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Post-Truth Rhetoric and Its Correlation to Social Media in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election
Get PDFIn this study, I investigated the relationship between post-truth rhetoric and popular social media posts made by public figures during the 2024 United States presidential election. I focused on which topics and posts received the most or least engagement during the election, and theorized whether post-truth rhetoric impacted the popularity of the posts. In my results, I found that the effectiveness of post-truth rhetoric varied by the political topic it was addressing. The results of this study conclude that post-truth rhetoric is not always inherently unethical. Further, studying post-truth rhetoric for the purpose of understanding why it is used and why it is effective for specific audiences allows the field of rhetoric to gain more insight into how people’s beliefs and concerns affect their decisions
Orange In a Mango Tree
No full textRajveer is born with alexithymia, a rare disorder in a remote Indian village. Because of his disorder, he can neither experience the full range of emotions nor understand the subtext of a conversation. By the time he is diagnosed with his disorder, on account of strong behavioral conditionings in rural Indian families, it becomes too difficult for him to understand and change himself. The latter part of the story is his journey towards converting his disorder into a profession, finding a way to become a part of mainstream society, and being able to love others, knowing you can never fully understand them until they are anything but honest with you. The crux of the plot is that even broken stones can make a wall
Functional Characterization of the C-terminal Cholinesterase-Like (ChEL) Domain of the Thyroid Hormone Precursor Protein
Get PDFVertebrate life is unsustainable without thyroid hormones. The only known precursor for thyroid hormone synthesis is thyroglobulin (Tg), composed of upstream regions I-II-III and a C-terminal cholinesterase-like (ChEL) domain, which bears 47% similarity to acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Mutations in Tg cause congenital hypothyroidism, the most common congenital endocrinopathy affecting 1 in 2,000-4,000 newborns, with a varying degree of phenotypic manifestations. Tg protein, regulated by TSH, is secreted to the lumen of thyroid follicles, where thyroxine (T4) is formed primarily at the N-terminus, and triiodothyronine (T3) is formed primarily in the ChEL domain. Previous in vitro studies indicated that the isolated ChEL domain (following a signal peptide) is competent for dimerization, secretion, iodination, and T3 generation, but little to no T4 generation. However, the in vivo biological relevance of the Tg-ChEL domain (in the absence of the remaining Tg molecule) is entirely unknown. Furthermore, the functional effects of several Tg-ChEL mutations responsible for congenital hypothyroidism remain to be elucidated. This project has two main objectives. Objective 1 examines the thyroid histological characteristics of a genetically engineered mouse model built for selective expression of the Tg-ChEL domain. Objective 2 establishes an in vitro system using recombinant AChE as a reporter to enable future functional testing of ChEL domain mutations linked to congenital hypothyroidism. A deeper understanding of the functional role of the Tg’s ChEL domain could shed light on the spectrum of congenital hypothyroidism phenotypes, allowing for genotype-phenotype correlations for the future improvement of the disease diagnosis and treatment
Comfort Women Statues: Memory and Politics of the East Asian-American Diaspora
Get PDFMy research analyzes the contrasting Asian-American perspectives on the Korean “comfort women,” who were subject to sexual exploitation by Japanese occupation forces during World War II. After the war, “comfort women” survivors and others advocated for the memorialization of those who experienced the horrors of sexual slavery. Two such markers include the “Comfort Women Memorial,” a bronze tablet in Palisades Park, New Jersey, placed in 2010, and the “Peace Monument,” a statue of a young Korean woman in Glendale, California, unveiled in 2013. Reactions from the Japanese government, Japanese citizens, and some Japanese Americans have been negative. The Japanese military deny that they were involved in the coercion of Korean women into sexual slavery. However, the reaction from Korean Americans have been strong and supportive of these memorial actions. Korean American non-profit groups have worked together with “comfort women” survivors to build these memorials. My poster will examine the controversial reactions and political tensions sparked between Japan and Korea due to the “comfort women” memorials, as well as examine the historical context of Japanese colonialism in Korea from 1910 to 1945
Assessing Nutrient Composition of Skimmed Human Milk for Treatment of Chylothorax and Very Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency Patients
