35967 research outputs found
Sort by
Humanized Mouse Model Reveals Distinct Immune Contributions to Cardiac Function and Fibrosis Post-Myocardial Infarction
No full textMyocardial infarction (MI) triggers a complex cascade of immune-mediated events that critically influence cardiac repair, fibrosis, and remodeling. Although murine models have significantly advanced our understanding of MI, fundamental differences between murine and human immune systems limit their relevance for studying human-specific immune responses in cardiac injury and repair. In this study, we utilized the NeoThy humanized NOG-EXL mouse model to characterize the response of human immune cells to post-MI cardiac inflammation and healing. Compared to immunodeficient non- humanized controls, humanized mice exhibited distinct patterns of immune cell infiltration, cytokine production, and functional cardiac outcomes. Histological analysis revealed the presence of human T cells and macrophages in the myocardium of humanized mice, even in the absence of injury. Following MI, these cells showed variable spatial distribution, indicating that their migration and retention are influenced by local microenvironmental cues. Cardiac function assessments demonstrated that non-humanized NOG-EXL mice exhibited a more pronounced acute response to myocardial infarction compared to their humanized counterparts. However, long-term functional outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups. Interestingly, histological analysis revealed an accelerated fibrotic response in humanized mice, which contrasted with their milder acute functional changes. Cytokine profiling further demonstrated species-specific immune responses. Humanized mice showed a biphasic elevation of human CX3CL1 and IL-13, cytokines associated with immune cell recruitment and reparative macrophage polarization, as well as sustained upregulation of human IL-12(p40) and IFN-γ, consistent with a prolonged Type 1 T helper cell inflammatory response. In contrast, mouse cytokines such as IL-6, KC (CXCL1), IL-4,
and TNF-α were dynamically regulated in response to injury, with TNF-α kinetics differing markedly between humanized and non-humanized groups. Notably, mouse IL-6 levels were robust and consistent across groups, reinforcing their value as a reliable marker of myocardial inflammation. Together, these findings demonstrate the complex interplay between human and mouse immune systems in shaping the cardiac response to MI. Our study highlights the value of humanized NOG-EXL mice as a translational model for investigating human-specific immune mechanisms involved in myocardial injury and repair. Here, we report that human immune cells modulate both inflammatory and reparative phases following MI in a temporally distinct manner
Geographic Analysis of Racial Disparities in Low Birth Weight in the United States
No full textLow birth weight (LBW) is a critical public health issue in the United States, disproportionately affecting Black infants and reflecting broader systemic inequities. This study employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS), spatial cluster analysis, and multilevel modeling to investigate the geographic and racial disparities in LBW rates across the continental United States. The findings reveal that LBW rates are highest in the Southeastern U.S., where socioeconomic disadvantages, lower educational attainment, and a higher percentage of Black residents merge to create persistent health disparities.The spatial analysis demonstrates strong clustering of LBW, with high rates significantly correlated with areas of racial segregation and economic inequality. Multilevel modeling further indicates that Black population percentage is a strong predictor of LBW at the county level, whereas education and median household income show weaker and often statistically insignificant effects. This suggests that structural racism and systemic healthcare inequities play a more decisive role in shaping birth outcomes than individual socioeconomic factors alone. These findings highlight the urgent need for policy interventions that address the root causes of racial health disparities. Expanding access to prenatal care, addressing healthcare discrimination, and investing in social and economic policies that support maternal health are essential steps in reducing LBW rates. By integrating spatial analysis with health equity research, this study highlights the importance of geographically informed policy solutions to improve birth outcomes for historically marginalized populations.2026-06-0
Building Stronger Lake Communities with Lakekit.net
No full textBuilding Stronger Lake Communities with Lakekit.ne
Mapping Urban Coyote Ecology in Los Angeles: Insights from Citizen Science and Human Mobility Data
No full textUnderstanding how urban coyotes (Canis latrans) respond to human activities is a critical challenge in urban ecology, especially in an era of rapid urbanization. As coyotes adapt to urban environments, the list of citizen reports on coyote occurrence together with their locations also becomes more frequent and diverse, offering new opportunities to study their behaviors on a larger scale for human-coyote interaction. This study investigates the spatial and temporal distributions of coyotes in Los Angeles County by integrating citizen science data from iNaturalist together with environmental, socioeconomic and human mobility datasets. We develop a species distribution model using Random Forest and Geographically Weighted Regression(GWR) to identify key ecological and anthropogenic drivers. Furthermore, we employ structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore how time-varying human visitor flows, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, influence urban coyote visibility across neighborhoods.
