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Immune populations leading to IgE production in helminth infection
No full textHelminth infections are known to elicit a Th2 immune response that produces large quantities of IgE. Th2 immune responses are most well-known for causing allergic diseases. IgE is a key component to allergic disease. The relationship between helminth and allergies has for a long time been confounding. Helminth infections have been associated with a protective phenotype to allergic disease. B cells, the source of all antibody, come in two main types, B1 B cells and B2 B cells. B1 B cells are a fetal derived B cell that are known to be more innate like, and they produce natural antibodies. B2 B cells are BM derived and undergo affinity maturation to produce more effective antibody. Previous work from our lab showed that B1 B cells produce IgE that attenuated worm clearance and that B2 B cells cleared worm burden faster. However, these experiments utilized cell surface markers to sort B1 B cells from B2 B cells, and the BM can give rise to B1-like B cells. In these studies we utilize a mouse model that distinguishes B cells by their developmental lineage. We found that true B1 B cells do not make IgE in a helminth infection. BM derived B1-like B cells however significantly contribute to IgE production. Since the lineage of B cell that produced both clearing and protective IgE, we examined the follicular reaction in a helminth infection. Recently Tfh13s were described as a novel Tfh2 subtype that is critical for the production of allergen specific IgE. Mice infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis were found to have both classical Tfh2s as well as Tfh13s by day 10 post-infecton. The IgG and IgE producing cells followed the induction of Tfh2s and tfh13s. A memory response to Nippostrongylus brasiliensis was also examined for Tfhs. Tfh2s and Tfh13s appeared rapidly by day 4 post-infection. IgG1 and IgE producing cells also appeared by day 4. These data indicate that Tfh13s are in present in an immune response to Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, and that they have a role in both primary and memory responses
Through the Lens of Social Media: Examining the Relationship between Exposure to Social Media Videos of Police Misconduct and Perceptions of Legitimacy and Cooperation with Campus Police
Get PDFThis dissertation examines how exposure to social media and internet news videos depicting police misconduct influences college students\u27 perceptions of campus police legitimacy, procedural justice, and willingness to cooperate. Although prior research has demonstrated the impact of media portrayals on perceptions of municipal police, limited attention has been given to campus policing contexts. Guided by Tyler’s process-based theory of police legitimacy and Gerbner’s cultivation theory, this quantitative study surveyed 400 students at a large public university in the Southeastern Mid-Atlantic region. Measures included self-reported viewing and engagement with police misconduct content on social media, internet, and traditional media platforms, as well as assessments of legitimacy, procedural justice, and cooperation.
Multivariate regression analyses revealed that greater exposure to police misconduct on internet news and social media platforms was significantly associated with lower perceptions of legitimacy, procedural justice, and cooperation with campus police. Political orientation moderated these relationships, with conservatives showing steeper declines in trust and willingness to cooperate with increased exposure, while liberals maintained lower, stable perceptions across exposure levels.
These findings underscore the relevance of digital media in shaping students’ views of institutional authority and support the resonance and substitution hypotheses of cultivation theory. The study concludes that campus police legitimacy is not insulated from national police narratives and suggests the need for trauma-informed, transparent, and community-based policing strategies tailored to university environments
Demystifying competing risks in kidney transplantation: Scalable regression, cluster informativeness assessment, and AI-powered prediction, with software
No full textThe increasing availability of large-scale electronic health records (EHR) in biomedical research presents computational challenges, particularly when applying traditional statistical models that cannot handle the sheer volume and complexity of the data. Motivated by large EHR data derived from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) kidney transplantation registry, this dissertation addresses some of the challenges posed in modeling time to event competing risks (CR) endpoints. First, we focus on attaining scalability in marginal modeling of clustered competing risks endpoints (subjects within centers) via Cox-type regression on the cumulative incidence function. This is achieved via modification of a forward-backward scan algorithm, which drastically reduces the computational time from to . Next, we investigated the paradigm of informative cluster size (ICS), where the size of a study cluster (here, kidney transplant centers) can be potentially correlated to the time to event (here, CR) endpoints, and propose a novel nonparametric test to assess the cluster informativeness. Leveraging modern empirical process theory, we rigorously establish the asymptotic properties of this test. Third, admitting the limitations of the traditional Cox regression framework, we consider a semiparametric weighted least squares accelerated failure time model for both independent and clustered CR data, where the logarithm of the CR failure times linearly relates to a set of covariates. The associated computational bottleneck (due to ) was mitigated via a divide-and-combine approach, where estimation was performed (separately) on randomly split subsets while arriving at the final estimate by combining the estimates from the subsets. Finally, to explore the power of modern artificial intelligence techniques to predict CR endpoints, we compare the performance of variety of existing deep neural networks to the traditional Fine and Gray regression model, in terms of predictive gain. The finite sample performances of the aforementioned modeling approaches were assessed via simulation studies, and illustrated via application to the UNOS dataset
