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Artizein Exposé: Launch of Ettingerian Matrixial Theory, Education & the Arts_2025
No full textThis video recording is the launch of the Special issue on Ettingerian Matrixial Theory, Education & the Arts for Artizein: Arts & Teaching Journal 9(1), 2024. The journal and this video are co-edited by R. Michael Fisher & Barbara Bickel. The Exposé took place on Feb. 7, 2025. The video length is 2:21:58
Video times stamps for the contributing presenting Artists/Scholars/Authors are:
Bracha L. Ettinger [3:30-33:40 & 1:42:21-1:57:46 & 2:15:04-2:21:30]
R. Michael Fisher & Barbara Bickel [33:40- 45:30]
Nike Romano [45:38-52:50]
Kate L. Wurtzel & Laura Lee McCartney [52:55-59:20]
Shiran Greenberg [59:25-1:05:06]
Darlene St. Georges [1:05:06-1:12:35]
Valerie Oved Giovanini [1:12:37-1:20:29]
Barbara Bickel [1:20:31-1:26:21]
Misty Paterson [1:26:29-1:34:02]
R. Michael Fisher [1:34:06-1:42:11]
Q&A [1:58:03-2:22:31
Lifespan of Male and Female APP/PS1 and APPNL-F/NL-F Mouse Models of Alzheimer\u27s Disease
No full textAlzheimer\u27s disease (AD) disproportionately affects women, yet most preclinical research studies are male-centric. We performed lifespan analyses of male and female AD mouse models (APP/PS1 and APPNL-F/NL-F) and their shared genetic background control (C57BL/6). Survival curves support significant sex differences between genotypes. Minimal longevity revealed increased age in male APP/PS1, and decreased age in male APPNL-F/NL-F mice. Maximal longevity revealed an increased average age in males. Furthermore, median lifespan differed between sex and genotype. This study supports dimorphic survival in two mouse models of AD, emphasizing the need to examine mechanisms and treatments in both sexes
IN/DIGNITY
No full textThis thesis tells the story behind my documentary film, IN/DIGNITY. As a Dalit filmmaker, I set out to show what Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statues mean for Dalit people in India. These statues are more than monuments; they are living symbols of resistance, memory, and hope. My film explores how the caste system still shapes identity and untouchability today. Through interviews and stories, I show both the pain of being made invisible and the spirited ways Dalits assert dignity and pride. The project brings together my journey, Ambedkar’s ideas, and the voices of my community. I also reflect on the creative and technical challenges of editing, language, and storytelling that shaped the film. IN/DIGNITY is not just about me. It is about making visible the struggles and the strength of Dalit people, and showing that our stories, our dignity, and our dreams matter
Factors Affecting Risk Perceptions about the Human Health Effects Resulting from Harmful Algal Bloom Exposure
No full textIn the Great Lakes region, harmful algal blooms (HABs) are known cyanobacterial blooms that pose significant public health, environmental, and socio-economic risks. Risk information related to HABs is primarily communicated through state and local government agencies; however, the effectiveness of these communication strategies and how local stakeholders are learning about such risks remains unclear. The objective of this study is to examine how to effectively communicate HABs risks and understand public risk perceptions of HABs-related risks during recreational lake use in Michigan. Guided by the social amplification of risk framework, this qualitative study conducted fieldwork in 2021, including 27 semi-structured interviews with individuals from vulnerable populations. Interviews explored participants’ awareness, experiences, and communication preferences related to HABs. Results showed that while respondents were familiar with general algal ecology, they lacked knowledge about HABs-related health effects. Vulnerable populations reported greater trust in local networks, community leaders, and peers than in state or federal agencies, revealing a gap between trusted information sources and where official information is provided. Findings indicate that effective HAB communication must combine not only accurate scientific information but also include communication approaches that build trust, account for social context and audience characteristics, and actively involve communities in engaging with risk information
FROM INTRODUCTION TO SPREAD: UNDERSTANDING THE SPATIAL AND RESOURCE ECOLOGY OF SILVER CARP
No full textInvasive species are one of the leading causes of biodiversity decline. Managing invaders in freshwater ecosystems is more challenging due to the increased likelihood of multiple introductions, the open nature of many water bodies that facilitate spreading, the time delay between their introduction and the resulting spread or impacts, the difficulty in detecting them, and the numerous human-induced stressors and alterations these ecosystems have undergone. One notorious invasive species within the United States is the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). This large-bodied planktivorous fish native to Eastern China has been found to outcompete native planktivores, alter the abundance and composition of plankton communities, decline native sportfish populations, and cause physical injuries to boaters. Management practices for this invader