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Araki Hirohiko: Elevating the Craft of Manga Through Art Nouveau and Art Deco
No full textAraki Hirohiko is a mangaka for one of the longest running manga in history, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (1987–present). Throughout his several decade career, he has drawn over 20,000 pages for his manga by hand.
The art for his manga was inspired by 20ᵗʰ century fashion illustration. Through his rigorous practice he was able to secure many collaborations with high end fashion brands, and even a temporary exhibition in the Louvre.
Through this practice, he has become a contemporary artist of Art Nouveau and Art Deco which he portrays through the illustrations for his manga.https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/durep_posters/1259/thumbnail.jp
The Cost of Malnutrition in Older Adults in the Mountain West, 2020
No full textThis fact sheet presents 2020 data on the annual costs of disease-associated malnutrition for adults aged 65 years and older across the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are sourced from “Advancing Policies for Quality Malnutrition Care in Older Adults: A Toolkit for State Legislators,” a report published by Defeat Malnutrition Today and Women in Government
Enhancing Motor Function in Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation Through PeerBased Learning of Balance and Fall Recovery Skills
No full textPurpose: Lower limb amputation (LLA) is a devastating condition that is becoming more prevalent in the United States. We examined the effects of peer-based action observation learning on the brain activation and the eyetracking pattern in individuals with LLA.
Methods: Fourteen individuals with LLA (51.9±12.6 years, 4 females, 9 with transfemoral amputations) were asked to learn a balance task through observing the movements demonstrated by individuals with LLA or persons with intact limbs. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, visual attention time, and peak saccade velocity were recorded when participants watched the demonstration videos. Power spectral density (PSD) was used to analyze the power distribution across different frequencies (alpha: 8–13 Hz; beta: 13–30 Hz) in EEG signals over three brain regions of interests (ROI: frontal, central, and posterior) in the peer and non-peer conditions. Differences of EEG power in three ROIs between two conditions over time were determined by three-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures.
Results: Alpha power was significantly lower in posterior area at the duration of 20 to 30 s (p=0.007) and in central area at the duration of 10 to 20 s (p=0.045) during watching peer demonstration videos. This indicated that participants with LLA had higher cortical activation over sensorimotor and visual-related area while watching peer demonstrations. Participants exhibited lower peak saccade velocity during watching peer demonstrations (216.51 ± 62.19 °/s, p=0.006) compared to watching non-peer videos (264.43 ± 83.04 °/s). This implied that participants were more attentive in the peer-based learning condition. There was no significant difference in other cortical rhythms and visual attention time between conditions.
Conclusions: Peer-based learning induced higher cortical activation and elevated attention level in individuals with LLA: this may be related to better motor learning outcomes. Future research should focus on how peer-based post-amputation physical therapy may promote motor skills learning in people with LLA
Binge Eating Behaviors in Muslim Women During Ramadan Fasting
No full textAlthough food restriction is associated with binge-eating symptoms (Herman & Mack, 1975; Dakanalis et al., 2014), less is known about the effect of religious fasting. During the holy month of Ramadan, many Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Hasan et al. (2021) suggested that in Muslim-minority countries where fasting is less common, Ramadan fasting could be associated with negative consequences related to eating and body image, such as increased preoccupation with appearance and food. At the same time, religiosity might also function as a protective factor against mental health symptoms (Mussap, 2009). To my knowledge, no studies have examined the impact of Ramadan fasting on eating-disorder outcomes in the United States. I thus recruited N = 56 Muslim women who completed baseline and weekly questionnaires assessing religious fasting and mental health symptoms before, during, and after Ramadan. Results were analyzed using paired t tests in which symptoms were investigated across time periods - before, during, and after Ramadan, as well as a multiple regression analysis. I hypothesized that binge eating symptoms would be higher during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan, general eating disorder symptoms would be higher during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan, there would be a positive significant relationship between days fasted and binge eating symptoms during Ramadan, depression symptoms would be lower during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan, and anxiety symptoms would be lower during Ramadan compared to before and after Ramadan. Results show that Ramadan fasting was associated with a statistically significant decrease in binge eating, change in eating disorder, and anxiety symptoms; but no significant changes in depression symptoms. There might be protective factors that buffer against ED symptoms. Future studies should investigate these mechanisms to enhance the wellbeing of this population
