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An Update to Expression and Purification of Cryptochrome IV from Bacterial Cultures
No full textThe navigational abilities of birds have been observed throughout history, yet the ability of living organisms, including migratory birds, possessing the ability to detect the Earth’s magnetic field has only been largely discussed and researched in the past 60 years. Evidence has supported the conclusion that migratory birds can detect the Earth’s magnetic field, and its direction, but the exact mechanism is yet to be agreed upon by scientists. One of the theories regarding the magnetoreception in avian species that correlates with the detection of the Earth’s magnetic field
is The Radical Pair Model involving cryptochrome (CRY) protein and light-dependent photoreduction.
In CRY4 (magnetic-sensing cryptochrome), blue light is absorbed by a bound flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) chromophore, generating a radical spin pair (quantum mechanical) between FAD and tryptophan (W).3,4 The Radical Pair Model introduces a dipole moment between the two charged radicals (i.e., magnet) that will be sensitive to the magnetic field. The propagation of the radicals along a W chain is expected to promote a conformational change in the protein to induce signaling.
The aim of this research is to further investigate the radical pair mechanism in CRY4 and its work in conjunction to promote the upregulation of photoreduction necessary for migratory birds to sense directional changes in the Earth’s magnetic field. Further, it can help shed light onto how Biology has adapted to use quantum mechanical phenomena for function
The Isolation and Characterization of Microbes from a Serpentinizing Environment
No full textAn ancient geochemical process known as serpentinization is an environment that contains unique microbial communities and metabolisms. Serpentinization is a reaction between water and ferromagnesian minerals leading to the generation of serpentine minerals and products such as hydrogen, formate, acetate, and methane. The long history of this process along with its ability to produce sustainable energy makes serpentinization a strong candidate as a contributor to the emergence of life. While this process supplies necessary assets needed for microbial life, this process also creates extreme conditions that make life challenging for microorganisms. Serpentinizing environments present challenges such as high pH (>9), lack of inorganic carbon, and reducing conditions (low redox potential). These challenges existing in serpentinizing environments could be a major factor for metabolic influence on the evolution of microbes.
Serpentinization is a widespread event occurring in a number of locations across the globe. Interestingly, recent studies using imaging technology reveal that this very exact process may in fact also occur on Mars. Many sites of serpentinization are relatively similar in their geochemical composition. However, among distinct locations, components involved and produced during serpentinization tend to vary in flux and quantity. This has been shown to have an effect on the microbial diversity and microbial abundance seen at varying sites.
In this study microbes were cultivated and isolated from rock core samples extracted from the Coastal Range Ophiolite Microbial Observatory (CROMO). A genomic DNA extraction was performed to identify isolates using 16s rRNA sequencing. Metabolic and physiological assays were conducted to understand microbial response to specific environmental pressures as well as potential metabolic pathways utilized. This investigation allowed us to discover the metabolic potential of microbes representative of a serpentinizing environment. As a result, this will allow us to make more accurate projections and notions about microbial communities inhabiting serpentinizing locations and the types of metabolisms needed to navigate this type of environment
Association of Skeletal Muscle Fiber Type Distribution with Lactate Metabolism and Metabolic Health
No full textABSTRACT Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is classified as a combination of risk factors of metabolic origins and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Treatment of MetS is expensive and a simple and effective measure is needed for early detection and possible prevention. Blood lactate concentrations can be measured as lactate influences metabolic regulation inside and outside the cell. Higher levels of fasting blood lactate have been shown in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Skeletal muscle plays a major role in metabolic homeostasis and the production of lactate, and this is mediated by specialized muscle fibers. Skeletal muscle fiber type determines substrate use and possible metabolic health. Several studies have shown a link between a lower percentage of type I fibers and obesity and type 2 diabetes. Studies have also shown that a higher percentage of type I fibers can be associated with a healthier cardiometabolic phenotype. Purpose: Observe how muscle fiber type distribution relates to blood lactate levels and other factors of metabolic syndrome. Methods: Overweight subjects (n=32) were screened for any pre-existing conditions. Anthropometric and blood metabolite measures were taken for each subject. During one of three visits a muscle biopsy was performed, the muscle was then placed in O.C.T and frozen. Muscle tissue was then sectioned, and fiber type protocol was followed to determine fiber-type distribution. After fluorescent imaging, each image was manually quantified. Results: There was a significant correlation between a higher percentage of type II fibers and higher lactate levels (r=0.43, p=0.02) There was a significant correlation between higher HDL levels and a higher percentage of type I fibers (r=0.42, p=0.02). Higher levels of triglycerides also showed