include expensive electric barriers and deterrents, laborious harvest-removal, and proactive monitoring within adjacent aquatic ecosystems such as the Great Lakes. The primary goal of this dissertation was to enhance our understanding of the resource and spatial ecology of silver carp. The first research chapter estimated chlorophyll-a concentrations across 18 rivers located in the Northern United States and assessed long-term trends and regional patterns. The second research chapter assessed differences in movement and aggregation of silver carp from the Illinois and Lower Wabash Rivers using acoustic telemetry. The third research chapter quantified the survivability of silver carp and other native fish species within ephemeral wetlands and monitored the change in water quality and zooplankton abundance. The final research chapter identified uninvaded regions with suitable habitat for silver carp under several climate change scenarios. Findings from this dissertation revealed that half of the rivers analyzed exhibited a decrease in chlorophyll-a concentrations over the past 38 years. Although this may indicate positive progress in the prevention of silver carp, receiving waters have experienced an influx in algal blooms, potentially making those areas better suited for silver carp. Silver carp were found to travel great distances, including moving between basins, thereby highlighting the necessity for integrated management strategies rather than isolated control efforts within a single basin. Interestingly, silver carp had low survival within ephemeral wetlands. This observation implies that silver carp may not be as well adapted to ephemeral wetlands and backwaters, which are vulnerable to extreme weather events, in comparison to native species. Despite backwaters being ill-suited, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and North America overall, will become more suitable for silver carp by 2050, possibly predicting an impending expansion of their range. The outcomes presented in each chapter have several ecological and management implications. First, the increase in suitable habitat coupled with the highly mobile nature of some individuals can lead to rapid range expansion, consequently, negatively impacting the native community in regions outside the Midwest. This, coupled with the already declining trend in primary productivity could result in very different community compositions in the near future. To prevent this, preventative management efforts and funds should be allocated to eutrophic rivers and their receiving waterbodies, rivers located up to 500 km from the invasion front, and rivers anticipated to be highly suitable for silver carp
GENOTYPE AND SEX-BASED DIFFERENCE IN CIRCADIAN, METABOLIC, COGNITIVE, AND NEUROMUSCULAR PERFORMANCE IN AGED GROWTH HORMONE RECEPTOR KNOCKOUT MICE
No full textGrowth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) and Growth Hormone Insensitivity (GHI) are endocrine disorders characterized by either insufficient growth hormone (GH) production or an impaired ability of GH to bind and stimulate the growth hormone receptor (GHR). These endocrinopathies can occur if the anterior pituitary is unable to synthesize adequate quantities of GH, or if genetic aberrations result in structural distortions of the GHR that disrupt ligand-receptor binding and consequently impair the downstream post-receptor intracellular signaling cascade. The growth hormone receptor knockout (GHR-KO) mouse, utilized in this study and sometimes referred to as the Laron Mouse, was derived from crossing 129Ola/BALB/c GHR +/- mice with C57BL/6J and C3H/J strains (GHR-/-), and most closely resembles human Laron syndrome (LS). In GHR-KO mice, the GHR is absent due to targeted gene knockout, resulting in chronically elevated GH and diminished IGF-1 levels within the body, thereby mimicking the endocrine and metabolic features of GHI. Approximately 350 individuals worldwide have been diagnosed with this condition, with the largest concentration of affected people (around 100) in southern Ecuador and the other population residing in Israel. Studies in Ecuador have elucidated that LS is rarely associated with cancer or diabetes. Research has shown that LS may offer protective effects against genetic damage when exposed to oxidative stressors. Despite the beneficial insights provided by the GHR-KO model, its impact on the later stages of life remains poorly understood. This project investigated sex- and genotype-specific differences in circadian activity, metabolic efficiency, and neuromuscular and neurocognitive performance in aged GHR-KO mice, under varying light–dark (LD) and constant dark (DD) conditions. Female growth hormone receptor wildtype (fGHR-WT) mice exhibited significantly elevated total activity, enhanced amplitude, and diminished fragmented rhythms compared to female growth hormone receptor knockout (fGHR-KO) mice; however, required more days to re-entrain following a phase shift. Male and female GHR-KO mice exhibited enhanced neuromuscular function, balance, and locomotor capacity, with fGHR-KO mice displaying higher average speeds relative to WT mice. Respiratory quotient (RQ) data revealed significant sex- and genotype-based differences, with observed differences in metabolic substrate preference. Elevated immobility was observed in male growth hormone receptor knockout (mGHR-KO) mice, whereas fGHR-WT and fGHR-KO mice exhibited superior cognition. Circadian disruption (CD) revealed vulnerabilities in fGHR-WT and fGHR-KO mice, characterized by declines in neuromuscular performance, locomotion, cognition, and increased Intradaily Variability (IV). Post-CD showed a decrease in energy expenditure (EE) across most groups. Together, these results demonstrate that aged fGHR-KO mice, despite exhibiting enhanced neuromuscular performance and resistance to specific aging attributes, display sex-specific vulnerabilities in circadian regulation, cognition, and metabolic adaptation following CD, similar to those observed in fGHR-WT mice
