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Analysis of Ca(II) and Cd(II) Binding to the C-Domain of Human Cardiac Troponin C using Intrinsic Fluorescence Spectroscopy
No full textHeavy metal toxicity has been a health concern for many years; however, the
mechanisms that these metals use to impart their toxicity remain unclear. Cadmium (Cd), a toxic metal, has been discovered to mimic calcium (Ca), an essential metal, due to the similarity in ionic radii and charge. This research focuses on understanding the impact of cadmium binding to human cardiac troponin C, a cardiac muscle protein that binds calcium to promote heart muscle contraction. This protein contains an EF-hand motif, which the helix-loop-helix structure can characterize. It is composed of the N terminal domain (NTD), which contains two EF-hand motifs where only one binds a divalent calcium ion, Ca(II), and the C terminal domain (CTD), which contains two EF-hands, each binding a Ca(II) ion. The overarching goal of this project is to express and purify the CTD so that the interactions of Ca(II) and Cd(II) in this domain can be studied. To do this, the protein was optimized in pLysS cells with an N-terminus His-tag for easy purification. Through earlier research, the full-length protein was purified using a Phenyl Sepharose column and cleaved into the NTD and CTD at the TEV cleavage site between the two domains. This was then purified using a nickel column, binding to the His-tagged NTD and uncleaved full-length protein, further purifying and isolating the CTD. Once isolated, intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the interactions and mimicry of cadmium to the C terminal domain of calcium-binding human cardiac troponin C. Through further research, there may be a more fundamental understanding of how this mimicry may influence cardiovascular disease and cognitive development concerns
This Shelf Life Has Expired; A Movement Perspective on Physical Trauma
No full textIn this project, I navigated the way in which physical trauma, specifically sexual violence, impacts one’s psyche and new social norms. I will be investigating this idea through the victim’s perspective, diving into how stories are often misinterpreted and told without a full view of a larger situation. I find this topic to be prevalent in today’s day and time, and especially significant on college campuses. This topic is also one that is important to me on a personal level, and has altered the course of my life. After I experienced this physical trauma, I was left with many questions that have influenced my interest in this course of study. Physical trauma impacts the body and perception of one’s body, which directly intersects with the physicality of dance
EXPLORING THE LEADERSHIP ROUTES, BARRIERS, PRACTICES, AND LIVED EXPERIENCES OF NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCES BLACK ALUMNI LIBRARY LEADERS
No full textThis study examined the leadership development pathways of Black library leaders who graduated from North Carolina Central University's School of Library and Information Sciences. Employing a narrative inquiry qualitative research approach, this research aimed to uncover the dynamics influencing these leaders' success and persistence in the predominantly White domain of library and information science. By integrating Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and Critical Race Theory (CRT), the study explored individual career development and examined the structural and societal factors impacting these leaders. Key findings revealed the pivotal roles of mentoring, professional development, and professional involvement in navigating library leadership. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs of Black library leaders, offering valuable insights for librarians aspiring to leadership positions in libraries
Student Perspectives on Trauma-Informed Care
No full textAim: This project intended to explore the perspectives of nursing students on trauma-informed care for refugees from Ukraine 2 years into the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Background: Since in February 2022 approximately 6.7 million refugees from Ukraine have sought haven in host countries. War-affected refugees from Ukraine are likely to have experienced traumatic events and research supports a trauma-informed care practice.
Methods: A qualitative description study with a focus on quality improvement was conducted Fall 2024. Faculty sought to improve and expand nursing knowledge through a global health international virtual exchange course between ECU and a university in Poland. This study reports on the reflective writing of four ECU nursing students who met virtually with Polish nursing student partners. Reflective writings were transcribed, coded, and systematically analyzed. Themes were inductively derived.
Results: The themes identified were: Long-term effects of trauma; Benefits of trauma-informed care, and Lack of nursing competence in trauma-informed care practices. Students felt prepared in only two trauma-informed care practices: creating a safe environment and empowering via translation. The use of translators was problematic in both countries but more challenging in Poland due to population heterogeneity.