TEACHING UNDER POLITICAL INFLUENCE: A MULTIPLE CASE-STUDY EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF CURRICULAR RESTRICTION POLICY ON COMMUNITY-CONNECTED INSTRUCTION (CCI) IN FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS (FSCS)
No full textScholars describe the political landscape as polarized, where partisanship —loyalty to a particular political party— dictates one’s beliefs. In education, this partisanship is best exhibited through conservative policy restricting curricula regarding race, racism\u27s pervasiveness, gender identity, and how history is taught in public schools. Conversely, Community-Connected Instruction (CCI) affirms students’ culture and builds critical thinking skills in an authentic environment. While studies suggest its benefits to students, the current curricular restriction policy challenges its usage. This form of teaching is closely associated with Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS), which primarily serve underserved student populations. This study examines how FSCS educators in different socio-political contexts perceive and engage with CCI, despite a curricular restriction policy born from conservative partisanship. Findings suggest that educators across various political contexts are unaware of CCI but still engage in forms of the pedagogy, despite the context. Furthermore, political context affects educators\u27 perceptions of CCI. This study fills a void in the literature as curricular restrictions have not been studied within the FSCS framework
THE ROLE OF MTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF XENOPUS Laevis AND ITS INTERSECTION WITH DYRK1A
No full textDown Syndrome, caused by trisomy of chromosome 21, is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and is associated with craniofacial anomalies. Among the triplicated genes, DYRK1A is a key contributor to the syndrome’s neurodevelopmental and craniofacial abnormalities. Recent studies suggest that DYRK1A may interact with signaling pathways, including the mTOR pathway, which regulates cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. However, whether this is true in embryos is unknown. Using the developmental model Xenopus laevis, this study examines 1) whether inhibition of mTORC1 causes developmental differences and 2) whether Dyrk1a inhibition exacerbates differences caused by inhibition of mTOR. Exposure to Rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, significantly reduced body length and midface. Morphometric analysis of craniofacial shape revealed that the changes in the midface were consistent with developmental delay rather than morphological defects. Cranial cartilage analysis revealed changes in the lower jaw that were consistent with a delay in development. Time-sensitive experiments showed that the effects of rapamycin were profound during a specific period of development when specification of organs and tissues, including the face, occurs. Finally, I determined that the reduction of midface size due to rapamycin exposure was made worse when these embryos were also exposed to a Dyrk1a inhibitor. These results are the first to suggest that Dyrk1a could modulate the mTOR pathway in embryos. The preliminary experiments have been a critical step to pave the way for testing whether rapamycin could be a feasible method to correct some of the developmental alterations in animal models with excess Dyrk1a
Food Waste Renaissance: From the Table, for the Table
Get PDFWhat if waste could be seen as a valuable resource rather than a burden? Food Waste Renaissance (FWR) explores innovative ways to transform excess food and byproducts into sustainable design materials. In Qatar, where food waste constitutes approximately 60% of urban waste, FWR promotes a shift in perception rather than attempting to resolve large-scale waste management issues. By fostering a culture where surplus becomes a resource, it inspires individuals, designers, and communities to embrace and contribute to a circular economy. FWR examines rice and date byproducts as biodegradable raw materials for lamps, bringing material from the table back to the table. Their translucency, texture, and organic unpredictability lend themselves to a unique outcome, demonstrating how today’s waste can become tomorrow’s sustainable design solutions
Civic Conservation Workshop: a User Manual for Creating a Makerspace Dedicated to Historic Preservation, Building Repair, and Civic Engagement
Get PDFResearch Abstract:
Democracy depends on citizens’ participation at all levels, from local to national; moreover, engagement in one’s community is directly correlated with greater reported feelings of happiness and trust (Cox et al., 2021). This research examines how makerspaces can act as civic hubs that promote inclusive community interaction, facilitate the exchange of cultural and skills-based knowledge, encourage civic discourse, and serve as sites for political engagement through the provision of tools and resources that focus on historic home repair/preservation and craft-based trades. Specifically, this study proposes the development and design of a preservation-focused makerspace in Jackson Ward, a historically significant neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia, as a unique space for promoting social connection and preserving cultural heritage, and in turn fostering wider civic engagement in the community. By exploring the intersection of physical space, social interaction, creative cultural production, and civic participation, this study asks the question: How can the design and programming of makerspaces be optimized to strengthen their role as civic third spaces that promote community engagement, enhance place-making, and build social capital for users?