AN ASSESSMENT OF WILD POLLINATOR POPULATIONS AND POLLINATION DEFICITS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS PUMPKIN FIELDS
No full textPumpkins (Cucurbita spp.) are a highly valued crop produced in all 50 states, with Illinois holding the top position for pumpkin acreage. Pumpkins depend on insect-mediated pollination services and rank among the most pollinator-dependent crops worldwide. If sufficient pollination by insects is not achieved, fruit production can decrease by 95% or more, resulting in significant crop loss. Bees are effective pollinators of pumpkins and are well-suited to transfer the pollen required for fruit set. Many pumpkin growers in southern Illinois rely entirely on wild bee populations to provide the pollination services required for commercial pumpkin production. Therefore, two field studies were conducted in 2023 and 2024 to assess wild bee population abundance and determine if pollination deficits are present in southern Illinois pumpkin fields. In the first study, five fields were evaluated for pollinator activity in pumpkin pistillate and staminate flowers between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Results from this study indicated that three bee species, squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa), bumblebees (Bombus spp.), and honeybees (Apis mellifera), are involved in providing pollination services in southern Illinois pumpkin fields. However, pollinator abundance and species composition differed by field location and surrounding landscape. Differences were detected (P≤ 0.05) in pollinator populations across locations and indicated that total pollinator visits differed between agronomic and horticultural landscapes in staminate flowers. In contrast, no differences were detected in pistillate flowers regarding pollinator composition and landscape type. In both pistillate and staminate flowers, bumblebees, honeybees, and squash bees provided the majority of visits, respectively. However, at both locations surrounded by a horticulturally diverse landscape, honeybee visitations were higher than bumblebee visits in pistillate flowers. In the second study, three field locations were evaluated for pollination deficits by comparing hand-pollinated and open-pollinated pumpkins for fruit and seed set and yield. Two fields were located at the Belleville Research Center (BRC), with ‘Kratos’ and ‘Magic Wand’ pumpkins assessed. The third field was in Fults, IL, at a grower location that contained ‘Magic Lantern’ pumpkins. Pollination deficits differed among field locations for percent fruit-set with only the ‘Kratos’ field at BRC not exhibiting a pollination deficit for percent fruit set. However, pumpkins were not pollen-limited for fruit or seed yield characteristics. The presence of a fruit-set pollination deficit in most of the fields evaluated indicates that, in some southern Illinois pumpkin fields, wild pollinators are not providing the required pollination services for fruit set
STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE BEHAVIOR OF HIGHLY PLASTIC CLAY STABILIZED WITH SODIUM ALGINATE
No full textHighly plastic clays often pose significant engineering challenges due to their low undrained shear strength, high compressibility, high shrink-swell behavior, and can cause differential settlement due to volume instability when exposed to moisture variations. Traditional stabilizing agents like cement and lime, though effective, generate substantial environmental impacts, motivating research into eco-friendly alternatives. This study investigates Sodium Alginate (SA), a sustainable biopolymer extracted from brown seaweed, as a potential soil stabilizer for highly plastic clayey soil. The primary goal was to evaluate the performance of SA-treated soil at varying concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0% by dry weight of soil) with different curing periods (7, 14, and 28 days) and check its effectiveness towards stabilization. Laboratory tests, including Atterberg limits, miniature Proctor compaction, Unconfined compressive strength (UCS), Resilient modulus (RM), Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were systematically conducted to assess index, mechanical, compaction, and microstructural properties of treated clayey soil samples. The results indicated notable improvements in soil characteristics with increased SA content and prolonged curing periods. Specifically, significant enhancements were observed in UCS, reaching optimal values at 1.0% SA after 28 days, with a 57.53% improvement