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Identification of Polymorphisms Associated with the Development of FIP in an Inbred Cat Population
No full textFeline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a lethal disease caused by a strain of feline coronavirus (FCoV) and a major cause of death in cats. With no widely accessible, effective FIP treatment available, prevention is crucial in cats predisposed to FIP. Determining FIP risk through genetic testing requires an understanding of the genetic factors behind vulnerability to FIP, but previous research has been limited by high genetic variation in donated subjects. A number of polymorphisms and associated genes have been found to contribute to the FIP disease outcome, but a focus on purebred cats due to their low genetic diversity has limited the usefulness of these results in the development of predictive tools for general cat populations.
The proposed study aims to discover additional polymorphisms by sequencing and comparing regions of the genomes of FIP and non-FIP cats from an inbred cat population of domestic shorthairs. This will allow for the identification of genetic differences associated with the differing disease outcomes in a population with low genetic diversity that could better represent broader cat populations. Additionally, FIP inheritance patterns have been observed in the selected cat population that suggest linkages between genes associated with FIP and genes responsible for specific physical characteristics such as fur color and tail deformities, which could help narrow down the regions of the genome containing the genes of interest. The discovery of genetic markers of FIP through this research would contribute to the development of genetic screening methods that could aid in the prevention of FIP
Healthcare Plagued by Colonial Violence: An Analysis of Reproductive Justice and Collective Care in Haiti
No full textHaiti’s healthcare system has been defined by its current and historical geopolitical environment. Colonial violence and natural disasters, especially, have left hospitals lacking infrastructure, supplies, funding, and workers. Consequently, Haiti has the highest maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the Western Hemisphere: an imperative indicator of the quality of reproductive care. Deeper evidence is limited due to the absence of data collection and census within Haiti’s current political climate. Adopting abolitionist and reproductive justice frameworks, this thesis analyzes the effectiveness of non-governmental organizations and Haitian community care collectives in improving access to reproductive health services in Haiti, while applying a critical lens to the ethical role of non-governmental organizations in state building. Using data on Haiti and other countries with similar MMR from PIH, PAHO, The World Bank, WHO, etc., this work builds on existing analyses to identify the key practices that improve maternal survival. Simultaneously, it will discuss the importance of cultural and community health practices in defining and measuring quality care. By examining these multiple dimensions, findings shed light on the transformative potential of care collectives and challenge the reductive global narratives that define Haiti and its people as victims rather than agents of change
The Banned Sunscreen Chemicals of Hawai’i: Oxybenzone and Octinoxate Bioaccumulation in Hawaiian Reef Fish and an Environmental Policy Analysis of the Ban
No full textEver since ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure was linked to dermatological diseases, sunscreen has become an essential product for consumers worldwide. However, concerns have arisen over the ultraviolet (UV) chemical filters benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone (OXY)) and octyl methoxycinnamate (octinoxate (OMC)) due to their bioaccumulation in fish tissues and their potential impact on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Yet, research examining OXY and OMC and the factors affecting their levels specifically in Hawaiian reef fish is limited. The research proposal intends to study the bioaccumulation of OXY and OMC in Hawaiian reef fish species Acanthurus triostegus and Chaetodon auriga and how different diets and habitats (high- vs. low-tourist areas) can predict the concentrations in their liver, kidney, and muscle tissues. Fish in higher-tourist areas are expected to have higher concentrations of OXY and OMC than fish in low-tourist areas due to increased sunscreen usage. C. auriga is anticipated to bioaccumulate more OXY and OMC than A. triostegus due to its feeding at higher trophic levels. High-tourist regions are also anticipated to have higher seawater levels of OXY and OMC compared to low-tourist regions. The paper also explores the implications of OXY and OMC bioaccumulation in Hawaiian reef fish for Hawai’i’s tourism and fishing industries. Concerned with their effects on coral bleaching, Hawai’i banned OXY and OMC in sunscreens through Senate Bill (SB) 2751, Act 104, which was announced in 2018 and enacted in 2021. The ban increased tourist awareness, but recommendations for risk assessments and tourist outreach are proposed to address the gaps in its implementation. Although concrete evidence of consequences for the fishing industry and public health is not yet available, their potential impacts are discussed. The integration of the research proposal and policy analysis aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the ban’s implications on the ecosystems and communities of Hawai’i
