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Breath of the Wild: Analyzing Intraspecific Variation in Metabolic Rate Using Oxygen Respirometry in Daphnia magna
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/336ba3ce-c861-4e1c-b170-0f24d18d38f5/thumb/128.jpgMetabolism is the biological system of chemical pathways that allow organisms to process nutrients and transform them into energy to sustain the body and build macromolecules. Because there are many working parts involved with metabolism and its chemical pathways, many factors that can influence the rate at which it takes place including the various mechanisms used to maintain homeothermy, variation in body size or activity levels, and abiotic factors like external temperature and stress. Many components of metabolic function have a genetic component and thus can vary among genotypes and evolve over time. Respirometry is a method used to measure oxygen uptake, and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide within an isolated space over a period. In this study, respiration was measured in 105 Daphnia magna individuals across a total of 6 different genotypes of D. magna at two developmental stages. These genotypes originated from Finland, Germany, and Italy with 2 genotypes from each population. By comparing the metabolic rate across different genotypes of D. magna, we can build a stronger understanding of how much genotype variation impacts the metabolic rate and learn more about respirometry as a tool for understanding metabolism
Exploration of Xenopus laevis Vocal Evolution using Computational Modeling
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/00b99ea4-f91b-4de1-871f-1b488be6a9e9/thumb/128.jpgIn this thesis, I applied computational modeling to study how neuronal circuits evolve. In particular, I developed a model of the Xenopus fast trill circuit, which I used to study differences in male X. laevis and X. petersii advertisement calls. After simulating 1, 000, 000 random com- binations of parameters, I found that simulated Ca2+ dynamics regulate call tim- ing in the circuit. In particular, Ca2+ removal underlies call period and Ca2+ in- flux controls call duration. Within the 1, 000, 000 simulated networks, I identified networks which produced activity reminiscent of X. laevis and X. petersii adver- tisement calls. Analysis of difference between the two species groups revealed that differences in Ca2+ removal and NMDAR signaling were primarily responsible for differences in observed behavior. Next, I looked at recent RNA sequencing data be- tween the two species and found that patterns of differential expression matched predictions generated from analysis of my computational model. All together, these results suggest that Ca2+ dynamics could explain behavioral differences between X. laevis and X. petersii and that further exploration into its role in the fast trill circuit is warranted
We Are Not Your Jezebels: The Impact of the Jezebel Stereotype on College Aged Black Women
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/a37d3d61-259c-4494-ad10-b2f47e77b49e/thumb/128.jpgThe Jezebel stereotype has historically been used as a sexually explicit term to promote and encourage the physical and verbal degradation of Black women since the 1600s, when the enslavement of African people in the United States was deemed as a legal institution (Collins, 2002; Watkins and David Eds., 1970). This stereotype portrays Black women as hypersexual and immoral, serving to justify their systemic exploitation and sexual abuse by White enslavers. While its roots trace back to the Bible, where Queen Jezebel was associated with idolatry and sexual immorality (English Standard Version Bible, 2016), the stereotype gained a new, insidious purpose during U.S. slavery. It was used to portray enslaved Black women as "sexually aggressive wet nurses," rationalizing their abuse and relegating all Black women to the category of sexually deviant (Collins, 2002, p. 81). Although the term “Jezebel” itself may seem outdated, the stereotype’s imagery persists in modern labels such as “hoochie” and “thot,” which continue to categorize Black women as promiscuous or lacking sexual restraint (Collins, 2004). These contemporary manifestations of the Jezebel stereotype impact Black women across various aspects of life, contributing to unwanted attention, mistreatment, and increased vulnerability to physical and psychological harm (Cheeseborough, 2020; Watkins & David Eds., 1970). However, while much research has examined the negative effects of this stereotype, its potential influence on Black women’s positive self-expression and identity remains underexplored
Verification of a Nitric Acid Permeation Source for Use in Calibrating a Continuous Analyzer for Total Oxidized Nitrogen in Air
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/c2777b04-402a-4edd-bdfd-47bece030584/thumb/128.jpgThe goal of this thesis is to quantify the output of a custom-built nitric acid calibration source and then use that calibration source to validate performance of a field-based system for measuring total nitrogen oxides. This is important from an analytical perspective to show that we can measure a chemically reactive component of the atmosphere, and an important component of wildfire smoke. Since wildfire land area data began to be nationally tabulated, wildfire area has increased and is projected to continue to increase with the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Some research suggests that if fires continue growing in severity and happening for more months in the year, areas of the United States will have months of smoke-related air pollution, which is hazardous to health. It is important to understand the interaction and behavior of air pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen oxides to predict their impact on populated areas. These understandings rely on quantitative measurement of the chemistry of wildfire smoke
