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A New Art for a New China: Modern Chinese Prints from the Ihrman Collection
Get PDFKruizenga Art Museum, Hope College Catalog for exhibition: A New Art for a New China: Modern Chinese Prints from the Ihrman Collection . Exhibition dates: September 1-December 16, 2023. Charles Mason, author. Andie Near, photographer, designer.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/kam_catalogs/1004/thumbnail.jp
Calibrating the Faraday Cup for Ion Beams Using Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy
Get PDFParticle accelerators are useful pieces of technology for a variety of experiments, from testing for contaminants in the water supply to testing the durability of materials exposed to radiation. In order to measure the amount of radiation being delivered by the accelerator’s beam, a Faraday cup is used. This tool can measure the amount of ions impacting a surface by measuring the current generated by the incident ions; however, they often overestimate current due to the emission of secondary electrons. This is an inherent property of the Faraday cup, but we still want an accurate measurement of the beam current. So we set out to calibrate the cup. Our research explored the use of the properties of Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) and software known as SIMNRA to calibrate the Faraday cup of ion beams
The Chronic Effects of a Stretching Program on Range of Motion and Velocity Output of an Overhand Throw in Collegiate Baseball Players
Get PDFCurrent acute stretching programs have been reported to increase shoulder range of motion (ROM) utilizing the cross-body stretch and the sleeper stretch but have not examined how this increase could affect throwing velocity in overhead athletes. Few methods have been found to increase throwing velocity with the exception of various weighted ball and strength training programs, often associated with high rates of injury. The aim of this study was to determine if a nine week stretching protocol would result in improvements in shoulder ROM which may lead to an increase in overhand throwing velocity. It was hypothesized that a 9-week stretching program would increase the ROM of the glenohumeral joint and increase the throwing velocity among collegiate baseball players. Participants baseline shoulder ROM and overhand throwing velocity were assessed manually and using wearable motion capture sensors. Participants were then matched into either a control group (n=8) or an experimental group (n=8). The experimental group then performed four sets of two stretches, 30 seconds each, five times per week for a duration of nine weeks. A significant interaction was observed in the manually recorded velocity data (p=0.014) with the control groups velocity decreasing over the testing period and the stretching groups velocity slightly increasing, however no significant interactions were found between groups from pre to post test, between groups in both active and passive flexion, extension, internal rotation, external rotation, or horizontal abduction (p\u3e0.05). There were main effects over time for both active and passive internal rotation and horizontal abduction. Analysis of the sensor data indicates a significant interaction for extension (p=0.04) and a trend towards interaction in flexion (p=0.054). Further data analysis suggests differences in throwing techniques which may have impacted the results. Future work should focus on throwing technique
Role of Neuroinflammatory Response on Cell Proliferation Following Neurotoxic Lesioning in Zebrafish
Get PDFParkinson\u27s Disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuronal loss and motor impairment, affects roughly 1 in 500 people. Interestingly, olfaction loss, the loss of smell, is prevalent in over 95% of those with PD. Zebrafish provide a unique model to study neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, as they possess the unique ability to regenerate neurons (i.e., neurogenesis) throughout their lifespan. Contrary to mammals in which inflammation often has negative associations with neural injury recovery, inflammatory response within zebrafish is thought to have a key role in this regenerative capability. Thus, we aimed to inhibit the inflammatory response and investigate cell proliferation in the zebrafish olfactory bulbs following treatment with a neurotoxin. To do this, we used adult zebrafish of both sexes and injected 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a neurotoxin that specifically targets dopaminergic neurons, into the cerebrospinal fluid at the ventricular zone. Pranlukast, an anti-inflammatory agent, was injected along 6-OHDA to reduce neurotoxin-associated inflammation. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 6-OHDA and pranlukast-treated fish as well as only 6-OHDA treated fish to assess cell proliferation and inflammatory markers. We predict that following 6-OHDA injection we will observe an increase in cell proliferation and inflammation in comparison to untreated fish. We also predict that fish treated with both 6-OHDA and pranlukast will have a weaker inflammatory response resulting in a decrease in cell proliferation in comparison to 6-OHDA only treated fish. GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) was used to assess inflammation as it stains for astrocytes which are tied to the inflammatory response. Notably, astrocytes are stem cells within zebrafish, supporting the idea that inflammation and neurogenesis are correlated. This work aims to highlight the importance of the inflammatory response on the neurogenic capacity in zebrafish. Further research is needed to find distinct differences between zebrafish and mammalian models in the inflammatory response
Temporal Qualitative Analysis of Former High School Athletes’ Exercise Satisfaction During Their Freshman Year of College
Get PDFResearch studying the exercise behavior of retired athletes has discovered that former athletes have a more difficult time transitioning to life after sports. This comes as a surprise, as it is expected that athletes not only understand the benefits of exercise but also desire to remain physically active. Following their last competition, former athletes may feel lost without their sport holding them accountable to regular exercise. The extent of these former athletes\u27 exercise behavior is not completely understood. Therefore, the objective of this study is to perform a qualitative analysis of survey responses aimed at further comprehending exercise behavior among former high school athletes in their first year of college. Methods: Thirty-five participants completed eight online surveys over the course of their freshman year of college. The survey asked participants to rate their satisfaction with their exercise behavior on a Likert scale, ranging from not satisfied (1) to very satisfied (5). Following this, participants were asked to explain why they rated their exercise satisfaction the way they did. Qualitative thematization of the responses was completed followed by the calculation of an interobserver agreement (IOA). Results: Each of the eight surveys were individually thematized, resulting in a total of 39 themes. IOA scores were then calculated, yielding only two themes below the recommended 85% IOA agreement. Upon further discussion, theme titles and descriptions were modified to adequately address discrepancies among the IOAs. The resolution of the disparities among the IOA resulted in 100% agreement across all themes. Conclusion: Those who were more satisfied with their exercise behavior commonly expressed that it was due to their efforts to exercise and remain consistent, the observation of positive results and gains accomplished from regular exercise, and the recognition of attempts to begin exercising more often. Explanations for those who stated they were not satisfied with their exercise behavior include time posing a constraint, struggles to remain consistent, and the acknowledgment that the individual is capable of doing more with their exercise routine through greater intensity or duration. Future research should focus on understanding ways to overcome the constraints that are impeding full exercise behavior satisfaction among former high school athletes in their first year of college
Does Phosphorylation on Serine 26 of System xc\u3csup\u3e-\u3c/sup\u3e Lead to Changes in Cell Surface Expression?