No full textVery long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency is an inherited autosomal recessive metabolic disorder of fatty acid oxidation, and chylothorax is a condition where chyle accumulates in the chest cavity; both conditions require fat restriction as a treatment. Human milk feeding is encouraged for newborns but may be discontinued since it is a contraindication in severe forms of both disorders. The long-term goal of this study is to inform clinical practice guidelines for newborns with chylothorax or symptomatic VLCAD deficiency. The objective and specific aim is to evaluate the full nutrient content of human milk across four methods of fat separation: (1) refrigerated centrifuge, (2) nonrefrigerated centrifuge, (3) cream separation, and (4) manual separation, as compared to the control. It is hypothesized that all fat separation methods will yield lower amounts of total fat and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) and decrease choline while water-soluble vitamins and minerals will be unaffected. The proposed research is innovative because researchers have not yet examined complete micronutrient profiles of skimmed human milk to inform co-interventions. The rationale for exploring skimmed human milk over an MCT-based formula is the ability to provide the beneficial bioactive compounds (e.g., growth factors, immunoglobulins, oligosaccharides) in human milk that support infant growth and development. This research addresses the 2023 NIFA Programs Area Priority Code A1344a Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases program and is significant because it will inform human milk skimming methods and nutrient fortification practices for newly diagnosed VLCAD deficiency or chylothorax patients so that they may still receive the benefits of human milk nutrition
Probing Binding and Allosteric Mechanisms of the KRAS Interactions with Monobodies and Affimer Proteins : Ensemble-Based Mutational Profiling and Thermodynamic Analysis of Binding Energetics and Allostery Reveal Diversity of Functional Hotspots and Cryptic Pockets Linked by Conserved Communication Network
Get PDFKRAS, a historically undruggable oncogenic driver, has eluded targeted therapies due to its lack of accessible binding pockets in its active state. This study investigates the conformational dynamics, binding mechanisms, and allosteric communication networks of KRAS in complexes with monobodies (12D1, 12D5) and affimer proteins (K6, K3, K69) to characterize the binding and allosteric mechanisms and hotspots of KRAS binding. Through molecular dynamics simulations, mutational scanning, binding free energy analysis and network-based analyses, we identified conserved allosteric hotspots that serve as critical nodes for long-range communication in KRAS. Key residues in β-strand 4 (F78, L80, F82), α-helix 3 (I93, H95, Y96), β-strand 5 (V114, N116), and α-helix 5 (Y157, L159, R164) consistently emerged as hotspots across diverse binding partners, forming contiguous networks linking functional regions of KRAS. Notably, β-strand 4 acts as a central hub for propagating conformational changes, while the cryptic allosteric pocket centered around H95/Y96 positions targeted by clinically approved inhibitors was identified as a universal hotspot for both binding and allostery. The study also reveals the interplay between structural rigidity and functional flexibility, where stabilization of one region induces compensatory flexibility in others, reflecting KRAS\u27s adaptability to perturbations. We found that monobodies stabilize the switch II region of KRAS, disrupting coupling between switch I and II regions and leading to enhanced mobility in switch I of KRAS. Similarly, affimer K3 leverages the α3-helix as a hinge point to amplify its effects on KRAS dynamics. Mutational scanning and binding free energy analysis highlighted the energetic drivers of KRAS interactions. revealing key hotspot residues, including H95 and Y96 in the α3 helix, as major contributors to binding affinity and selectivity. Network analysis identified β-strand 4 as a central hub for propagating conformational changes, linking distant functional sites. The predicted allosteric hotspots strongly aligned with experimental data, validating the robustness of the computational approach. Despite distinct binding interfaces, shared hotspots highlight a conserved allosteric infrastructure, reinforcing their universal importance in KRAS signaling. The results of this study can inform rational design of small-molecule inhibitors that mimic the effects of monobodies and affimer proteins, challenging the undruggable reputation of KRAS
Factors Influencing Student Motivations and Experiences in STEM Course Office Hours
Get PDFOffice hours are a part of nearly all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, with many academic and affective benefits for students who attend. However, despite their ubiquity, there has only been limited past work examining the sources of knowledge students draw from to shape their perceptions of office hours, as well as the factors that influence students\u27 experiences in STEM course office hours. Here, we conducted semistructured interviews with 20 students enrolled in an introductory STEM course to investigate what motivates students to attend STEM course office hours, the factors that shape their experiences in office hours, and what influenced their conceptions of office hours. We situate our work using expectancy value theory and racialized opportunity cost, identifying that students\u27 experiences with office hours in high school and how an instructor describes office hours in a class and on the syllabus influence students\u27 expectancies and perceived value and costs for attending office hours. In addition, we find that most students are motivated by the need for help with course content, though some students report a higher perceived cost of attending office hours when they have lower self-efficacy in the course. We conclude by providing recommendations for instructors to encourage student engagement with office hours