for non-equivalent control groups and analyzed three years of WIDA ACCESS assessment scores in reading, writing, and Overall English Proficiency. Archived test results from ELL students who attended one of 12 qualifying Dual Immersion programs were compared to the scores of ELL students who attended one of 12 comparable Full Immersion programs. Results were analyzed by grade level (K-3) and demographic subgroups, revealing several statistically significant findings. Specifically, kindergarten, first-grade, and female ELL students in Dual Immersion programs outperformed their Full Immersion counterparts in certain areas. Based on these findings, recommendations for educational practice include expanding Dual Immersion options for early-grade ELL students
The Key to Acquiring the Language of Law, Science, and Technology in the ESL College Classroom
No full textSince vocabulary plays a significant role in second language acquisition, expansive vocabulary targets should be set and pursued. This paper explores the results of introducing affixes to develop vocabulary and increase motivation for beginner to intermediate-level English language learners (ELLs) pursuing academic disciplines in law, science, and technology at a New York City community college. Participants included 23 ELLs with diverse linguistic, educational, and sociocultural backgrounds enrolled in an online synchronous Integrative Language Seminar (ILS) designed to develop all areas of English language proficiency. Pre‑, post‑, delayed tests, questionnaires, and post‑intervention interviews were conducted and analyzed to establish the language needs and motivational effects of interventions on vocabulary performance. Findings are as follows: scaffolded instructional methods that introduced Greek and Latin affixes provided the keys to mastering vocabulary needed for academic success across disciplines. The more root words and affixes ELLs learned the more motivated they were to read advanced texts associated with declared majors and future professional goals. Results concluded that participants perceived instructional advantages in learning affixes necessary for academic and professional goals