Discussion: Findings suggest that physical and emotional trauma among war-affected refugees should be given equal consideration. Trauma-informed care content should be assessed and expanded in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs to address war-affected refugees. Webinars in trauma-informed care practices could reach practicing clinicians.
Evaluating Object Detection Algorithms for Crowded Sperm Microscopy Videos
Get PDFTracking sperm cells in crowded microscopy videos is a critical yet challenging task in reproductive biology due to high cell density, occlusions, nonlinear motion, and imaging artifacts. This study systematically evaluates the performance of three object detection algorithms— TrackPy, OpenCV, and StarDist—using unlabeled and labeled metrics. Sperm attributes were extracted from high-density phase-contrast microscopy videos using these algorithms, and unlabeled metrics (average number of sperms per frame and average frames per sperm) were computed. The algorithm outputs were also benchmarked against hand labeled ground truth data using evaluation (labeled) metrics - DET, TRA, TF, MOTA, HOTA, and IDF1. TrackPy consistently outperformed the other methods across all metrics, demonstrating robust detection and reliable temporal tracking. The findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate algorithms for dense biological data and support the use of physics-based tracking approaches in clinical and research applications. Future work will explore algorithm adaptation and broader validation using public datasets
Understanding College Student Stress: Conceptualizations and Health Outcomes
Get PDFThis poster was presented at ECU's 2025 Research and Creative Achievement Week. This project was funded by the Department of Psychology at ECU and the Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award (URCA) granted to Kaylee Meer.The aim of this study is to identify which stress conceptualizations (e.g., cumulative, early life, past month; exposure; magnitude; chronic; acute; frequency; specific domains) are most strongly associated with mental and physical health outcomes, providing insights for interventions to improve student well-being
Police Rhetorics and Rhetorical Self-Awareness, and Their Contributions to Cultural Contexts of Policing in the Higher Education Campus Setting
Get PDFIt is widely accepted that the notion of occupational cultures exists in various forms. Arguably, highly organized professions and workplaces are some of the most encultured spaces in terms of contextual occupational cultures. Not least among them is the policing profession. Inclusive to notions of occupational culture is the idea that occupational culture exists in a manner that is driven by discourses, contexts, understandings, and meanings that are relevant to those who occupy those occupational spaces. The purpose of this qualitative study, backgrounded by a cultural rhetorics lens, is to explore and articulate the notion of “police rhetorics” as a particularized discourse practice amongst police officers and police agencies. This study also seeks to determine police officer rhetorical self-awareness levels and conclude contributory factors of police rhetorics and rhetorical self-awareness to the contextual understanding of policing in the higher education setting. Because campus policing is relatively understudied this study focuses on campus police officers currently employed in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System, of which there are 17 separate institutions, and more than 450 police officers employed. The study consists of one-on-one interviews with currently employed campus police officers of varying years of experience and varying levels of leadership roles.
The results largely indicate a high level of recognition amongst the officers of police as well as a high level of rhetorical self-awareness. The results also indicate a general high-level understanding of how their rhetorical positionality impacts the cultural contextual understanding of the police role on a campus of higher education. Takeaways from the study include discussion and conclusions made about police officers’ roles and recognition of their rhetorical discursive practices, and self-recognition of the impacts of their roles in how policing is contextualized in a campus community’s cultural perspectives. Cultural perspectives and understanding are impacted by police interactions, behaviors, and discourse, and influences how policing is understood in that community. Conversely, cultural contexts of policing inform police interactions, behaviors, and discourse. The resulting exchange of perception and rhetorical impacts is supported by cultural rhetorics application in that cultural rhetorics recognizes that rhetoric is culture and culture is rhetoric
Staying on the Team: Public Health Nurse Retention and Mentorship
Get PDFResearch Problem and Objectives
The well-being of the public health nurse workforce is in jeopardy due to national funding, demographic trends and workplace factors. Public health nurse attrition negatively affects public health agencies and the communities they serve. This study investigated what relationships five aspects of mentorship may have with the retention intentions of public health nurses.