Methods:
This research employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining literature review, case study analysis, and contextual exploration of the project site’s unique architectural and cultural heritage. Key themes explored include third spaces, makerspaces, and historic preservation, analyzed through the lens of social capital and participatory urbanism. Primary sources from publications in urban sociology, design theory, and preservation studies have been synthesized to construct a framework to inform the design of a makerspace tailored to a community’s needs and dedicated to a wider civic mission.
Key Findings/Outcomes:
1. Role of Third Spaces: Makerspaces are often well-equipped to function as contemporary third spaces that foster community engagement through collaborative learning and skill-building (Antonioli, 2020; Qi et al., 2024). 2. Civic Engagement: Preservation activities can strengthen residents’ connection to their neighborhood, promoting civic pride and responsibility (Ibarra-Sevilla, 2023). 3. Cultural Reproduction: The proposed makerspace facilitates the transmission of traditional handcrafts that have a rich history in Richmond, such as ornamental ironwork, and thereby serves as a way to enhance place attachment (Debowski et al, 2023). 4. Economic Impact: By equipping residents with the tools and skills to preserve and repair the buildings in their community, the proposed makerspace could support local craftsmanship, economic resilience, and sustainable urban design practices (Schroder et al., 2023). 5. Inclusive Design: A makerspace’s cross-generational and multi-generational appeal creates an inclusive environment that can foster collaborative community improvement and empower civic activity (Dang et al., 2021).
Research findings underscore the tangible and intangible contributions of a makerspace to its host community, emphasizing its potential as a multifaceted solution for community revitalization, civic re-engagement, and cultural/historic preservation of built history
Substrate preference and foraging behavior of two declining warblers in Appalachian shrublands
Get PDFAbstract Shrubland and early successional habitats (ESH) support a diversity of wildlife, including many declining songbirds. However, nonnative shrubs increasingly dominate these habitats, potentially altering habitat quality by influencing prey availability. Habitat quality can be assessed by observing foraging behaviors of songbirds and identifying preferred and avoided substrates as well as testing the predictions of optimal foraging theory; specifically that birds will maximize their energy gain relative to the costs. We examined foraging behaviors of Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera; GWWA) and Chestnut-sided Warblers (Setophaga pensylvanica; CSWA) in ESH on private lands in Virginia with varying amounts of nonnative shrub cover. Using foraging observations, we assessed substrate preference and avoidance, and whether foraging behaviors (attack rate, movement rate, and search effort) vary with the substrate they are foraging on and/or the broader context (i.e., the amount of nonnative shrub cover in the area). Both warbler species prefer to forage on native plants while disproportionately avoiding nonnative. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), and cherry (Prunus spp.) were the most preferred foraging substrates. GWWA had higher movement rates when foraging on avoided substrates, while CSWA had higher attack rates on preferred substrates. These substrate-level results support the predictions of optimal foraging theory, which assumes preferred substrates have higher prey availability than avoided substrates. However, when considering the broader vegetative context of foraging birds, behaviors did not follow expected patterns based on optimal foraging theory. Our findings demonstrate that these warblers have a strong preference for foraging on native plants and avoiding nonnative plants, and that preferred substrates likely have higher prey availability. Still, it is not clear if prey availability on preferred substrates is reduced when surrounded by nonnative plants. In this study, foraging observations occurred where the percentage of nonnative shrubs was always \u3c 40% of all available substrates and it may be that habitat quality is only negatively impacted when nonnative shrubs comprise ≥50% of available foraging substrates. We recommend that this research be used to guide private land management and restoration efforts in Virginia working landscapes by promoting native vegetation planting, retaining diverse early successional habitat, and reducing the spread of nonnative plant species to enhance habitat quality for shrubland birds
Junior Recital, Malik Gray, saxophone, video
Get PDFJunior Recital videoMalik Gray, saxophonewith April Freeman, drums; Korei Clardy, bass;Hepburn Hull, piano; Sam Colaccino, trumpetTuesday, April 29, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.Recital HallJames W. Black Music Center1015 Grove Avenue | Richmond, VirginiaThe presentation of this junior recital will fulfill in part the requirements of the Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies. Malik Gray studies saxophone with J.C. Kuhl
Junior Recital, Alex Turney, guitar
Get PDFJunior recitalAlex Turney, classical guitarThursday, April 17, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.Recital HallJames W. Black Music Center1015 Grove Avenue | Richmond, VirginiaThe presentation of this junior recital will fulfill in part the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. Alex Turney studies classical guitar with David Toussaint