16144 research outputs found
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Application of Ribosomal PCR Probes to Detect Human-Origin E. coli Locally and Across the State
No full textFor the past several years, Lake Macatawa has exhibited unusually high levels of Escherichia coli, which is a fecal indicator bacterium associated with the presence of other potentially pathogenic microorganisms. This project aims to characterize and identify the sources of E. coli in the Lake Macatawa Watershed in order to improve the water quality of Lake Macatawa. Water samples were obtained from 10 different locations throughout the watershed. IDEXX Quanti-trays®, mTEC agar plates, and real-time PCR were used to calculate E. coli concentrations, and Biolog GN2 MicroPlates™ were used to characterize isolated strains. Bacterial colonies were isolated from human stool samples in order to investigate human fecal matter as a possible source of contamination in Lake Macatawa. In addition, Hope College is one of several labs that have been testing a new real-time PCR-based method for monitoring water quality at beaches throughout the state of Michigan. Initial data suggest that this method produces variable results due to high levels of inhibition. In the future, increased understanding of the microbial contamination in the Lake Macatawa Watershed and Lake Michigan will lead to cleaner waters for recreational use
Can Childhood Activity Level and Outdoor Experience Predict Adult Outdoor Exposure, Physical Activity, and Body Mass Index?: A Retrospective Approach
No full textPreviously, research has explored connecting children with nature (Louv, 2005, Wells, 2006). More recently, work has focused on adults and the experience of “nature deficit disorder” which asserts that adults lack connection to nature (Louv, 2011). Studies have compared the relationship between adults’ current levels of nature exposure and preference for physical activities with their childhood experiences (Thompson et al., 2008, Henniger, 1994). These studies suggest that there is a correspondence between childhood experiences and adult preferences. A competing factor is the increased presence of electronic media which is associated with decreased levels of physical activity, thus a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) (Fotheringham, 2000) (CDC, 2001, 2005). The present study explores the relationship between current adulthood outdoor activity level and preferences, retrospective childhood exposure, and BMI. An adult survey will be completed by college students. Questions inquire about current outdoor/indoor activity, preference and frequency, childhood activity preference, technology use, and self-reported BMI. The adult survey will be analyzed to find correlations between retrospective childhood activity preference and current activity preference, technology use, and outdoor activity preference and BMI. BMI-for-age was also computed for preschool participants. An interview assessed each child’s favorite and least favorite activities, affinity for inside/outside activities, and sedentary/dynamic activities. We predict that there will be a positive correlation between adults’ retrospective outdoor activity preferences and current activity level. We expect that greater technology use will be associated with higher BMI and lower outdoor activity level. We anticipate that adults’ current outdoor activity level and their BMI will be inversely related. If there are no significant differences between the adult retrospective and current preschoolers’ perspectives, we suggest that the preschoolers may be on a similar trajectory toward the adults’ current BMI, nature exposure, and activity level practices which has implications for future health
Endophytic Fungi in Elymus canadensis Affects Insect Abundance and Reduces Plant Damage from Sucking Insects
No full textEndophytes are microbial species, often bacteria or fungi, which live within a plant asymptomatically. Some fungal endophytes have developed a symbiotic relationship with cool-season grasses. It has been suggested that these symbiotic fungi act in a defensive mutualism with their host grasses. Endophytes can produce alkaloids that deter various types of herbivores. We examined the effect these endophytic fungi have on insect abundance, insect herbivory, and plant growth in Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis), a native grass of North America. Grasses that were naturally uninfected, naturally infected with Epichloë canadensis, and artificially disinfected were studied in outdoor and laboratory trials. Bird-cherry Oat Aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) were used as a bioassay. Our field experiment showed that endophyte infection resulted in a reduction in plant damage due to sucking insects. Our laboratory experiment corroborated this result, showing fewer apterous aphids on grasses with endophyte presence
Examining the Effects of Keratan Sulfate on Trigeminal Nerve Growth
No full textThe cornea is the most densely innervated tissue on the surface of the body. Unfortunately, corneal nerve loss is common following corrective surgeries, such as LASIK, and is associated with many corneal diseases. Inexplicably, damaged corneal nerves are slow to repair or fail to do so, resulting in a significant disease burden ranging from dry eye to ocular blindness. Despite their importance in maintaining eye health and vision throughout our lifetime, our understanding of how nerves innervate the developing cornea is fragmentary. Our research aims to identify the molecular factors and underlying mechanisms involved in cornea innervation in hopes of gaining insight into potential therapeutic targets for repairing damaged corneal nerves. Increasing levels of the extracellular sugar molecule keratan sulfate (KS) in the cornea coincides with the time during development that nerves begin to innervate the cornea. This has prompted us to examine whether KS influences cornea innervation. Using in vitro methods, we have set out to examine whether corneal KS, derived from bovine eyes, can regulate cellular behaviors of embryonic chick trigeminal ganglion neurons (the source of corneal nerves). Our work will shed insight into the potential regulatory relationship between corneal KS and trigeminal nerves during cornea innervation
Health Literacy amongst Ethnic Minority and Majority Women in the Acute Care Setting