Our findings reveal that spatial patterns of coyote occurrence are strongly influenced by environmental and socioeconomic variables. The Random Forest and GWR models highlight that socioeconomic conditions such as poverty rate and population density are key predictors of the use of coyote habitat, with lower income and high density areas show- ing higher incidence. Furthermore, the spatial heterogeneity in the correlation between seasonal environmental factors and socioeconomic variables reflects the adaptive habitat selection strategies of coyotes at different times of the year. SEM further reveals that coyote observations increase significantly with human inflow in real time during and after the pandemic, while declining in response to sustained human absence. This suggests that coyote behavior is more shaped by short-term human mobility patterns than by long-term redistribution. Importantly, we demonstrate that citizen science data, while subject to reporting biases, correlate strongly with ecological suitability and human mobility pat- terns, offering a unique perspective on urban wildlife dynamics using spatial data science approaches
Correlation Between Social Emotional Development and Parental Level of Education
No full textSocial emotional development includes a child’s experiences, expression, and management of emotions and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others (Cohen et al, 2005). The core features of emotional development include the ability to identify and understands one’s own feelings, to accurately read and comprehend emotional states in others, to manage strong emotions and their expression in a constructive manner, to regulates one’s own behavior, to develop empathy for others and to establish and maintain relationships with others (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2004). This study looked at the social emotional scores of children evaluated using the DAYC2 and were found eligible for a local Birth to Three program. For a child to be eligible for Birth to 3 services they must demonstrate a 25% delay in any area of development or a standard score of 81 or less. I then looked at the scores of each child, in the area of social emotional development, to see if there is any correlation with their parent’s level of education
1860’s Illinois case imposing liability for treatment without consent
No full textThis is an early case in which a provider was found liable for for exceeding the scope of consent. However, he left town and later was declared bankrupt so little of the judgment was paid. Biographical notes on the provider and patient are added.In the1860's the Illinois courts imposed liability for treatment that exceeded the scope of consent
Relational Re-Rooting: A Phenomenological Case Study of Embodied Learning and Uplifting Indigenous Knowledge for the Eco-Literacy of Adult Learners
No full textFull Text DissertationWhat happens when the dualisms of human-nature and mind-body are problematized and Indigenous notions of kinship with nature and embodied learning are illuminated within adult education? A transdisciplinary, multimodal, place-based, and multisensorial curriculum titled ‘relational re-rooting’ was developed for this study to address the issues of the marginalization of the body and of Indigenous knowledge within educational systems, leading to low eco-literacy levels and a disconnect between humans and nature. This qualitative phenomenological case study used a framework of biosemiotics to explore the porous boundaries be-tween humans and nature, empowering embodied inquiry through relational communications that are fundamental to a more holistic understanding of eco-literacy as sense of place. Using the Indigenous concept of Etuaptmumk (Mi’kmaw for ‘Two-Eyed Seeing’) as a research method provided a way to perceive the strengths of Indigenous approaches from one eye and the strengths of Western approaches from the other eye, allowing for a more pluralistic and equitable perspective. From this plurality of knowledge, came both a subjective and collective understanding of participant perceptions and experiences that informed a storied narrative of sense of place. Data indicated participants’ awareness of self in nature also brought an awareness of self with nature and as nature, since being attentive to their own bodies brought that same attunement to the natural environments in which they were embedded. The results of this study indicate that the most universal experience of the curriculum was feeling a connection with nature. Relational re-rooting can be adapted to classroom, community, or organizational settings where relationship to place and Indigenous worldviews can be cultivated. Uplifting the more-than-human nature of research contributes to a pluralistic understanding of how knowledge is relational, embodied, and storied, and how combining eco-somatic learning alongside Indigenous notions of kinship can increase an eco-literate sense of place and deepen nature connectedness
Heat, Health, and Harm: The Impact of Extreme Temperatures on Suicide
No full textSenior Honors Thesis, Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison"Climate change poses well-established risks to physical health, but little is known
about its effects on mental health. I study the relationship between extreme tempera-
ture exposure during summer months and suicide risk in the United States from 1989 to
2019 using comprehensive county-level data on all deaths by suicide and high-resolution
satellite-based temperature measurements. I identify the causal effects of extreme heat
on suicide by relating year-over-year fluctuations in county-level summer monthly average
temperatures to fluctuations in suicide rates. I compare these effects across urban and
rural areas and various population subgroups. My results indicate that an increase of one
defined extreme heat day in a summer month leads to approximately 0.091 additional
suicide deaths per million residents for summer months, with effects concentrated among
men and working-age adults, demographic groups already characterized by elevated base-
line suicide risk. This paper provides large-scale empirical evidence that climate-related
extreme heat significantly elevates suicide risk, underscoring the urgent need for targeted
public health interventions to mitigate climate-induced mental health burdens.
Unmasking college life: The lived experiences of autistic college students attending four-year public universities
No full textThis phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of autistic college students enrolled at four-year public universities in the United States. While existing research on autistic students in higher education often emphasizes compliance-driven accommodations mandated by federal law, there remains a significant gap in literature that centers the firsthand perspectives and lived experiences of autistic students. Eight participants were recruited through social media platforms (Facebook and LinkedIn), outreach to disability services offices, and professional networks, representing universities from various regions of the United States. Each participant engaged in two to three phenomenological interviews, offering opportunities to reflect on their experiences and share how they currently navigate, or wish to navigate, campus life. Four major themes emerged from the data: (a) experiencing diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, and the journey to accommodations; (b) engaging with academics, campus life, and living environments; (c) navigating social, sensory, and emotional experiences; and (d) experiencing identity, joy, and autistic ways of being. The participants’ narratives were analyzed through the lenses of the traditional models of disability, critical disability theory, and the ableism framework. Findings offer higher education institutions insights into fostering more inclusive, affirming, and autism-informed campus environments