Get PDFSystem xc- is involved in transporting cystine into cells and glutamate out of cells, and ultimately in production of the antioxidant glutathione. Antioxidants are important in protecting cells from oxidative stress which can occur when waste products like H2O2 build up in the cell. Previous studies have shown that a critical regulator mTORC regulates system xc- by phosphorylating serine 26 (S26) on the N-terminus of the cystine/glutamate antiporter xCT, leading to a reduction in transport activity. The specific objective of this study is to determine the mechanism by which phosphorylation of S26 affects activity. To address this question, we used site-directed mutagenesis to create two mutants, one in which S26 was changed to alanine (S26A) and one in which S26 was changed to aspartate (D). S26A is unable to be phosphorylated because it is lacking a hydroxyl group on its sidechain, and S26D is a phosphomimetic, as aspartate is similar in size and charge to a phosphorylated serine. We are currently expressing these two mutants of xCT in COS-7 cells to determine how these mutants alter the cell surface expression of the antiporter. In addition, we are evaluating whether these mutations impact the post-translational modification of the transporter at another site, given that mTORC is commonly upregulated. Ultimately this work will allow us to understand the specific mechanism by which S26 phosphorylation and the mTORC pathway regulate transporter activity
A New Art for a New China Reception
Get PDFA poster advertising a reception on November 16, 2023, related to the exhibition A New Art for a New China. The exhibition was held August 26–December 16, 2023.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/kam_poster/1064/thumbnail.jp
Exploratory Study of Undergraduate Pre-health and Nursing Student Differences in Development
Get PDFThere is a great deal of research on how the professionalization and work of medical students, physicians, and nurses affect them, including burnout, stress, and empathy loss. We are interested in the earlier development of these trends and whether they already begin among undergraduate students pursuing health or nursing professions. There is a substantial knowledge gap in the differences and commonalities between pre-health, nursing, and students who have left health professions already. This research explores some of these commonalities and differences that begin developing quite early in nurses’ and physicians’ education. We look specifically at aspects we have labeled as stressors and others we have labeled as part of students’ identity. Using one-way ANOVAs and Tukey’s multiple comparisons we identified numerous differences between pre-health, left-health, and nursing undergraduate college students. Notable differences were seen in baseline confidence, humility, boredom, first-generation status, and religious identity. Future research should continue to uncover and understand these differences, perhaps at more undergraduate institutions with larger, more diverse sample sizes
Walking the Digital Line of Profit and Empowerment: Period Products on Social Media
Get PDFInstagram posts from mainstream and alternative menstrual product companies showcase varying styles of branded advertising including product placement, education, and artistic expression. Through an analysis of a collection of the most liked posts from Always, Tampax, U by Kotex, August, and The Divacup, I argue that the combination of environments between Instagram and femvertising results in contradictory and often ineffective messaging about periods where companies struggle between capitalizing on period stigma to sell products and facilitating authentic empowerment. These unique positions of the brands reveal a need to reshape empowerment and display the pitfalls of feminist advertising on neoliberal social media
Effects of Religion and Health on Humility in Undergraduate Pre-health and Nursing Students
Get PDFPhysicians who display greater humility tend to have better communication with patients, who then self-report as having better health (Ruberton et al. 2016). Research shows that older adults with increased humility have better self-rated health (Krause 2010). Religiosity also relates to humility in older adults, with more religious individuals scoring higher in humility (Krause 2010). Due to the benefits of humility for patients and physicians, the early character development of humility in undergraduate pre-health and nursing students is of interest — especially as this is a time of rapid character change and development (Clydesdale 2007). This study investigates whether the same relationships are present for undergraduate pre-health and nursing students. We found that students who identify as religious have less humility than students who are not religious. Also, students with better overall health have increased humility while students with bad mental and physical health have higher humility