Methods
Independent variables of mentor structure (formal vs. informal), mentor network type, racial concordance with mentors, supervisors as mentors and being a mentor were studied to determine any relationship they had with the outcome variable of public health nurse retention. The five quantitative research questions and other data were analyzed using Fisher’s Exact Test and logistic regression modeling. A cross-sectional sample of 526 current and former public health nurses were surveyed in the summer of 2024 regarding their mentorship and supervisor experiences, and retention intentions or reasons for leaving. Limited qualitative data was coded into themes and sub-themes.
Key Findings
In the study, 17.2% of current PHNs planned to leave their employer in the subsequent twelve months. The top reasons public health nurses for leaving voluntarily included burnout, leadership concerns and low pay. Public health nurses who had a mentor-like supervisor had higher retention intentions (88%) than public health nurses without a mentor-like supervisor (67%) (odds ratio = 3.1; adjusted p-value = 0.002). Millennial public health nurses had the highest leave intentions of any generation at 43% compared to GenX and Baby Boomer public health nurses at a rate of 16% (odds ratio = 3.85; unadjusted p-value = 0.0004). Formal mentorship showed some promise for public health nurse retention while being a mentor indicated a possible attrition risk.
Conclusion
Mentor-like supervision and formal mentorship programs may be good strategies for public health agencies to cultivate to improve public health nurse retention. An elevated leave intention rate of Millennial public health nurses suggests that public health agencies have work to do to satisfy this group of nurses. While mentoring programs can be beneficial for public health nurse mentees, being a mentor may have attrition risks that warrant strategic planning by public health leaders. Finally, retired and former public health nurses are underexplored workforce groups that may be open re-recruitment with the right position opportunities
When Life Gives You Herpes: An Exploration of How Herpes Simplex Stigma on Social Media Impacts Patients and Their Relationships With Providers
Get PDFHerpes simplex virus (HSV) is a prevalent and chronic sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is heavily stigmatized, rendering discussion of STIs between clinicians, patients, and sexual partners, more difficult. How an STI like HSV is discussed on social media sites, which have grown in prevalence and popularity, exemplifies societal beliefs related to STI stigma. The purpose of this study is to explore the intersection of HSV stigma, social media, and the patient-provider relationship. Specifically, the goal is to understand how HSV related social media content is interpreted in the context of stigma, whether interpretations differ depending on contextual factors (i.e. demographics, experiences with STIs, sexual education), and to understand the lived experiences of stigma and social media for those living as HSV positive
Work from Afar, Self-Regulate from Within: The Role of Work Regulatory Focus in Managing Remote Job Demands and Resources.
Get PDFDespite the widespread use of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory to explain burnout and work engagement, it does not fully account for variations in employees’ motivational strategies and self-regulation. To address this gap, and through a Regulatory Focus Theory (RFT) lens, the present dissertation examines the moderating role of work regulatory focus in the relationships between job demands and burnout, as well as job resources and work engagement. Given that regulatory focus can be both a stable trait and contextually influenced by workplace conditions (Higgins, 1997; Neubert et al., 2008), this study further explores how remote work rate interacts with work regulatory focus to shape these relationships. As prior research on regulatory focus within the JD-R framework remains limited (Brenninkmeijer et al., 2010), understanding its role in remote work settings is particularly crucial as organizations continue adapting to evolving work environments (Ewers & Kangmennaang, 2023; Goni-Legaz et al., 2024).
Findings for three-way interactions between remote work rate and work regulatory foci indicate that higher remote work rate and prevention focus weaken the positive job demands-burnout relationship. In contrast, work promotion focus did not exhibit significant moderation effects. From a practical standpoint, the current disssertation underscores the practical implications of adopting a prevention-focused approach in remote work settings, demonstrating that emphasizing avoidance motivation, such as preventing errors and managing threats, can potentially mitigate job demands' adverse effects on burnout. Ultimately, this study advances theoretical understanding of both JD-R and RFT, and provides actionable recommendations for designing sustainable remote work environments