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Investigation of Neurophysiological Changes in Hypothalamic Hormone Synthesis and Brain Matter Alterations During Stages of Anorexia Nervosa Recovery
No full textBackground: Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric eating disorder that causes serious health consequences due to nutrient deprivation. Because of this, it has been associated with disrupted hypothalamic (HPT) function and changes to brain morphology. Rat models can be useful to understand the physiological consequences of AN both during the disease and after weight recovery. Purpose: Use MRI analysis and PCR testing to investigate brain matter volume alterations and HPT hormone synthesis alterations during simulated AN and following weight recovery. Methodology: Female Sprague Dawley rats (n= 66, 11/group, 8 weeks old) underwent simulated AN for 30 days with 50-60% food restriction. Recovery stages included no recovery (AN), 5 days (AN-5R) or 15 days (AN-15R), and 30 days (AN-30R). Short-term recovery groups were compared to an age-matched control (CON), and long-term recovery groups were compared to CON-30R. HPT tissue was collected and stored in -80°C post-euthanasia. MKRN3, Kiss1, TAC3, PDYN, GNRH, and Leptin Receptor genes were analyzed using RNA extraction and PCR testing, normalized to Rn45. MRI was performed immediately after euthanasia. ImageJ software quantified total brain volume (TBV), gray matter volume (GMV), white matter volume (WMV), and CSF volume. Short-term recovery data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA with a Dunnett’s post-hoc test; long-term recovery data were analyzed by a T-test (p\u3c 0.05). Results: The contents of genes present in the HPT for both short and long-term recovery groups were not statistically significant compared to the control groups (p\u3e0.05). The MRI data posed statistical significance for alterations in GMV during short-term recovery (68316 + 1004.14 v. 74919 + 1073.47 v. 71194 + 1004.14 v. 73146 + 898.13 mm3, p= 0.0006) and WMV during long-term recovery (6157.27 + 365.03 v. 7507.73 + 365.03 mm3, p= 0.0165). TBV approached significance during short-term recovery but fell short (80416 + 1104.65 v. 83407 + 1235.03 v. 83230 + 1235.03 v. 84695 + 1053.24 mm3, p= 0.0594). Discussion: No significant changes HPT gene content suggest normal function of the HPT. There was high variability amongst these groups which could indicate factors like individual weight status, stage of estrous cycle, or another unknown variable causing this variability. MRI data showed a significant decrease in GMV, consistent with previous studies, indicating potential issues in decision-making and self-perception in individuals with AN. WMV was reduced following weight recovery suggesting possible long-lasting complications of the brain’s communication processes in those with a prior history with AN. Premature aging is also a concern as brain matter is shown to decrease with age. Investigating the short- and long-term complications associated with AN can help progress the understanding and development of possible therapeutic interventions
The Electric Revolution: A Quantitative Analysis of Tesla\u27s Sales Growth
Get PDFThis thesis explores the key factors influencing Tesla\u27s sales growth within the evolving electric vehicle (EV) market. It uses regression analysis to quantify the impact of average sales price, charging infrastructure, EV demand, and macroeconomic performance on Tesla\u27s vehicle sales. The analysis is based on data from Tesla\u27s annual reports, the Alternative Fuels Data Center, the International Energy Agency, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Key findings include a significant negative correlation between average sales price and vehicle sales, and a strong positive correlation between charging infrastructure and sales. These insights offer valuable implications for Tesla’s strategic decision-making, investor analysis, and policy formulation in the context of electric vehicle adoption and market dynamics
Solo Versus Dual: A Comparative Analysis of Instructional General Aviation Accidents
Get PDFThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees and regulates all aviation operations in the United States including General Aviation (GA) (FAA, 2016). General aviation is defined as all civil aviation operations other than scheduled air services and non-scheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire (ICAO, 2009). The FAA sets the standards for pilot certification and training. Student pilots are required to fly at least a minimum of 40 hours to earn their private pilot license (CFR, 2024). During this time, students are to fly for at least 30 hours with a flight instructor and 10 hours solo, which includes cross-country flights, maneuvers, emergency procedures, takeoffs, and landings. Although there are numerous regulations and training hours required for a pilot’s license, approximately 50% of all personal and business aviation accidents involve student pilots (Houston et al., 2012). The high rate of accidents can be attributed to several factors, with loss of aircraft control being the leading cause of student pilot accidents (Houston et al., 2012). Since student pilots form the foundation of the future generation of aviation professionals, it is necessary to provide a better understanding of the causes and factors that lead to instructional and solo student pilot accidents. This study analyzes General Aviation instructional accidents using the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident reports to identify the most frequent causes of such accidents. The study has so far led to the conclusion that the landing and take-off phases for both solo and dual flights are the reason for most accidents. Moreover, the study has identified a large disparity in the quantity of accidents between solo and dual flights. The findings from my proposed research may provide a basis for continued research to improve flight training procedures and enhance GA safety in the future.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc25/1034/thumbnail.jp
ZYNfluencers: Decoding the New Wave of Nicotine Culture on TikTok
Get PDFSignificance: This research is crucial for understanding how ZYN, a leader in the rapidly growing nicotine pouch market, influences younger generations through platforms like TikTok. With the nicotine pouch industry projected to grow from 22.98 billion by 2030, ZYNfluencers play a key role in shaping trends, building brand loyalty, and attracting new users. This phenomenon poses a challenge to tobacco control policies, as marketing strategies targeting youth—potentially with modified risk claims—could undermine efforts to limit nicotine\u27s appeal. By examining ZYN’s impact on social media, this study highlights the need for updated regulations to address the evolving influence of influencers and the digital marketing landscape.