Dysregulation of Vitamin D Receptor and CYP450 Metabolism Enzymes May Explain Oral Cancer Responsiveness
No full textMany health benefits are associated with Vitamin D (VitD), although deficiency is associated with poor health outcomes and increased risk for cancer development. For example, many tissue specific enzymes are involved in VitD metabolism, and mutations or deletions within Vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes are known to increase cancer risk by altering their functions or bioavailability, although less is known about these phenomena in oral cancers. Using well characterized, commercially available oral cell lines (OKF4, HGF-1, SCC4, SCC9, SCC15, SCC25, CAL27), mRNA expression of P450 cytochrome VitD metabolic enzymes and receptor genes by qPCR revealed differential results. One oral cancer line (SCC15) did not express either receptor or entry genes VDR or FOK1 and was also least affected by VitD3 administration in growth assays. In contrast, most oral cancers were missing one or more hydrolase (CYP2R1,CYP24A1) or hydrolate (CYP27A1, CYP27B1) enzymes. SCC25 was missing both hydrolate enzymes and was the most inhibited in VitD3 growth assays, while SCC4 was missing both hydroxylase enzymes and was the least inhibited by VitD2. These associations between mRNA expression (or lack thereof) and VitD3 and VitD2 responsiveness identify molecular targets, which may lead to effective screening tools for VitD-related complementary and alternative therapies
On Efficient Position Dependent Computation of Radiation Near Accretion Disks
No full textAccretion onto super massive black holes (SMBH) plays a vital role in explaining our observations of active galactic nuclei (AGN). One key aspect of observations of AGN is the prevalence of massive outflows which transport matter and energy away from the galactic core. These outflows are characterized by highly blueshifted absorption lines as radiation from the accretion disk is absorbed by gas which is moving toward us. Radiation pressure on spectral lines is expected to play a vital role in launching and accelerating these winds. At the other end of the spectrum of black hole masses, accretion disks in X-ray binaries exhibit outflows likely driven by thermal pressure. Despite the difference in magnitude, both of these systems\u27 driving mechanisms share a strong dependence on the radiation field which permeates the gas above the accretion disk.While we have observations of accretion disks of all sizes throughout the universe, from X-ray binaries to AGN, they all share one limitation: accretion disks are far away from us. Especially in the case of AGN, each accretion disk is at such a distance from us that, over any reasonable timescale, we may only observe it from one distance and inclination angle. In contrast, along the outflow\u27s journey from the surface of the disk to the ISM, the radiation it sees from the accretion disk system changes drastically. We cannot use our observations from a great distance as a reliable proxy for the radiation field which is actually launching and accelerating the outflows. Accurately modeling the radiation at any position near the disk requires solving radiative transfer in all directions. This can be done to a fair extent utilizing radiation-hydrodynamic simulations in tandem with photoionization codes, but only at significant computational cost. This thesis works to develop tools which can quickly and accurately compute, as a function of position, properties of the radiation field, in order to alleviate some of the computational load. We motivate our work with an overview of outflows observed in AGN. We then review photoionization, its effect on heating and cooling of the gas, and line driving. Next, we extend prior position dependent theory to frequency dependent calculations, which allows us to compute spectral energy distributions (SEDs), ionizing intensities, mean photon energies, ionization parameters, line-driving force multipliers, and net cooling rates all in a position and direction dependent manner. We show verification of our methods using analytically tractable limits, followed by discussion of results at intermediate locations. Finally, we discuss future steps in the development of tools which will improve our ability to efficiently model radiative processes due to accretion disks
The Cultural Politics of Women\u27s Equality in Victorian England: The Cases of Caroline Norton, Annie Besant, and Clementina Black
