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Discovering the Truth Behind Football Culture: Examining the Effects Football has on Collegiate Male Athletes
No full textThe mental health of athletes has become an increasingly discussed topic and many athletes have voiced the critical need to continue evolving the conversation surrounding mental health. Research has indicated male athletes are stigmatized for seeking mental health assistance, yet, little research exists on this population. In order to fill this gap, this research project sought to qualitatively examine male football players at the collegiate level and their experiences regarding mental health, access to mental health resources, and stigma surrounding having mental health issues as a collegiate athlete. Participants (n=14) were current or former (played within the last three years) collegiate football players who had at least one semester of participation in a collegiate football program. Individual interviews were conducted with each participant, asking them to detail their experiences with their unique football program. A four-person coding team analyzed data to determine emerging themes. Results revealed three higher order themes, each with subsequent subthemes: (1) football culture (subthemes: program structure, physicality of football, and expectations), (2) psychological well-being (subthemes: awareness of mental health issues, lack of resources, and experiencing negative mental health outcomes), and (3) stigma (subthemes: men/masculinity and status of being a student-athlete). Participants stated mental health struggles emerged during their time as a collegiate athlete, oftentimes as a result of intense schedules, and they shared a fear of seeking support due to their status of being an athlete. This study demonstrates that it continues to be a challenge for student-athletes to discuss mental health, and we need to help athletes learn how to use their voices to advocate for help. Future research in this area will aim to implement mental health resources for athletes to ensure better mental health outcomes
lmpact of Salmonella enterica Effector Proteins on Plant Physiology and Immunity
Get PDFSalmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium are primarily recognized as pathogens associated with foodborne illnesses in humans. Salmonella also can colonize plant tissue effectively. The pathogen relies on type III secretion systems (T3SS) to infect mammals and plants successfully and counteract the immune response. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Salmonella’s interactions with plants is essential for developing effective strategies to reduce its impact on human health and agriculture. Effector proteins, known for their role in modulating host-pathogen interactions, have been implicated in the virulence and pathogenicity of Salmonella. However, their specific functions and contributions to Salmonella’s interactions with plants remain largely unknown. Here, we aim to investigate the functions of Salmonella effector proteins during the colonization of plants. By evaluating plant responses to effector mutants and effector proteins expressed heterologously in plant tissue, we identified several effectors that either suppressed or triggered defense responses in leaf tissue. Gaining a better understanding of Salmonella’s effector proteins and their interactions with plants will lead to essential strategies to aid in the prevention of foodborne illness through the consumption of contaminated produce
Tripartite Influence Model of Body Image and Disordered Eating among Female Athletes: Testing an Expanded Model
Get PDFThe aim of the study was to investigate how different sources of sociocultural pressure (family, media, peers) described in the Tripartite Influence Model, and additions of teammate- and coach pressures, were associated with thinness-and muscularity internalization and appearance comparisons among athletes. Subsequently, these potential mechanisms were explored as predictors of disordered eating among athletes. Analyses included 71 female athletes. Athletes were recruited through a student subject pool recruitment portal, as well as with local and regional flyers and emails. Participants completed a series of self-report measures in Qualtrics. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was utilized to test the hypotheses. Partial support for the Tripartite Model was found. Results indicated that media pressures were significantly associated with thin ideal internalization and appearance comparisons. Teammate and coach pressures were not associated with ideal internalization or appearance comparisons. Significant associations were found between athletic ideal internalization and engagement in excessive muscle building and exercise behavior. Significant associations also were found between appearance comparisons and binge eating. This research helps highlight the importance of developing targeted interventions for athletes, with particular attention to the media, thin- and athletic ideal internalization, and appearance comparisons.https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_posters/1029/thumbnail.jp
An Actuarial Prediction of ADHD Using Neuropsychological Data
Get PDFAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric diagnosis in children and a frequent psychiatric diagnosis in adults. ADHD is a clinical diagnosis based on self-reported symptoms which makes accurate diagnosis challenging. Actuarial prediction has been demonstrated to be more accurate than clinical judgment. The current study explored an actuarial approach to predicting ADHD based on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. This project utilized test data from Meyers Neuropsychological Battery (MNB) to develop a logistic regression model to accurately predict diagnosed ADHD cases (n=65) from normal functioning cases (n=79) with a history of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to refine a predictive ADHD model based on all available test data. The final model correctly identified 73.4% of total cases. The model had 53.8% accuracy in identifying cases diagnosed with ADHD (sensitivity) and 90.5% accuracy in identifying the normal functioning mTBI control cases (specificity). This model was then compared to a theory-driven model of tests commonly associated with impaired performance in ADHD. The theory-driven model did not perform better than the data driven model. Further, as the data driven model was composed of predictor tests that are not typically associated with cognitive deficits in ADHD, the presented algorithm may be more robust to malingering than other diagnostic methods.https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_posters/1031/thumbnail.jp
Stability of a Productive Conformation Drives Acylation in N. gonorrhoeae PBP2
No full textThe Gram-negative pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a significant public health threat due to the global spread of extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant strains [1-3]. The first isolated ESC-resistant strain, H041, carries the mosaic penA allele penA41, which encodes a penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) variant with 61 amino acid changes compared to the PBP2 encoded by the susceptible strain FA19 [4, 5]. A subset of eight mutations are responsible for 80% of cephalosporin resistance conferred by penA41 and are found in globally spreading strains [4, 6-10]. Previous work has shown that PBP2 from FA19 (PBP2FA19) is rapidly acylated by ceftriaxone, and there is a dramatic shift of the β3-β4 loop toward the active site, resulting in interactions between the β-lactam R1 and the protein [11]. By contrast, PBP2 from H041 (PBP2H041) is acylated at a significantly lower rate by ceftriaxone and the β3-β4 loop appears to be constrained to an “outbent” conformation [12]. This loop contains two mutations, F504L and N512Y [4, 12], and structure/function studies are needed to investigate their impact on protein dynamics and the importance of contacts formed on movement of the β3-β4 loop.
