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Mad Women: Grief, Familial Trauma, and Female Rage in Folk Horror
No full textThe film distribution company A24 has produced and distributed several unique films within the folk horror genre. The Witch (2016, dir. Robert Eggers), Midsommar (2019, dir. Ari Aster), and Hereditary (2018, dir. Ari Aster) are examples of contemporary folk horror films that utilize familial trauma as a precursor to the female protagonist’s descent to madness. The elements of folk horror amplify the feelings of isolation and loss of reality, which appear during extreme reactions to grief and trauma. Each protagonist is the eldest or sole daughter within the family structures, extending extra expectations within these roles. These expectations contribute to each protagonist’s descent into madness as they are given to others relentlessly with nothing in return. The element of social cohesion serves to direct the actions of those most vulnerable, specifically vulnerability caused by grief, which creates a loss of familiarity and shattered reality. Examining these protagonists within these three folk horror films exemplifies the harmful nature of expectation and how it draws women into madness. Madness is not simply anger but a culmination of emotions that lead to a drastic loss of self. This thesis serves to use gender theory, trauma theory, and formal analysis of the films to demonstrate the self-destructive burden of keeping a family together during a crisis
The Effects and Mechanisms of Lactate and Protons on the Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial (HUVEC) and Murine Melanoma (B16F10) Cells’ Migration, Adhesion, and Attachment.
No full textThe tumor microenvironment is often acidic due to the high metabolic activity of cancer cells, causing the production of excess lactic acid. This elevated acidity significantly impacts the behavior of both normal and cancer cells, including cell migration, attachment, and cell spreading. Under acidic conditions, normal and cancer cells experience delayed migration, attachment, and spreading. In this study, by using cancer cells (B16F10) and endothelial cell (HUVEC) models, it was observed that increased acidity reduced the collective and directional migration compared to treatment at physiological pH, resulting in slower wound closure . A further reduction in collective and directional migration occurred under the combined effect of acidity and elevated lactate concentrations. Furthermore, increased lactate concentrations at the physiological pH (pH 7.4) resulted in a similar reduction in cell migration. Interestingly, increasing the acidity caused opposite cellular responses in both models used in this project regarding random motility. The elevated levels of acidosis caused a significant increase in the random motility of B16F10 cells, marked by the uncoordinated movements of the migrating cells, which is the opposite of what was observed in HUVECs, where acidosis reduced random motility. Moreover, the random motility decreased in both cell models under the combined effect of the elevated acidity levels and lactate concentrations relative to the treatment with acidity alone.
Furthermore, B16F10 and HUVEC cells adapted a higher polarization and elongated cell morphology (shape) in an acidic microenvironment due to difficulty in tail detachment. The same phenomenon was observed in the cells treated with lactate at a physiological pH. However, in both cell models, the combined effect of acidity and lactate had an insignificant impact on cell length compared to acidic treatment only. Moreover, HUVECs formed multiple leading edges of "Lamellipodia" when exposed to an acidic buffer, while the melanoma cells did not exhibit this trait. Also, the percentage of HUVECs with multiple leading edges decreased under the combined influence of lactate and acidity, aligning closer to the levels seen with physiological pH.
The interconnection between cell attachment, spreading, and cell migration was intensively studied. Cell attachment and spreading are the main primary stages in cell migration. They establish the initial contact and provide a correct mechanical force initiation and cellular signaling for the cell to migrate. In both cell models, the attachment and spreading delay was observed in acidic microenvironment, whereas the addition of lactate to the acidic treatment reversed these effects by reducing the negative impact of acidity in this assay. In this assay context, it was observed in both cell models that acidity blocked the transition of spreading cells to the polarized phase, and the combination effect of acidity and lactate reduced this transition blocking.
Actin fibers play a crucial role in cell migration by providing structural support, enabling force generation, and coordinating signaling pathways. In both cell models, significantly high actin stress fibers were observed in an acidic microenvironment compared to physiological microenvironment. A similar situation was observed in HUVEC treated with high levels of lactate at physiological microenvironment, but not in B16F10 cells. The combined effect of lactate and acidity has an impact on reducing actin stress fibers in HUVECs, but this effect was not observed in the transformed cells.