a significant correlation with a higher percentage of type II fibers (r=0.36, p=0.02). Higher HOMA-IR levels have a significant relationship with a higher percentage of type II fibers (r=0.53 p=0.002). Although the correlation of systolic blood pressure to type I (r=-0.24, p=0.2) or type II fibers (r=0.23, p=0.2) showed no significance, higher diastolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with a higher percentage of type II fibers (r=0.39 p=0.03). A higher Android/Gynoid ratio was significantly correlated with a higher percentage of type II fibers (r=0.49, p=0.01). Higher VAT mass (g) was also significantly correlated with a higher percentage of type II fibers (r=0.56, p=0.001). The percentage of body fat did not show any significance in relation to type I (r=-0.13, p=0.49) or type II fibers (r=0.11, p=0.54). VO2max also showed no significance in relation to type I (r=0.32, p=0.08) or type II (r=-0.32, p=0.08) fibers respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study show that there is a significant association between fiber type distribution and lactate levels and other factors of metabolic syndrome. Future studies should explore metabolic enzymatic activity for different skeletal muscle compositions (fiber type distribution) and how it relates to the factors of the metabolic syndrome
The Perception of Security Operations Analysts and Engineers on Integration of AI into Security Operation Centers
No full textThis thesis explores the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration within Security Operations Centers (SOCs), focusing on the perceptions, experiences, and challenges faced by SOC analysts, engineers, and managers. The study employs a descriptive quantitative research design, utilizing surveys to gather primary data from professionals across various roles within SOCs in the USA. The research aims to uncover how AI technologies influence SOC operations, including changes in roles, responsibilities, and the overall effectiveness of SOCs in threat detection and response. This research contributes to the understanding of AI's integration in cybersecurity, offering valuable insights for SOC administrators, cybersecurity professionals, and researchers. It lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at enhancing AI's effectiveness in SOC operations and navigating the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats and defenses
Search Strategy for a scoping literature review of mobile apps for healthy food purchasing maintenance
No full textThis is the PubMed search strategy for a scoping review of mobile apps for healthy food purchasin
Relational Biofeedback: Exploring the Role of Social Support in the Practice of Biofeedback
No full textBiofeedback is a health intervention that trains people to exert control over physiological processes through real-time monitoring and feedback mechanisms (Schwartz et al., 2016). The practice promotes self-regulation and can be used to improve physical and mental health (Tan et al., 2016). However, biofeedback interventions are often conducted individually and practitioners rarely utilize the patient's social network to assist in the development of self-regulation skills (Frank et al., 2010; Schwartz et al., 2016). This is a notable omission since research has established that social systems impact patients' psychophysiology (Kleinbub, 2017). Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to explore how social support persons can be utilized in biofeedback. This concept, which the authors refer to as relational biofeedback, is an underdeveloped, but promising future direction in biofeedback. The dissertation is comprised of six chapters: (a) an introduction to the dissertation, (b) a literature review on the practice and psychophysiological underpinnings of relational biofeedback, with a special emphasis on heart rate variability biofeedback, (c) a systematic review of the literature to identify attempts to use relational biofeedback interventions to date, (d) proposed methodology for an original research study, (e) the results of the mixed-methods research study comparing individual to relational approaches to heart rate variability biofeedback with romantic partners (N = 12), and (f) a series of recommendations for clinicians and researchers, with an focus on the role medical family therapists can play in the advocacy and advancement of relational biofeedback
Association Between the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System, Big-5, and Sleep in a College Student Sample: The Moderating Role of Neuroticism
No full textCollege students are a unique population due to the challenging transition into the independence of adulthood, as well as the increase in academic rigor and social expectations. As a result, health behaviors such as getting enough sleep can often fall to the wayside and, as such, sleep complaints are highly prevalent in college students. There are a variety of reasons for college students to experience sleep problems or choose to forgo sleep, and there is evidence to suggest that personality characteristics play a role. Jeffrey Gray's Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) suggests that the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) responds to signals of punishment and non-reward, is responsible for individual differences in anxiety, and inhibits movement toward goals, while the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) responds to signals of reward and non-punishment and stimulates movement toward goals. The BAS scales can be further separated into three BAS factors - Drive, Reward, and Fun Seeking. While there are few studies available that explore the relationship between BIS/BAS and sleep, one study found that college students higher in BIS were more likely to forgo sleep to study while individuals higher in BAS were more likely to forgo sleep due to work, social life, and entertainment. In