in strength relative to untreated soil, indicative of improved soil strength. UPV measurements corroborated these mechanical strength enhancements, exhibiting increased velocities corresponding to enhanced strength. With the addition of 1.0% SA cured for 28 days the pulse velocity increases from 1493.91 m/s (untreated clay) to 1726.70 m/s. Similarly, the RM test demonstrated that SA treatment markedly enhanced soil elasticity and reduced its susceptibility to deformation under repetitive loading. At the optimum concentration of 0.5% SA and 7 days of curing, the RM values increased from 178.3 MPa, 226.0 MPa, and 279.0 MPa to 366.8 MPa, 439.6 MPa, and 507.7 MPa at confining pressures of 13.8, 27.6, and 41.4 kPa, respectively, corresponding to increases of approximately 106%, 94%, and 82%. This improvement is critical for pavement design applications. Microstructural analysis through SEM further elucidated the interactions between clay particles and SA, highlighting a denser and more cohesive structure due to polymer bridging and pore filling, increasing aggregation and flocculation. This enhancement aligns with observed improvements in mechanical properties. In conclusion, this study confirms Sodium Alginate as a promising sustainable alternative to conventional soil stabilizers, demonstrating significant improvements in soil strength, stiffness, and overall performance. The results of this study contribute valuable insights toward sustainable soil stabilization practices, underscoring both engineering benefits and environmental advantages of employing biopolymer-based stabilization methods
Beyond the Mozart Effect: How Musical Experience and Emotional Response Shape Individual Differences in Spatial Reasoning
No full textResearch on the Mozart effect (the short-term enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning after music listening) has yielded inconsistent results, often due to overlooking individual differences and using limited stimuli. This study examined multiple musical conditions (popular lyrical, classical, and white noise control) while considering the moderating roles of musical experience and the mediating influence of emotional responses. Undergraduate participants (N = 162) completed spatial reasoning assessments before and after an eight-minute listening session, alongside measures of musical background, listening habits, mood, and music-evoked emotions.Analyses revealed no overall difference in spatial reasoning improvement between music and white noise conditions. However, substantial individual variability emerged. Specific emotional responses—particularly feelings of peacefulness (positive) and nostalgia (negative)—significantly mediated performance changes following music listening. Surprisingly, years of musical training predicted improvement, in contrast to prior research suggesting a ceiling effect for musicians. In a novel finding, higher habitual listening correlated with relative declines in performance. An observed interaction further suggested that musicians improved unless they reported very high listening frequency, while non-musicians with frequent listening habits tended to decline. The presence of lyrics did not significantly alter these effects.These findings demonstrate that music\u27s short-term impact on spatial reasoning is not uniform, but shaped by the interplay of emotional response and musical experience (including listening habits). This supports an integrated perspective that acknowledges both an underlying shared neural substrate between pitch perception and spatial reasoning abilities, as well as the influence of mood and arousal, thereby moving the conversation beyond simplistic interpretations of the Mozart effect
Prediction of Geometric Deviation in Additively Manufactured TPMS Lattice Structures Using Non-Destructive Evaluation and Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks
No full textMetal 3D printing has emerged as a widely used additive manufacturing method, finding applications across numerous industries and research areas. However, its application is often hindered by geometric inaccuracies and surface quality issues resulting from the complex interplay of laser power, melt pool behavior, and cooling characteristics. These inconsistencies have a significant impact on the design and functionality of printed parts, affecting structural integrity and dimensional accuracy. Thus, an effective data-driven approach is crucial to predict these deviations before manufacturing. This study proposes a methodology that incorporates Non-destructive evaluation techniques, like in-situ monitoring and X-ray CT scan, with Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (cGANs) to predict the geometric deviations on nature-inspired TPMS lattice structures. Additionally, the study also explores strategies to improve the model\u27s accuracy and reliability, ensuring more precise predictions. Using the trained network, accurate images of printed layers are generated that show the regions of concern where the deviations are likely to occur. These predictions provide insight into the nature of deviations and allow for geometric compensation to minimize them prior to the printing process, improving the performance of printed parts in real-world applications