Changes in the location of focal adhesions and phosphorylation levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylated paxillin (pPAX) may significantly impact cell migration, attachment, and spreading. The acidic microenvironment caused alteration in the location and cluster size of phosphorylated pPAX (pPAX, Y118) and phosphorylated FAK (pFAK, Y397) during migration, attachment, and spreading in both cell models, displaying localization to the spreading cell periphery instead of the spreading cell body where dynamic focal adhesions are located compared to physiological pH-treated cells. Acidic treatment combined with lactate reduced the cluster size of pPAX (Y118) and pFAK (Y397) alongside alteration in their localization compared to acidic treatment without lactate. An additional measure was taken to evaluate the effects of acidic treatments on the phosphorylation levels of paxillin and focal adhesion kinase. The acidic microenvironment caused a decrease in FAK and PAX phosphorylation levels in both cell models and enhancement upon the addition of lactate to the acidic buffer in HUVEC but not the transformed cells
EXAMINING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND SOUTH ASIAN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
No full textThis study aimed to understand the lived experiences of African American and Asian Indian parents of children with disabilities in North Carolina. Using qualitative research, interviews were conducted online via Zoom to understand their experiences taking care of their children with disabilities. Parents had to be either African American or Asian Indian living in North Carolina with a child between the ages of 5-8 with a diagnosed disability to participate in the study. All participants were African American parents from eight North Carolina counties. Eight participants were female, and four were male. Their ages ranged between 25-33 years. The data were analyzed using content analysis, which revealed four major themes with subthemes.
The four themes were (1) Lived Experiences as an African American Parent, (2) The Frustrations of Barriers, and (3) Much Needed Familial and Systematic Support. Implications and directions for future research are provided at the end
Examining Southwest Airline's Paradoxical Communicative Response to the December 2022-2023 Crisis
No full textThis study examines the crisis through the lens of Rhetorical Arena Theory to understand how Southwest’s paradoxical messaging and limited engagement in stakeholder dialogue worsened the situation. The research focuses on communications from December 21, 2022, to January 3, 2023, analyzing Southwest’s social media activity, stakeholder responses, and corporate statements. I found that there was a direct shift in the messaging as Southwest attempted to align themselves with the weather crisis. Through the investigation of platforms such as Twitter and the Southwest Community forum, conversations between publics made stakeholder frustrations clear. The lack of trust studied in this crisis were able to be directly tracked through conversations across arenas. My analysis focused on connecting the ideas of Rhetorical Arena Theory with the ideas of paradoxical messaging in order to understand the lasting impact that crisis has on the stakeholder
The Resonance and Articulation of the Roman Moral Imagination in the Historical Thought of Sallust and Plutarch
No full textWithin the Roman historical imagination from Polybius forward a “lapsarian motif” emerges that embodies the fundamental concerns of the Roman moral tradition. Even as it is transposed to different keys and arranged differently in successive authors, the melody remains discernible. For these historians, including Polybius, Sallust, and Livy, the original Roman virtus had become corrupted through a succession of foreign wars, leading to a society morally enervated by a multitude of vices. In contrast to the interpretation of modern historians who attribute the crises of the late Roman Republic to economic and social factors, the ancient historians consistently attribute the problems to a crisis of morality. Drawing on the idea of the longue durée from the Annales school of history, this thesis examines the moral thought of the Roman historical tradition often dismissed by modern historiography. In the process, it argues for a continuity of moral concern in Roman historical thought from Cato the Censor onward, seeking to understand the evolution of the moral tradition expounded by historians of the late Republic, such as Sallust, and assess its continuity with the ethical and historical reflection of the Principate and High Empire periods through the writings of Plutarch
Associations of human papillomavirus infection (HPV) with cardiovascular health (CVH): Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
No full textPurpose: Evidence has shown a possible association between human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). These longitudinal studies, however, are limited to women in South Korea. It is unclear if adults with HPV have worse cardiovascular health (CVH) that may put them at risk of CVD. We examined the associations between HPV infection and poor CVH among the 2016-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), an US-based survey of Americans.
