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Assessing association between PFAS exposure, social determinants of health, and risk outcomes in adolescents and adults in the United States
No full textPer- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aka forever chemicals, are known for their eco-persistence, resistance to degradation, and longer half-life. Emerging studies have linked PFAS exposure to various adverse health effects, including cancer, liver damage, immune system disruption, reproductive issues, and endocrine disruption. By evaluating PFAS blood serum concentrations (n=4,444) using complex logistic regression and the USEPA deterministic risk assessment framework, this research aimed at elucidating the role of social determinants on PFAS exposure and estimate potential health risks among adolescents and adults from drinking contaminated water. Males showed higher odds of detecting pefluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and branched PFOA than females. PFDA and 2-(N-Methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid (Me-PFOSA-AcOH) and Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA) detection in blood was significantly associated with adolescents (12-15 and 16-20 years) and adults (21-40 and 41–60 years). Adults aged 21-40 years had 33% lower odds of detecting PFNA in blood compared to adults aged 61 years and older. Detection of PFAS in blood was chemical-specific for Race/Ethnicity. Non-Hispanic Asians had significantly higher odds of blood PFDA (p=.007, OR=2.39) and PFUA (p<.001, OR=2.482) compared to Other Race; whereas Mexican Americans, Other Hispanics, and Non-Hispanic Asians had 32%, 44%, and 46% lower odds of blood Me-PFOSA-AcOH detection compared to Mixed or Other Race, respectively. Individuals with higher income-to-poverty ratios had significantly higher odds of blood Me-PFOSA-AcOH (p<.001, OR=1.705). Furthermore, estimated non-cancer risks based on drinking water PFAS concentrations were highest for PFHxS, PFNA, PFUA and PFOA across various age groups and exposure scenarios. Cancer risk for PFOA was highest in the high exposure scenario [12 to 15 age group: 4.0 x 10-6, 16 to 20 age group: 3.0 x 10-6, 21 to 40 age group: 3.0 x 10-6, 41 to 60 age group: 3.0 x 10-6, 61 years and older: 2.0 x 10-6] with younger individuals being more at risk than older adults. These findings support the hypotheses that social determinants (gender, age, race/ethnicity, and income) are associated with higher PFAS exposure and that adolescents may face a higher risk of adverse non-cancer health effects from PFAS in drinking water compared to adults. The findings of this study stress the importance of continued monitoring, additional regulatory action to safeguard public health, targeted public health interventions to limit exposure (particularly in younger populations), and call for further research to identify additional sources of exposure and reassess risk estimates
Causes and consequences of timing of ornamental plumage molt and courtship in captive ruff sandpipers (Calidris pugnax)
No full textRuff sandpipers (Calidris pugnax) are medium-sized Eurasian shorebirds extraordinary for their sexual dimorphism and lek breeding system. Ruffs possess a unique genetic polymorphism for male courtship behavior with three stable male morphs: Independents, Satellites, and Faeders. Independent males are identified by their darker ruff plumage, are dominant, and will defend their court on a lek. Satellite males have predominantly white ruff plumage and are tolerated on the courts of Independents and co-display alongside them on the lek. Faeders, the third male morph, are female mimics that do not display but are tolerated on courts and attempt to sneak
matings.
To document ruff molt progression in male ruff sandpipers, I noted the date that each male’s ruff and head tufts were fully grown and the date that each male’s ruff or head tufts began thinning, as applicable. Observations were made four days per week between April and June to identify the onset and duration (in days) of courtship behavior for each of the nine males. Our results will help us gain a deeper understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that trigger molt and courtship behaviors and lead to improved captive breeding programs for this species
ACCEPTING AND UNDERSTANDING OUR OWN DISCIPLINE DATA: PROFESSIONAL LEARNING WITH TEACHERS TO REIMAGINE KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND DISPOSITIONS TO ENHANCE CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE PRACTICES AND FOSTER STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS
No full textThis inquiry involved seven professional learning sessions with four middle school teachers focused on exploring and understanding their biases and the impact these biases have on classroom management practices. Participants examined and acknowledged the disproportionality in discipline data and explored how Implicit Biases, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Restorative Practices contribute to equitable discipline strategies. Two key findings emerged from coding participants’ written responses and conversations during the sessions: the significance of data ownership and the mindset shifts necessary to become effective change agents. By taking ownership of their discipline data, participants experienced mindset shifts, leading to adopting restorative practices. They reported improved student relationship and overall engagement due to these changes in mindset and practice. Effective leadership requires a dynamic skill set. A leader must understand the environment (structure, goals, mission, etc.), the people involved, and themselves. Trusting the process proved challenging, as it required letting go of control. Completing this study shifted my perspective on what constitutes meaningful and engaging professional learning
DECREASING STUDENT WITHDRAWAL RATES IN ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE COURSES
No full textThis study examines the internal and external factors influencing student withdrawal from online, asynchronous courses at Nash Community College, specifically focusing on equity-related barriers, self-regulation issues, technology accessibility, and instructor interactions. It underscores the importance of inclusive, student-centered support that emphasizes technological assistance, self-regulation, emotional resilience, and culturally responsive teaching. Central to the study is the development and testing of the RESILIENT student support module, which has the potential to alleviate both academic and nonacademic barriers for online students.