Methods: A sample of 123 TikTok videos videos relevant to ZYN content posted by September 1st, 2024 were collected via (API) a TikTok application programing interface from https://console.apify.com/ using the popular hashtags #ZYN ( 1.5 B views) #ZYNtok ( 154 M views) #ZYNfluencer ( 56.6 M views). A codebook was developed using the first 50 videos, where each author analyzed and captured key themes. In the final codebook, all of the collected data was annotated and classified by if the video contained content regarding discussions about ZYN whether those are positive, negative or neutral, the presence of fitness or sports themes, celebrity endorsements, popular music, the physical appearance of the presenter, such as youth, comedy, methods of normalization, and abundant collections. We defined if the account was operated by “influencers” via the following count (\u3e1,000) and the users appeal towards nicotine use, specifically with ZYN products.
Results: Overall, 39.8% of the videos analyzed were directly related to ZYN content creators and the promotion of ZYN use. Among the relevant videos, 24.4% featured the normalization or casual portrayal of ZYN in social and cultural contexts. 16% of the videos discussed the product itself, with the sentiment breakdown as follows: 37.5% of these discussions were negative, 25% were neutral, and 37.5% were positive. Additionally, 10.2% of the videos incorporated humor, using memes or jokes to depict ZYN. 14.2% of the users featured in the videos appeared to be youthful, and 6% of the videos included celebrity endorsements or promotional content.
Implications: The rise of ZYN and its promotion by influencers on TikTok highlights regulatory gaps in nicotine pouch marketing, particularly targeting youth. Many young users may perceive these products as safer alternatives to cigarettes, despite the risks of nicotine addiction and health issues like heart disease and cancer. This underscores the need for stronger regulations to protect younger generations from the growing influence of digital marketing and nicotine use.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc25/1042/thumbnail.jp
Utilizing 16s RNA Sequencing to Identify Bacterial Species Colonizing Lame Birds with Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis
Get PDFPoultry lameness has become prevalent in recent years due to high growth rates in broiler chickens. Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO), the main cause of lameness, is characterized by necrosis of the femur and tibia in afflicted birds. Heavier birds are more susceptible to bacterial stress in these regions due to increased pressure on their growth plates. BCO lameness poses both ethical and financial threats to the poultry industry, as up to 15% of flocks can become affected during outbreaks. The purpose of this experiment was to identify bacterial species present in birds with BCO lameness. 1,800 chicks were randomly distributed into 2 pens with wire floor and 24 with litter floor. The wire floor acted as a control positive and induced the spread of lameness via an aerosol transmission model. During this study birds who were unable to walk when prompted were diagnosed as lame and culled. All lame birds were necropsied, and bacteria were isolated from the blood and lesions on the femur and tibia. Once bacteria were grown on agar plates, individual colonies were separated for further species identification using 16s RNA sequencing. The results showed that Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. were the most predominant bacteria colonizing lame birds. This indicated that these bacteria could be the main causes of BCO lameness in broilers. Thus, this experiment is anticipated to help develop BCO treatments that strengthen the bone and immune system against distinct bacteria. More research is needed to discover the virulence of Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. to prevent lameness caused by bacterial infection.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc25/1006/thumbnail.jp
Can Shame and Guilt be Used as a Deterrent for Substance Use and Crime Recidivism?