Overgrown: How Colonial Perception Affects our Valuation of Illustrated Graphic Media
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/cde02565-7c94-4bb7-ad02-9fb2a969a63e/thumb/128.jpgThroughout this thesis I discuss the different ways that Western Imperialism, or the Colonial Modern has impacted our understanding and relationship both to image, perception, and nature. In Chapter 1 I define what the “Colonial Eye” is and how it pertains to the world around us both physically and socially in today’s world. I further discuss how Colonialism has shaped our values and perceptions of what images are, and their importance within a social context. Following this establishment, Chapter 2 focuses on how the Modernized West uses tools of Colonialism to boost a Capitalist economy, which negatively effects the health of both the ecosystem and populations of urbanized areas. Finally, I discuss the process of creating my Graphic Novel Overgrown, and how Chapters 1 and 2 fed into my thinking and process behind the story
Characterizing Eating Disorders in Treatment Seeking Older Adults
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/56ec446e-e801-495c-93c5-576e035cea23/thumb/128.jpgOlder adults are a population that is neglected in general in terms of psychology research but especially in regard to eating disorder (ED) research, which has historically focused on adolescent and young adult samples. Research attention must be devoted to ED manifestation in older adults in order to better meet their treatment needs. This study compared data from older adults (defined as adults over 40) and younger adults (defined as 18-39) in a partial hospitalization program (PHP) for ED treatment and followed for one year after treatment in order to elucidate the differences in ED presentation and treatment efficacy. Based on prior research, we hypothesized that older adults would score lower on the EDE-Q compared to younger adults at admission. Research regarding EDE-Q subscales and change over time was exploratory and did not have a hypothesis. Older adults were also hypothesized to report higher rates of depression and of comorbid conditions, as well as higher rates of Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) when compared to younger adults. Contrary to the hypothesis, there was not found to be a significant difference in ED symptom severity between younger adults and older adults at admission. However, older adults scored significantly higher than younger adults on the EDE-Q global, EDE-Q shape concern and EDE-Q weight concern at the 12 month follow up, suggesting that older adults experience a symptom relapse over time that younger adults do not. Older adults were also found to experience higher rates of BED and BN, which supports the hypothesis. These results suggest that more research is needed to understand why older adults are performing worse than younger adults in terms of ED symptoms over time after treatment. Treatment may not be as effective for older adults and it is also possible that older adult quality of life contributes to relapse. Further research is needed to investigate the needs of older adults experiencing disordered eating in order to better treat EDs in older adults
Weird Fiction: Capitalism's Shadow
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/04ef63bf-3154-47e5-b562-15dab91c4d91/thumb/128.jpgIn the last several decades, the genre known as weird fiction has experienced a surge in commercial success. This thesis explores the possible reasons for that increase in popularity through an analysis of the genre's history, formal elements, and past criticism. It argues that capitalism and other societal archetypes that refute or limit dissent innately create the conditions for weird fiction to exist, and that the genre acts as a foil and counterpoint to literary realism. In pursuit of proving this theory, the thesis engages with three authors of the genre's history: Robert Aickman, Franz Kafka, and China Miéville. These three will help explain weird fiction's basic traits and formal makeup as well as its innate aptitude for societal criticism. Even though Kafka's work is the oldest of the three, Aickman's wide range of short stories from the mid-nineteenth century allows for an initial understanding of weird fiction's potential variety and the throughlines across that widely varied body of work. After establishing this basis of understanding, an analysis of Kafka's iconic novella The Metamorphosis illustrates the genre's inherently political nature and its relationship to its social context. Finally, China Miéville's The City and the City provides a portrait of the contemporary moment and weird fiction's rising mainstream popularity, as well as insight into the genre's future
Old Growth, Hot Topic: Investigating Crown Fuels and Epiphyte Fire Risk in Douglas-fir Forests