Methods: During NHANES, adults aged 18-59 years old gave a genital or oral biospecimen that was genotyped for HPV. We included 2,151 participants with an oral sample and 1,655 with a genital sample. CVH was measured using the American Heart Association’s Life Essential 8 (LE8). This metric includes health factors associated with CVH, including diet, physical activity, nicotine use, sleep, body mass index (BMI), blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure. A CVH score was calculated using the mean across the 8 items and ranged from 0-100. CVH scores <50 were classified as poor CVH. We examined the association between HPV infection and poor CVH with frequencies, means, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). We used complex survey weights to account for the NHANES study design.
Results: Among participants with an oral sample, the average age was 44 years, 51% were female, 65.8% were non-Hispanic white, and 31.8% had at least a college education. Demographics were similar among participants in the genital sample. The prevalence of HPV was 6.3% and 40.1% in the oral and genital samples, respectively. The average LE8 score was 65.4 and 66.2 in the oral and genital samples, respectively. Participants who tested positive for HPV had lower LE8 scores than those without HPV. Among the oral sample, those with HPV had an average score of 61.7 (95% CI 58.4, 65.1) compared to 65.8 among those without HPV. Among the genital sample, those with HPV had an average of 62.4 (95% CI 59.6, 65.1) compared to 68.8 for those without HPV. For each LE8 component, the average was similar for those with and without HPV except for smoking. Participants with HPV had an average smoking score of 42.5 compared to 60.4 for those without HPV among the oral sample. Among the genital sample, those with HPV had an average smoking score of 46.5 compared to 65.2. Among the oral site, participants with HPV had 1.38 (95% CI 0.68, 2.81) times the odds of poor CVH compared to those without HPV. Among the genital site, participants with HPV had 2.06 (95% CI 1.45, 2.88) times the odds of poor CVH compared to those without HPV.
Conclusions: Participants with HPV had worse CVH than those without HPV, with the association stronger among participants in the genital sample. The poor CVH among those with HPV may be due to differences in smoking behavior
Structural Analysis of the Prostamide 15d-PMJ2 by Computational Studies
No full textProstaglandins are biologically active molecules with diverse physiological functions. Derivatives such as 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) have demonstrated potent anticancer activity. Synthesis of 15d-PGJ2 typically results in a mixture of E and Z isomers. However, experiments consistently observe a strong preference for the E isomer, which has been associated with biological activity in some systems (Li et.al.,2018). This study employed Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations using Gaussian and GaussView to investigate the origin of this stereoselectivity. Two basis sets, B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and cc-PVTZ, were used to balance computational efficiency and accuracy. Geometry optimizations, frequency analyses, and coordinate scans were performed to evaluate stability and reaction pathways.
Results showed negligible thermodynamic energy differences between the isomers. However, spontaneous conversion of the Z isomer to the E isomer during optimization highlighted kinetic control. Coordinate scans indicated shallow energy barriers and identified multiple local minima, confirming accessible isomerization pathways. The hydroxyl group positioning significantly impacted stability, emphasizing the role of internal steric effects. Future work will refine transition state location and apply experimental techniques like qNMR and Mass Spectrometry to further validate these computational findings
Nursing Retention Strategies in the Acute Care Setting
No full textThe ongoing nursing shortage presents a critical challenge to healthcare systems globally. The aim of this study was to identify the retention strategies discussed in literature that had the greatest impact on nursing retention. Increased patient loads, occupational stress, and burnout contribute to nurse retention, further exacerbating staffing shortages and financial costs. This integrative literature review examines the primary factors influencing nursing turnover and identifies effective retention strategies to mitigate this issue. Key determinants of turnover include lack of organizational support, compassion fatigue, and inadequate onboarding. The review identifies four key strategies for mitigating turnover intention among nurses: preceptorship and mentorship programs, adjustments in leadership styles, enhanced organizational support, and the promotion of professional networking and social support. Each of these approaches plays a vital role in improving nurse retention by fostering job satisfaction, reducing compassion fatigue, and cultivating a supportive work environment. Organizational healthcare leaders can use this information to combat the issue of nursing retention
The Effects of the Proton-Sensing G-Protein Coupled Receptors GPR4 and GPR68 on B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Growth and Responses to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.