No full textThis thesis explores the lives of three Victorian women – Caroline Norton, Annie Besant, and Clementina Black – and their campaigns to improve the status of women in the Victorian Era. Each engaged in the condition of women debate writing in distinctive genres- letter writing, social and political commentary and fiction, respectively. In an era of rising literacy, these middle and upper-class women used the power of the pen to shape how Victorians understood the Woman Question. The first chapter shares Norton’s fight to challenge principles of coverture. Using her writing to reach her high connections, she set the stage for campaigns in support of equal divorce laws and the Married Women’s Property Acts. My next case study follows Besant’s campaigns to allow women to control their own bodies in England and India. Besant faced frequent legal prosecution for publishing pamphlets and works using population theories and birth control. She then turned her attention to women in India, oppressed by the colonial laws held by the British Raj. Finally, this thesis ends with the fight of Clementina Black, who advocated in her writings the benefits of socialism by highlighting the abuses, mistreatments and pay of women in the workplace. Her fiction mirrored depictions of conditions for women in Victorian England and resulted in the expansion of trade unions for women workers. This case study approach considers the lives, campaigns and writing strategies of these three very different women in order to show how changes to women\u27s role in marriage, control over their bodies and status in the workplace took place in the arena of an emergent extra-parliamentary political culture. These campaigns were spearheaded by the women who had the most to lose in an industrial capitalist system that made gender inequality a central feature of Victorian ideology and values
Chronic Exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis Disrupts Macrophage Innate Immune Responses
No full textIntroduction: Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) is a pathogenic, “red-complex” bacteria found in higher concentrations in advanced gingivitis and periodontitis. Macrophages are capable of adopting numerous phenotypes depending on the surrounding environment. Classic M1 macrophages are the result of inflammatory signals including IFNγ. This study investigated whether naïve M0 macrophages can transition into classic M1 macrophages following stimulation with traditional agonists after cells have been exposed to formalin killed P. gingivalis.Methods: The THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into naïve macrophages (M0) using PMA treatment. The M0 cells were challenged with formalin killed P. gingivalis for 24 hours. After prolonged exposure to P. gingivalis, the cells were stimulated by M1 producing agonist IFNγ and Escherichia. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 20ng). The resulting cytokine gene expression profiles and secreted protein concentrations of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were determined. Results: Our study investigated the impact of prolonged P. gingivalis exposure on macrophage differentiation into the M1 phenotype, characterized by high IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression. While P. gingivalis and S. gordonii initially induced a modest increase in IL-6 mRNA and protein levels, P. gingivalis exposure prior to M1 stimulation significantly suppressed IL-6 expression, whereas S. gordonii did not. Similarly, P. gingivalis exposure inhibited the expected M1-associated increase in TNF-α mRNA and protein levels, reducing TNF-α secretion to levels comparable to unstimulated controls. In contrast, S. gordonii treatment resulted in robust TNF-α induction, similar to M1 stimulation. However, IL-1β expression and secretion were significantly increased by both P. gingivalis and S. gordonii, exceeding levels seen in M1-stimulated macrophages, and prior exposure to either bacterium did not alter IL-1β induction upon M1 stimulation. These findings suggest that P. gingivalis selectively suppresses IL-6 and TNF-α responses while allowing sustained IL-1β production, potentially contributing to immune evasion and chronic inflammation in periodontal disease. Conclusions: Our research identified a significant inhibitory effect of P. gingivalis on the differentiation of naïve (M0) macrophages, preventing their proper polarization into the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype. Specifically, macrophages exposed to P. gingivalis exhibited an impaired response to M1 stimuli, suggesting that the bacterium actively disrupts classical inflammatory activation. This effect appears to be further amplified in a chronic infection state, contributing to immune dysregulation and persistent inflammation. While our study focused on key inflammatory markers, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, the broader impact of P. gingivalis on other critical cytokines and chemokines involved in periodontitis remains to be fully elucidated. These findings highlight the bacterium’s ability to evade immune clearance and drive chronic inflammation, reinforcing its role as a keystone pathogen in periodontal disease