Guided by George Kuh's framework for student engagement, the study utilized a three-cycle action research process involving evaluation, intervention, and assessment. Findings show student satisfaction with course design, but persistent challenges with time management, addressing emotional issues, and social presence. The implementation of the RESILIENT module led to a 34.2% decrease in total withdrawals, highlighting the value of proactive, integrated support mechanisms. However, disaggregated results indicated unequal effects, revealing ongoing inequities among multi-racial female students and students in science courses. The implications suggest the need for ongoing, student-focused improvements. The study underscores the importance of evidence-based design principles in enhancing student persistence and institutional responsiveness in online learning
FINE SCALE MEASUREMENT OF URBAN SHADE PATTERNS FOR URBAN HEAT RESILIENCE
No full textUrban Heat Island (UHI) intensifies over time, mounting pressure on social, ecological and economic and infrastructural systems. The combined impact of rapid urbanization and climate change is expected to accelerate the UHI severity, causing immense threat to urban dwellers. Among the implemented solutions, shade has been widely recognized as a one of the most effective solutions. However, methodologies for accurately measuring shade in complex urban environments remain underexplored. This study introduces a novel approach of creating realistic 3D digital representation of buildings, trees and ground by utilizing LiDAR data and advanced modeling techniques for shade detection. The generated vertical and horizontal shade are quantified by subarea and analyzed different dimensions along an urban-to-suburban transect. Combined scenario generates highest amount of shade and follows the pattern of dominant factor, but averages when contributions are similar. Building shade predominates the built environments, occurring mostly on facades, while tree shade prevails in relatively rural landscape primarily on ground, exhibiting contrary pattern. Except Urban Core and Suburban, all transect zone have inconsequential roof shade. The sensitivity examination indicates that shade detection is steady till 5m, minor discrepancies (mostly below 10%) emerge at 10m. Beyond 10m, significant deviations is expected, particularly for ground and roof surfaces, with 30m resolution showing substantial inaccuracies. Roof shade in all scenarios and ground shade
in building scenario are the most volatile to resolution. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners, geospatial scientists, scholars and policymakers to optimize street level intervention for enhancing human thermal comfort and UHI mitigation strategies
Incentives for Tax Abuse by Micro-Captive Insurance Companies
No full textMicro-captives operating under Section 831(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, were originally designed to provide small and mid-sized businesses with an effective means of self-insurance while offering certain tax advantages. However, these entities have increasingly been exploited for tax avoidance rather than legitimate risk management. In response, the IRS has classified certain micro-captive transactions as abusive tax shelters, leading to heightened regulatory scrutiny and legal action. This thesis examines how micro-captive insurance companies have deviated from their intended function and how management has leveraged tax benefits in ways that undermine regulatory intent. Specifically, the research will explore the mechanics of captive insurance, the structures that enable tax avoidance, and the enforcement measures taken by the IRS and other regulatory bodies. The study will also incorporate insights from industry professionals to provide a balanced perspective on the issue
Prader-Willi Syndrome
No full textMy Signature Honors Project revolved around my younger sister and her rare genetic condition, Prader-Willi Syndrome. My purpose was to spread awareness of her disabilities and share information about her genetic condition
The Association Between Political Affiliation, Empathy, and Perceptions of Harmful Gender Stereotypes