The Impact of Titin on Muscle Fiber Composition during Aging
Get PDFThis study examined muscle fiber composition in the soleus muscles of young and old wild-type and TtnΔ112-158 mice to understand titin\u27s role in age-related changes in muscle structure. Titin, a crucial protein in muscles, serves structural, mechanical, and signaling functions, contributing to muscle elasticity and stiffness. Its mechanosensitive properties regulate muscle growth and adaptation to mechanical stimuli, influencing muscle hypertrophy and function. Muscle aging, marked by sarcopenia, includes a shift toward Type I (slow-twitch) fibers, which are fatigue-resistant but contract slowly, and atrophy of Type II (fast-twitch) fibers, which are powerful but less enduring. I hypothesized that older mice would have a higher proportion of Type I fibers, reflecting typical aging changes, and that TtnΔ112-158 mice would show a more uniform fiber type distribution due to the titin deletion. Muscle samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to detect myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in different fiber types. Results showed a non-significant predominance of Type IIa fibers across all groups, contrary to the anticipated age-related shift towards Type I fibers. In wild-type mice, both Type I and Type IIa fibers increased in size with age, while in TtnΔ112-158 mice, Type I fibers decreased and Type IIa fibers increased in size. These findings suggest that reduced titin may influence muscle structural integrity and adaptation to age-related mechanical demands, resulting in a more uniform, but not statistically significant, fiber composition in mutant mice. This study highlights titin’s importance in muscle adaptation and suggests that genetic factors, like titin size, impact age-related muscle composition changes
No Shifty Business: Investigating the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Classification Shifting
No full textThis paper examines whether classification shifting by public U.S. firms increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adverse economic conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique opportunity for managers to inflate core earnings by shifting expenses to income-decreasing special items, realizing potential benefits for firms in enhanced investor assessments but reducing the reliability of financial statements and increasing the risk of investor losses. Using a modified version of McVay’s (2006) model to measure classification shifting developed by Abdalla and Clubb (2023), I find no evidence that classification shifting increased during the pandemic. Though I found that the significance and magnitude of classification shifting depended on industry classification, I also found no evidence that those industries most adversely affected during the pandemic increased classification shifting. My findings imply that investors are not at an increased risk of losses or that the reliability of core earnings fell due to increased classification shifting during the pandemic. My findings also imply that industry and the level of discretion in related industry-specific income-decreasing special items play a significant role in the prevalence of classification shifting
The Interplay of Gender and Humor in the Workplace
Get PDFHumor is a key element in workplace dynamics, influencing leadership, team cohesion, and career advancement. However, its impact is not equal among genders. This paper explores the interplay between humor and gender in professional settings, examining how different types of humor – positive (affiliative, self-enhancing, coping sense of humor) and negative (aggressive, self-defeating) – are perceived and used by men and women. Specifically, it investigates how gender and team composition moderate the relationship between types of humor and workplace outcomes, with gender stereotypes acting as a mediator. This analysis highlights that men often benefit from a broader acceptance of humor types, often using humor to signal dominance and status, while women, especially in leadership roles, face social penalties when humor deviates from traditional gender norms. This reinforces gendered hierarchies, limiting women’s ability to use humor as freely as men in the workplace. By synthesizing findings from existing literature, this paper uncovers how humor’s impact varies across gender and status, offering insights into how it can reinforce or challenge workplace biases. The framework proposes pathways for future research to explore humor\u27s potential in fostering inclusive organizational cultures
From Wins to Revenue: How NBA Team Success Influences Local Hospitality Markets