Dry and Wet Deposition of Atmospheric Microplastics in Las Vegas, Nevada
No full textPlastics have been one of the most widely used man-made materials since their inception, and production is expected to grow by five percent every year. Plastic waste has become a growing global environmental issue. Primary MPs are plastics that are created to be intentionally tiny for their specific functional purpose. Secondary microplastics (MPs) are byproducts of plastic waste occurring due to the breakdown of larger plastics resulting in the presence and accumulation of MPs in the environment. MPs are defined as tiny particles of plastic between 5 mm and 1 μm in size. MPs have been found in the deep ocean, freshwater systems, soil, the atmosphere, and even the human body. Some of Earth’s most remote regions with virtually no humans have been contaminated with MPs suggesting that the atmosphere is a major channel in MPs transport and deposition. The impact atmospheric deposition of MPs has on environmental MPs pollution is unclear due to a lack of research. Being able to identify the potential sources of MPs in the environment is a necessary step in MPs pollution control.This study presents the first evidence of dry and wet deposition of atmospheric MPs in the City of Las Vegas, Nevada. Atmospheric dry and wet deposition samples were collected for a year and MPs deposition fluxes in wet versus dry weather were quantified and compared. The MPs dry deposition fluxes ranged from 3.84×103 to 8.12×104 MPs/m2/day and wet deposition fluxes ranged from 1.53×104 to 1.43×106 MPs/m2/day. The majority of deposited MPs from both wet and dry weather were \u3c 25 μm particles. On average, MPs deposition fluxes in dry weather during spring and winter months were higher than those in fall and summer months. Precipitation events promoted the deposition of atmospheric MPs. Overall, MPs deposition flux per day in wet weather was greater than that in dry weather. MPs dry and wet deposition fluxes were compared to particulate matter (PM) concentrations. MPs wet deposition flux showed a moderate (with outlier) to fairly strong (without outlier) correlation (R2 = 0.560 – 0.778) with average PM10 concentrations prior to rainfall, and a moderate correlation (R2 = 0.577) without the outlier with average PM2.5 concentrations prior to rainfall. The relationships between MPs wet deposition flux and PM2.5 concentrations prior to rainfall with the outlier and the removal effect of precipitation on PM10 and PM2.5 were not statistically significant. MPs dry deposition fluxes and PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations had weak to no correlation and were not statistically significant. These results highlight the importance of atmospheric MPs deposition as a source of environmental MPs pollution
Ecological Momentary Assessment of Mood, Affect, and Perceived Criticism: Investigation of Daily Patterns and Family Impact
No full textPerceived criticism (PC) is a component of expressed emotion (EE) that assesses an individual’s perceptions of the criticism that they are exposed to within their interpersonal relationships. PC is elevated among individuals with mood disorders, and mood and mood symptoms act as both a predictor and an outcome of PC. However, few studies have examined the relationship between PC and affect, a more momentary measure of emotion that can serve as a guide to underlying mood. Additionally, limited research has examined how PC within family relationships compares to other interpersonal interactions. Understanding the relationship between momentary affect and PC and exploring how this association varies across different interpersonal contexts may provide additional insights into how affect, mood, and PC can be therapeutically addressed. Therefore, this manuscript used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine how momentary affect is associated with ratings of PC and to explore how this relationship compares across familial and non-familial interpersonal contexts. Generally, negative affect (i.e., irritability and depression) was associated with increases in PC, whereas positive affect (i.e., energy and happiness) was associated with decreases in PC, and individuals rated higher PC in family interactions compared to non-family interactions. State affect (e.g., momentary) ratings, were also more consistently associated with changes in PC compared to trait affect (e.g., summary mood) ratings. However, the relationship between state affect and PC varied across high and low trait affect and across social contexts (e.g., family or non-family). Momentary affect may play a particularly important role in PC, and assessing and intervening on affect may be a beneficial way to reduce criticism and improve social functioning, particularly within family relationships. Understanding general mood may also inform how momentary affect will impact PC and which relationships will be most impacted, allowing individuals to maximize or minimize the impact of momentary affect on PC