No full textThis study examined the correlational ties between toxic masculinity, toxic femininity, empathy, and political affiliation among 115 undergraduates at the East Carolina University enrolled in the PSYC 1000 research participation pool. Participants completed the Toxic Masculinity Scale (TMS), the Feminine Ideology Scale (FIS), the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), and the Pew Research Centers Ideology Consistency Scale (PI). Analyses examined the relationship of political views with gender ideology and empathy. Overall, results revealed a strong positive correlation between TMS and conservative political ideology (r = -0.439, p < 0.001.), and revealed a strong negative correlation between FIS and political ideology (r = -0.300, p = 0.001). Unexpectedly, empathy and political affiliation had no correlation (r= -0.091, p = 0.333). This data suggested that extreme gender role ideology is strongly associated with political affiliation while empathy has no correlation to political affiliation and extreme gender ideolog
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS: A NORTH CAROLINA COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH P.W. MOORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
No full textCommunity schools foster an environment where teachers, parents, and students work together to strengthen student outcomes through community engagement. With the help of state-level funding, East Carolina University’s Rural Education Institute (REI) has partnered with Elizabeth City Pasquotank Public Schools (ECPPS) in rural Elizabeth City, North Carolina to implement the community school framework at P.W. Moore Elementary School. This study explores how the implementation of the community school framework influences family support for student learning. Findings from this study aim to provide insight into the role that community engagement plays in fostering an environment of academic success within rural educational settings
HTLV-1 bZIP FACTOR ACTIVATES MYOFERLIN EXPRESSION TO FACILITATE HTLV-1 INFECTION AND MIGRATION OF INFECTED T-CELLS
No full textHuman T-cell Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a complex retrovirus responsible for diseases such as Adult T-cell Leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The viral protein HBZ is consistently expressed in infected individuals and plays a crucial role in viral persistence and disease progression. This dissertation investigates the role of the cellular protein Myoferlin (MyoF) as a downstream effector of HBZ, focusing on its impact on HTLV-1 infection and the motile properties of infected T-cells.
The research first establishes that HBZ directly upregulates the transcription of the MYOF gene. Mechanistically, HBZ forms a complex with AP-1 family members (c-Jun and JunB) and recruits the coactivator p300/CBP to enhancer sites within the MYOF gene, thereby activating its expression. Consequently, MyoF expression is elevated in HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines and in CD4+ T-cells from HTLV-1 infected individuals, including those with ATL and HAM/TSP.
The study further demonstrates that this HBZ-induced MyoF expression enhances HTLV-1 infection efficiency. This pro-viral effect is linked to MyoF's role in modulating the post-translational fate of the HTLV-1 envelope (Env) protein. MyoF increases the intracellular abundance of mature Env (SU and TM subunits) by restricting its trafficking to lysosomes for degradation, thus augmenting the pool of functional Env for virion assembly. Additionally, MyoF was found to enhance general T-cell adhesion, which is important for the cell-to-cell contact required for efficient HTLV-1 transmission.
Beyond its role in viral infection, the dissertation reveals that MyoF is crucial for the pathogenic dissemination of HTLV-1-infected T-cells. Depletion of MyoF in infected T-cells significantly reduced their adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers, a key step in extravasation. Furthermore, MyoF knockdown impaired the migratory capacity and invasive potential of these cells through endothelial and basement membrane-like barriers. Mechanistically, MyoF influences the expression of genes involved in cell adhesion, migration, and cytoskeletal organization. Notably, MyoF depletion led to reduced expression of ITGA4 (encoding integrin α4), correlating with decreased adhesion to VCAM-1, and COTL1 (encoding an F-actin binding protein). Knockdown of COTL1 itself reduced migration and invasion, and both MyoF and COTL1 depletion resulted in decreased cellular F-actin intensity, highlighting the importance of MyoF in modulating cytoskeletal dynamics essential for cell motility.
In conclusion, this dissertation identifies a novel HBZ-MyoF molecular axis that is critical for both enhancing HTLV-1 infection efficiency and promoting the adhesion, migration, and invasion of infected T-cells. These findings significantly advance the understanding of how HTLV-1 manipulates host cell functions to drive its pathogenic lifecycle and associated diseases, highlighting this pathway as a potential therapeutic target