No full textThis study measures how NBA team success influences local hospitality markets in smaller cities, focusing on the effects of team performance, star players, and home game frequency on Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR). Using data from the 2012-2013 to 2018-2019 NBA seasons, a Random Effects (RE) econometric model assesses whether fluctuations in team performance significantly influence RevPAR in markets where NBA teams are a major local attraction. Results indicate that economic indicators and hotel characteristics are strongly associated with RevPAR. However, the short-term performance of NBA teams and the presence of star players have positive but statistically insignificant effects. These findings provide insights useful for hotel managers, investors, and city planners looking to understand and anticipate demand in smaller markets
Taking Stock: Investigating the Relationship Between Stock-Based Compensation and Share Price Performance in Public Software Companies
Get PDFThere has been considerable debate around the practice of compensating employees and executives using stock-based compensation (“SBC”). Studies point to a myriad of both benefits and drawbacks of SBC; while in practice, firms with high SBC intensity have harmed shareholders through share count dilution. One industry in particular has drawn sharp investor criticism for its SBC intensity: software. Despite the software sector’s growing importance to the economy and influence in the public markets, no academic literature has analyzed the impacts of SBC on software companies specifically. Filling the gap, investor literature has sought to examine this topic in the context of share price performance. One study by Gisz and Le (2023) asserts that technology companies with higher SBC intensity underperform because they have lower holding period returns. This paper tests the validity of Gisz and Le’s (2023) claim and highlights flaws in their methodology. Through the application of panel and time series multivariate multiple regressions, this paper finds that SBC intensity is not a statistically significant predictor of stock returns – measured on both a gross and abnormal monthly basis. However, the paper identifies a correlation between SBC and share price volatility, which was not previously accounted for by Gisz and Le (2023). These findings respond to prevailing investor sentiment around SBC intensity, demonstrate the nuances of assessing companies based on their SBC practices, and highlight the mechanical flaws of using individual firm holding period returns as is done by Gisz and Le (2023)
Navigating New Capital Sources: Financing Constraints and the Growth of Private Credit
Get PDFThe rapid growth of private credit—non-bank lending where firms receive funds directly from private lenders like asset managers, private equity firms, and institutional investors—has reshaped corporate financing dynamics. This paper examines how private credit influences firm financing constraints and macroeconomic risk through the use of a dataset consisting of private credit deals, firm-level financial metrics, and macroeconomic indicators from 1995 to 2023. Regression analysis reveals that private credit has an insignificant effect on financing constraints as it generally acts as a substitute for traditional financing and a counterforce to tightening bank policies. However, a significant relationship emerges between private credit and firm size, where medium-to-large-sized firms are most affected—a Goldilocks Zone whose bounds shifted following the Global Financial Crisis. These findings challenge ideas about smaller firm reliance on private credit and also highlight potential systemic risks. The study discusses the zone’s movement and offers policy recommendations to balance regulatory safeguards with financing access
Terms, Conditions, and Responsibility: Who is Responsible?
Get PDFIn this thesis I explore the dynamics of responsibility in the context of terms and conditions agreements between corporations and consumers. I begin by highlighting how the burden of understanding terms and conditions has been shifted onto consumers and examine real-world conflicts arising from this shift, such as the wrongful death lawsuit involving Disney and data-sharing practices by General Motors. I argue that consumer responsibility, rooted in Kant’s Categorical Imperative, is not a reasonable solution due to barriers like low literacy levels and information asymmetry. Instead, I advocate for a corporate-centered approach, emphasizing the ethical duty of corporations to ensure clarity, transparency, and accurate uptake of terms by consumers. This model not only mitigates informational power imbalances but also aligns with Kant’s theory and enhances consumer agency by freeing individuals to make autonomous choices. Addressing objections of paternalism, I argue that corporate responsibility respects and empowers consumer autonomy. This framework underscores the necessity of redefining responsibility as the evolution of technology continues to push the need to understand terms and conditions agreements onto consumers