No full textHealth literacy rates have a significant impact on patient health outcomes. Lower health literacy levels are associated with decreased medication adherence, increased hospitalization rates, and greater health disparities. The purpose of this study was to examine how health literacy varies between ethnic minority and majority women of comparable educational levels. Nora Pender’s Health Promotion Model served as a foundation for this research since adequate health literacy is an essential component in achieving health promotion outcomes. Pender identifies individual characteristics, including socio-cultural and ethnic factors, as being predictive of health-promoting behaviors. This study applied a prospective and descriptive design, utilizing the Shortened Test of Functional Health Literacy assessment tool to evaluate health literacy levels. The sample of 134 female participants was randomly selected from various acute-care units within a large Midwestern health care system. SPSS was utilized in data analysis to elicit descriptive statistics and a multiple linear regression. No significant difference in health literacy scores existed between ethnic minority and majority women of comparable education levels, which can be concluded based on the p-value greater than 0.05, and a R2 value equal to 0.015. However, differences did exist in educational levels between minority and majority women: only 15 % of minority women had completed a post-high school education as compared to the 32% completion rate by their majority women counterparts. The small number of female, ethnic minority participants limited the ability to obtain significant results. Additionally, it is likely that patients with lower health literacy were less likely to participate in the study, therefore influencing external validity. Implications include the need for health care professionals to assess a variety of patient factors, including education and ethnicity, when considering a patient’s health literacy level. These findings can also provide a foundation for future research that could be conducted on this topic
Incorporation of Boronic Acids in Cross-Coupling Reactions Proceeding through C-C Activation
No full textCarbon-carbon single bonds can be difficult to activate due to their nonpolar and covalent nature. In recent years, the use of appropriate directing groups and transition metal catalysts has led to the activation and functionalization of carbon-carbon single bonds. Using quinolinyl ketones, our group has demonstrated the successful rhodium-catalyzed exchange of ketone substitution with alkyl and aryl boronic acids. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields with a broad range of functionality on both the quinolinyl ketones and the boronic acids
Letter Writing, Morale, and Marriage: The Unique Letter Writing Role of Women During World War II and a Commentary on Marriage
No full textWhen we consider the role of women during World War II, we often think of the image of Rosie the Riveter. Yet women found many ways to support the war, including boosting morale to the men overseas as letter writers. During World War II, handbooks and advertisements suggested specific guidelines to women for how to write cheerful, morale-boosting letters, but women did not always follow these guidelines and instead wrote raw and emotional letters. I compare the advice presented to women for letter writing and the reality of the situation using a variety of primary sources including handbooks and advertisements from the time as well as letters from women on the home front. The tensions that arose between the suggested guidelines and the actual letters illuminate a changing dynamic in marriage during the time. Women began to see their marriages as equal and companionate, and the uncertainty of wartime produced a “now or never” aspect to their unions. These letters illustrate the difficulties of life on the home front and underscore the power of love and resilience of women during World War II
Reconsidering Drug Policy—Marijuana
No full textWhen analyzing the policy and decisions of policymakers we want to keep in mind the effectiveness, efficiency, equity, liberty/freedom, political feasibility, social acceptability, administrative feasibility, and technical feasibility of the suggested alternatives. The importance of each of those characteristics is really in the eye of the beholder. For example, drug testing candidates for welfare programs has been shown to be an ineffective policy in the states where it is in place, yet in some places it still has widespread support. Clearly those policymakers are looking at other criteria than just effectiveness or efficiency. That same kind of evaluation can be applied to the federal policy on drug enforcement, specifically in regards to marijuana. In brief, research has shown that African-Americans use marijuana at the same rate as whites, yet are convicted and incarcerated at higher rates. Overall rates of marijuana consumption have also increased over time, including the teen/young adult age, in spite of large budgetary devotions to government agencies such as the DEA and ATF who enforce the federal policy on drugs (Controlled Substances Act). This research will seek to understand both how marijuana became included in the Controlled Substances Act, the outcomes of the policy, as well as propose policy alternatives that may better satisfy the evaluative criteria that political scientists have in mind
Service Providers: A Faith-Based Comparison
No full textOver the past few years, service organizations and aid service programs have gained prevalence in society due to increased need and the Bush administration’s push for faith-based service organizations to be considered equal and receive equal financial assistance from the government. This has prompted many researchers to begin looking into the differences between faith-based organizations (FBOs), secular service providers, and government agencies that provide services to low-income families and individuals. Scholars have agreed that, based on research, these different types of organizations differ in terms of accessibility, delivery of services, and transparency. It is common to believe that some types of organizations do better than others at accessibility, delivery of services, and transparency of the organization. This research paper will focus on the common distinctions made about FBOs and address the differing qualities and the level of success achieved by each type of organization, determining which type of service provider is better at which organizational factors and overall is a better service providing entity
Synthesis of Possible Near-Infrared Photo Responsive Materials
No full textPhoto responsive materials are materials that undergo light induced mechanical deformation via photochemical or photothermal effects. These materials have potential for use as wireless actuators or micro-positioners. However, typical light responsive materials can be difficult to synthesize and are often actuated by damaging UV light, which can limit their uses. Benzocyclobutene(BCB) derivatives have shown great potential as flexible units enabling, in some cases, large deformations in response to photo-thermal stimulus. BCB is able to covalently bond with itself to form dibenzocyclooctadiene which can experience conformational changes when heated. In order to explore BCB based materials, we have synthesized an amorphous polymer (PMA-BCB) from meth acrylate and BCB comonomers following standard literature procedures. Based on established literature we have also synthesized liquid crystal-graphene oxide doped, poly(vinyl alcohol) films as more ordered control materials to compare with our PMA-PCB materials. Moving forward, we wish to synthesize 2 or 3 other rod-like molecules with BCB units that can be easily polymerized and made into films which will be tested for mechanical and photomechanical properties