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/1b0877e7-96d0-44f6-9366-b199d132a9ba/thumb/128.jpgWith evidence of increasing wildfire severity and occurrences each year due to climate change, expanding our knowledge on the flammability of PNW forests is vital. Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir), the most abundant tree in the PNW is a very flammable species that requires fire to regenerate, yet some forests have grown very old with the absence of destructive fires. Old-growth forests in the PNW are home to rare epiphytes, which contribute heavily to the canopy biomass of these ecosystems, yet little is known about their flammability. Here, I used single-rope technique climbing alongside a novel flammability apparatus to map fuels within the canopy of P. menziesii forests and experimentally burn them. I measured architectural and hydraulic functional traits of both epiphytes and foliage and used community weighted means to compare flammability of epiphyte communities between different tree ages and vertical crown positions. Crown mapping revealed potential buffers to flammability such as a lack of fine fuels in the lower crown. I discovered that leaf dry matter content, a known predictor of high flammability, increases linearly alongside within crown height. I also uncovered potentially higher burnt biomass, smolder time, and flame height in old-growth epiphyte communities. These results suggest that the low occurrence of high severity fire in old-growth forests is not due to fire-resistant epiphyte community composition but has instead allowed for fire-sensitive communities to establish themselves. These results garner further investigation, with mature forests also potentially offering a less-flammable forest state between young and old-growth forests
Communication and Affective Responsiveness: Examining the Influence of Family Functioning on Adolescent Eating Disorder Severity
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/d5ca53f7-f3b5-4fa8-a1cb-03bd2920d1b1/thumb/128.jpgObjective: The current study explored the relationship between functioning within the family unit and the severity of eating pathology in adolescents (11-18 years old) with diagnosed eating disorders. We focused on two aspects of family functioning: communication (the direct verbal exchange of information) and affective responsiveness (the ability to display appropriate emotions in various situations). Methods: Our sample included 358 (Mage = 15.59, SD = 1.38, 81.29% White, 5.31% Asian, 0.84% Black, and 0.56% Native American/Alaskan Native) adolescents from a partial hospital program at the University of California San Diego’s Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research. To measure our constructs, we used the communication and affective responsiveness subscales from the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and the global score from the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Hypothesis: We predicted that affective responsiveness would serve as a statistically significant moderating variable in the relationship between familial communication and the severity of eating pathology. Results: Our hypothesis was not supported, indicating that affective responsiveness was not a significant moderator. Neither family variables (communication nor affective responsiveness) were correlated with the severity of eating pathology (EDE-Q Global score). However, we did find a positive significant correlation between communication and affective responsiveness scores (r = 0.68, p < .001). Our exploratory analyses with a bulimia nervosa-only sample (N = 33) found that affective responsiveness was significantly correlated to EDE-Q Global scores (p = 0.03). There was also an interaction between the family variables and severity of eating pathology (p = 0.004). Conclusions: While our hypothesis was not supported, research in this field and topics are still very important. Future research should assess differences across ED diagnoses related to various facets of family functioning
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a risk factor for Parkinson’s Disease and CPAP mitigates risk of PD: an EHR- based cohort study in military Veterans
No full texthttps://rdc.reed.edu/v1/resources/a91bc8b5-5c63-4cef-9a05-41a6ef46b862/thumb/128.jpgObjective: To measure the risk of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and evaluate the impact of early versus late Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment. Introduction: Previous studies have shown an association between OSA and various synucleinopathies, but a causal link between OSA and PD is unknown. This study evaluated OSA as a potential risk factor for PD by leveraging the VA Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) spanning 20+ years and 20+ million Veterans. Methods: OSA was defined by ICD-10 code G47.33 (OSA+). Outcomes included PD and death from any cause. We validated PD diagnosis previously using 2 case definitions (PPV 78% and 90%). CPAP use was determined using HealthFactor field, a semi-structured field containing data from medical interviews. Only 9.9% of Veterans had mentions of CPAP in this field (CPAP+); therefore, individuals missing HealthFactor data were excluded from the secondary CPAP analysis. “CPAP+ Early” was defined as mentions of CPAP within 2 years of OSA diagnosis; “CPAP+ Late” indicated ≥ 2 years since OSA diagnosis. Results: 165,627 OSA+ and 11,426,208 OSA- Veterans were identified. After Inverted Probability Treatment Weighting analysis, balancing of birthyear/age, sex, smoking status, race, ethnicity, pseudo-randomization by covariates, and adjustment for competing risk of death, OSA+ was associated with a significantly increased incidence of PD with 1.8 [1.4, 2.3] 95% confidence intervals, (p≤0.001) extra cases of PD per 1000 people at 5 years after OSA onset. “CPAP+ Late” had a similar incidence of PD to CPAP-. In contrast, “CPAP+ Early” had significantly lower incidence of PD, with a reduction of 2.03 cases of PD (p≤0.001) 5 years after OSA. Discussion: Results indicate that OSA may be an important, modifiable risk factor for the development of PD and potentially other synucleinopathies. Future work will involve OSA case validation and identified more sensitive methods of capturing CPAP utilization