No full textThis research delves into the study of proton-sensing G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) GPR4 and GPR68 and their relation to the modulation of the tumor microenvironment in metastatic melanoma. Melanoma especially at a higher stage often are harder to treat and have a greater likelihood of recurrence. The main treatment for early-stage melanomas is surgery. Though due to melanomas being an immunogenic tumor, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and other forms of immunotherapies have been approved for use in treatment of this disease. However, with ICI treatments they are not as effective as they could be, and some patients are removed from treatment due to immune related adverse events (IRAEs). Our aims were three-fold in terms of these GPCRs and tumor treatment.
First, we aimed to assess how the absence of these GPCRs in a host body would affect tumor growth and modulate the tumor microenvironment. GPR4 and GPR68 are linked to both inflammatory diseases and cancer, and have been shown to reduce tumor growth when inhibited or knocked-out in a host. With GPR4 it plays a key role in the expression of several key adhesion molecules and chemokines on vascular endothelial cells which are key for immune cell migration and infiltration into the tumor and other tissues. GPR4 is also linked to the promotion of angiogenesis. GPR68 plays a role in immune cell suppression. So when there is a lack of these receptors in the host the B16F10 melanoma lacks key communication targets to stimulate pro-tumoral responses. We observed a significant reduction in tumor growth in the GPR4 KO/GPR68 KO mice alongside a significance both in an increase in CD8+ T-Lymphocyte infiltration into the TME and a reduction in blood vessels in the TME.
Next with the ICI treatments we investigated how the tumor growth and IRAEs were affected in the GPR4 knock-out (KO) mice when treated with ICI therapy as compared to wild-type (WT) mice. There was no significant reduction in the efficacy of the ICI treatment on inhibiting tumor growth in the GPR4 KO mice as compared to WT mice. In the GPR4 KO mice there was a reduction in immune cell infiltration into the normal tissues of the mice. Based on these findings, though more work still needs to be done, we can see that there are many possibilities for future antagonists targeting both GPR4 and GPR68, alongside also GPR4 antagonists when paired with ICI treatment
Facilitators and Barriers to Treatment and Harm Reduction Services for Perinatal Persons with Opioid Use Disorder in North Carolina
No full textBackground: Opioids are effective for pain relief but pose risks of dependence, addiction, withdrawal, and overdose. Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) during the perinatal period, defined as pregnancy through the first year after birth, can lead to significant health risks for both perinatal persons and neonates, including neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Treatment options like methadone and buprenorphine and harm reduction measures such as syringe service programs and Narcan distribution aid those with OUD. They can improve maternal and neonatal health, but stigma and legal fears deter many from seeking help. Addressing barriers and improving access to treatment and harm reduction measures can enhance outcomes for perinatal individuals with OUD.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify treatment and harm reduction facilitators and barriers for perinatal persons with OUD in North Carolina.
Methods: This qualitative descriptive study utilized secondary data collected in the parent study titled “Exploring Facilitators and Barriers to Harm Reduction Services in North Carolina with An Emphasis on Rural, Historically Marginalized Communities, and Pregnant or Parenting People.” Thematic analysis was used to analyze six (n=6) in-depth interviews with healthcare workers and OUD program staff in North Carolina.
Results: Analysis found facilitators to treatment and harm reduction included organizational resources, cross-sector collaborations, transportation, and building rapport with clients. Conversely, barriers to treatment and harm reduction services included lack of funding, restrictions with funds and services, and stigma and fear. Additionally, a notable finding was the lack of involvement by perinatal persons in these programs, likely due to the stigma surrounding perinatal substance use disorder (SUD) and the limited availability of perinatal-specific resources.
Discussion: This research identified several facilitators and actionable barriers to treatment and harm reduction for people who use substances in North Carolina. However, a primary finding was that few services are being provided to perinatal persons and their neonates. This research highlights the complexity of providing treatment and harm reduction services for the perinatal population and the need to develop interventions to increase treatment specifically for this population