Our lab has shown that the ureido β-lactam, cefoperazone, exhibits higher activity against PBP2H041 than ceftriaxone [13]. Hence, we investigated whether other ureido β- xvi lactams were similarly potent. We found that these β-lactams, particularly piperacillin, exhibit higher acylation rates against PBP2H041 than ceftriaxone, with comparable MICs against the H041 strain. Structures of PBP2H041 acylated by these β-lactams show the β3-β4 is no longer “outbent”, suggesting that these β-lactams overcome the effects of resistance mutations. Subsequently, we probed the importance of the R1-interacting residues in order to determine whether they are a consequence of acylation or contribute to the acylation of β-lactams. We found that Tyr422 is critical for the acylation of cefoperazone and piperacillin, but acts as a barrier to acylation for ceftriaxone. Consistent with these data, the β3-β4 loop moves towards the active site when Y422A-PBP2H041 is acylated by ceftriaxone. Finally, we addressed the molecular mechanism behind the resistance mutations on the β3-β4 loop and the importance of the loop movement in acylation. Our data reveal that the β3-β4 loop can undergo dynamic changes in the crystal dependent on the β-lactam used, how long the crystal is soaked with β-lactam, and whether there are resistance mutations on the β3-β4 loop. Reversion of the loop mutations in PBP2H041 increases acylation rates with β-lactams, while introduction of the mutations into PBP2FA19 decreases acylation rates. Thermostability data support these findings by showing that the resistance mutations destabilize the acyl-enzyme complex. Together, these results reveal the mechanism for how some β-lactams retain activity against PBP2H041, reveals that the contacts formed between the β-lactam R1 and protein are important for acylation, and show that resistance mutations on the β3-β4 loop restrict and/or destabilize the conformation that is productive for acylation
Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - March 10, 2024
Get PDFThis is the March 10, 2024 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine’s newsletter - Watercooler.
Contents Include: Researchers identify novel risk predictor of prostate cancer aggressiveness and racially disparate outcomes Meet a Med Student: Hannah Hill Senior Medical Students to celebrate Match Da
WAH 003 Ella M Fuller 2-9-2024
Get PDFMs. Ella M. Spires Fuller is interviewed by Vickie Graham and Mara Kozelsky at the USA Baldwin County Campus, in the conference room. Ms. Fuller recalls life in Fairhope in the 1960s, including the transition from horse and wagon to cars and the self-sufficiency of rural Black communities. She also discusses her family’s land ownership as well as her own educational experience, first at Pure Heart of Mary in Mobile, and then, Anna T. Jeanes in Fairhope. Finally, Ms. Fuller details many of Fairhope’s Black-owned businesses and the variety of musical acts (Sam Cook, B.B. King, Fats Domino) that performed at the segregated American Legion
DTB 104 Frank Vogtner 1-9-2024
Get PDFIn this interview, Frank Vogtner is interviewed by Alisha Palmer at the Marx Library at the University of South Alabama. Mr. Vogtner grew up in a white neighborhood near Down the Bay, and he describes the social and cultural dynamics in that area, and shares some of his family history relating to Mobile. He also lived in Atlanta while growing up, and shares some of his educational experiences there
Research Security and Integrity Standards: Tools and Resources Used to Develop Security Program Standards That Support Research Integrity
Get PDFhttps://jagworks.southalabama.edu/fric2024_presentations/1005/thumbnail.jp