Get PDFThe present study focuses on how shame and guilt can be used as a deterrent for substance use and substance-related crime recidivism. This research is significant because of on-going alcohol and other drug crime recidivism in the United States. 68% of drug-involved offenders have been found to recidivate within 3 years of their release from prison (Langan & Levin, 2002). Understanding how guilt and shame affect one\u27s drug use and crime recidivism is important in recovery. This study has been influenced by John Braithwaite\u27s theory of reintegrative shaming: using guilt and shame as the specific deterrent for recidivism. Based on this theory, we developed vignettes to manipulate feelings of guilt and shame in the participant as a function of the degree to which the crime was publicly known versus private. Four vignettes are included: 2 drunk-driving (private and public) and 2 driving under the influence of marijuana (private and public), all of which were first piloted with students and experts. After the participant reads their vignette, they are asked questions on a 5-point Likert scale regarding their levels of guilt, shame, and likelihood to use the substance and commit the crime again. Preliminary data from 41 participants (61% women; ages 18-31) were used to evaluate the hypotheses that (H1) elevated levels of shame/guilt will be correlated with lower likelihood of recidivism, and (H2) a public (vs. private) scenario will induce more shame and lower likelihood of recidivism. Results show support for H1 and partial support for H2. Shame/guilt were negatively related to intentions to recidivate; there was a trend for shame/guilt to be higher trend in drunk-driving public outcome scenario than the private. If the hypotheses are confirmed when we complete data collection in a larger sample, then this study can support Braithwaite\u27s theory of reintegrative shaming. The vignettes can be used in future research to better understand the connection between shame and guilt in response to impaired driving as a predictor of future re-offending. Future research can continue to understand how these results may differ among individuals with more severe drug-related crimes, and among other populations who have interacted with the criminal justice system (i.e., drug court participants, incarcerated adults).https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc25/1014/thumbnail.jp
The Weaponization of Medicine in Arkansas Prison Farms, 1960s-1970s
Get PDFThe Arkansas State Penitentiary provides a case study for medical care in prisons during a transformational period. Isolation and state non-involvement in Arkansas allowed the creation of an independent culture in which harrowing abuses flourished. Medical providers could be prisoners themselves, operating the hospital and blood bank creating a complicated hierarchy. By examining medical provisions at the Cummins and Tucker Prison Farms during the 1960s to 1970s, this thesis reveals a system where the lines between treatment and torture and medical practitioner and imprisoned were blurred
Guide to Data Science: A User-Friendly App for Data Exploration
No full textThis honors thesis presents the development of a user-friendly data science application built with Streamlit, designed to facilitate data exploration and analysis for users with little to no prior knowledge of data science. The application is structured into five interactive pages, guiding users through the essential stages of data analysis: a welcome page, data cleaning, data visualization, modeling, and interpretation.
The welcome page serves as the entry point, allowing users to upload their data, which will be used throughout the subsequent pages. It also features the company logo for Bentley Ave Data Labs, the industry partner that requested the development of this application. This collaboration ensures that the app meets real-world industry needs while providing an accessible tool for data exploration.
The data cleaning page offers intuitive, clickable functions for basic preprocessing tasks such as handling missing values, removing duplicates, and dropping unnecessary columns. Once the data is cleaned, users can move to the data visualization page, where they can generate two customizable graphs by selecting variables to display, alongside a heatmap highlighting data outliers and a z-score graph for deeper insights. Users are also given the option to remove outliers directly from this interface.
The modeling page providing users the ability to choose between three categorical models and three regression models to fit their data. This streamlined approach empowers users to build and evaluate machine learning models without writing any code, promoting accessibility and enabling more people to harness the power of data science.
The interpretation page ties together the insights gathered throughout the application by presenting the results of the chosen machine learning model in an easy-to-understand format. Users are shown key performance metrics of accuracy, R-squared, and feature importance. Additionally, the page displays a confusion matrix or residual plot to help users visualize how well the model performed. This
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final step not only reinforces the outcomes of their analysis but also supports informed decision-making by translating complex results into clear, actionable information.
Through this application, the thesis aims to bridge the gap between complex data analysis techniques and users who lack programming experience, offering an accessible platform for understanding and interpreting data with ease and confidence
Foreign Direct Investment and Political Freedom: Causes and Correlations in Panel Data
Get PDFAnalyzing correlates between political freedom and foreign direct investment through regressions of panel data in order to ascertain the effects a host nation can realize in a globalizing economy by changing their political systems
An Approach of Implementing MTNCL and MTD3L Asynchronous Logic Paradigms on FPGAs
Get PDFThis thesis describes the creation of component libraries for the implementation of Multi-Threshold NULL Convention Logic (MTNCL) and Multi-Threshold Dual-spacer Dual-rail Delay-insensitive Logic (MTD3L) on AMD 7 Series, AMD UltraScale, and AMD UltraScale+ FPGAs. The utilization of these libraries is identical to those used in the creation of MTNCL and MTD3L application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), leading to intuitive use for designers familiar with the logic paradigms. Single-stage and pipelined designs were created using both libraries, which were then tested and verified to be logically equivalent to their ASIC counterparts. Future work will include creating and testing a variety of designs, along with the creation of an open-source repository on GitHub