addition, higher BAS activation was positively correlated with the number of perceived benefits of cutting down on sleep and higher BIS activation was positively correlated with the number of perceived losses. Additionally, there is evidence linking the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality with sleep. Specifically, neuroticism is characterized by a tendency toward distress and negative affect and has largely been found to be associated with poor sleep quality. Extraversion is characterized by sociability and positive affect; the literature yields mixed results with some studies indicating that higher extraversion is associated with better sleep quality while other studies have found the opposite effect. Moreover, research suggests that neuroticism has a strong positive relationship with BIS and extraversion is positively related to all BAS scales. While there are many studies linking BIS and BAS to the Big Five personality traits, several studies focusing on the Big Five and sleep, and a few studies focusing on BIS and BAS and sleep, no studies were found that assess the relationship among all three factors. As a result, the present study expanded the literature by providing more insight into how BIS/BAS, the Big Five (i.e., neuroticism and extraversion), and sleep are interrelated in 657 college students. It was hypothesized that BIS would be significantly associated with higher neuroticism, and that BAS would be significantly associated with higher extraversion. It was also hypothesized that BIS and neuroticism would be significantly associated with worse sleep quality, higher levels of insomnia, increased daytime sleepiness, and higher levels of dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. All three BAS factors and extraversion were hypothesized to be significantly associated with sleep quality, levels of insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep; these hypotheses were more exploratory. Lastly, it was hypothesized that neuroticism would moderate the relationship between BIS and sleep quality, as well as the relationship between BIS and insomnia severity. The hypotheses were partially supported. The results suggested a significant relationship between BIS and neuroticism, and between all BAS factors and extraversion. Higher levels of BIS and neuroticism were both significantly correlated with worse self-reported sleep quality, increased insomnia severity, more daytime sleepiness, and increase dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep. Extraversion was not significantly related to the domains of sleep assessed in this study. However, participants higher in BAS- Reward Responsiveness and BAS-Drive reported significantly better sleep quality and individuals higher in BAS- Reward Responsiveness also reported significantly lower levels of insomnia severity. Unexpectedly, the results of this study suggest that neuroticism does not significantly moderate the relationship between BIS and sleep quality nor the relationship between BIS and insomnia severity. These results are discussed in light of post-hoc analyses, and clinical implications with regards to the association between personality characteristics and sleep in college students
¿Por Qué Esperar?: Examining COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Hispanic Gender Roles in Eastern North Carolina
No full textThe SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted members of different communities in the United States at varying rates. Despite displaying strong adherence to safety behavior guidelines, the Hispanic-American community was affected by COVID-19 at a disproportionately high rate. The present study examined a traditional gender role for Hispanic women, marianismo, and its impact on the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 safety guideline adherence among Hispanic women living in eastern North Carolina. Hispanic female participants over the age of eighteen who reside in eastern North Carolina (N=14) completed a three-part online survey, one section being the Marianismo Beliefs Scale (MBS), which measures adherence to marianismo. Although none of the results were statistically significant, there were notable differences in marianismo adherence among different demographic groups
Symptom Assessment and Documentation in a Community Hospice Agency
No full textExecutive summary for the completion of the DNP programD.N.P
INCREASING POST-SECONDARY AWARENESS FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOLS
No full textThe Hispanic population is on the rise nationwide, and counties in Eastern North Carolina, have witnessed one of the most significant changes in the last census. Consequently, the school systems are enrolling a growing number of Hispanic students. Despite this population increase, the rate of Hispanic students pursuing post-secondary education remains notably lower when compared to students from other ethnicities. This study endeavors to identify the barriers confronting Hispanic students at MAC Early College High School and proposes changes in current practices to foster more promising futures for these students. In this study, the researcher directly engaged with Hispanic students and parents to comprehend the challenges impeding their pursuit of post-secondary education. The research incorporates a comprehensive literature review to delineate the difficulties encountered by Hispanic families. Additionally, a case study methodology was employed, involving interviews with Hispanic students and a focus group with Hispanic parents. Insights gleaned from these interactions informed the development of a support program tailored to address identified needs and provide requisite resources, enhancing the preparedness of these students to attain a postsecondary degree. The study concludes with final assertions and outlines potential next steps for researchers seeking to advance this line of inquiry