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COMPARISON OF COST, ACCESSIBILITY, SPEED, AND EFFICIENCY OF MODERN MICROBIAL DETECTION METHODS FOR WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE AND THEIR POTENTIAL BENEFITS IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS
No full textDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater surveillance helped predict the emergence of several waves of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, sometimes before clinical detection, alerting public health authorities to investigate. As human fecal material can contain the nucleic acids of both DNA- and RNA-based pathogens, new methods isolating total nucleic acid (TNA) can be used to detect a wider variety of pathogens and genetic targets. Wastewater Surveillance is faster, cost effective and scalable. This study compared three commercially available TNA extraction kits: Promega Rapid Capture Beads (Rapid), Maxwell RSC Enviro Total Nucleic Acid (Vacuum), and Nanotrap® Microbiome A and B Enviro Water Protocol using NucleoMag Kit (Ceres-MN), assessing their cost, accessibility, speed and efficiency. The Maxwell RSC Enviro TNA Kit was the most reliable but its cost limits accessibility. The Ceres-MN is more affordable but needs further optimization, while the Rapid Kit offers a promising, cost-effective alternative though not yet commercially available
“Mijo, you can do it- just spit on it a little!”: Rasquachismo skills Latina teachers acquire in building rapport with students
No full textOne meaningful way that humans show compassion is through caring. Teven (2001) explained that caring is an essential attribute of most, if not all, human relationships (pg. 159). As a Latina, caring and being cared for are crucial aspects of communication within our Mexican-American culture. Growing up, it was ingrained in us to understand and recognize what caring looked and felt like. Researchers and scholars agree that educators\u27 emotional characteristics significantly impact students\u27 achievement, attitude, motivation, and learning (Straits, 2007, p. 171). This case study examines how Latina teachers develop rasquachismo skills to build rapport with their students. Through qualitative research, I aim to understand how a teacher’s upbringing influences their educational philosophies and fosters the interpersonal skills necessary for establishing solid teacher-student relationships based on care and understanding. This study seeks new insights into how rasquachismo skills enable Latina educators to cultivate meaningful connections with their students
I Set You Up: Understanding Parenting and Motivation Styles on Academic Achievement
No full textThe traditional parenting theory focuses on responsiveness and demand as an important dimension of parenting styles (Kim et al., 2018). Parenting is influenced by cultures due to shared values, beliefs, and experiences that establish behavioral norms among the groups (Guarnaccia & Rodriguez, 1996). This study consisted of 80 participants; all were students from Texas A&M University-San Antonio using SONA systems. The present study measured parenting styles (Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive) using a 30-question Parental Authority questionnaire (PAQ) with ratings of 1 (Completely agree) - 5 (Completely disagree) and a 28-question Academic Motivation orientation scale with a Likert scale rating of 1(Corresponds a lot)-7 (Does not correspond)to see how these two factors play a role in academic achievement among college students. Our preliminary analysis indicated that permissive parenting style had a negative correlation with amotivation and a positive correlation with extrinsic motivation-external regulation and college GPA
Quantum-Inspired, Self-Healing Artificial Intelligence: A Dynamic Framework for Encrypted Cybersecurity Defense
No full textThis conceptual research introduces a quantum-inspired, self-healing artificial intelligence (AI) framework to revolutionize modern cybersecurity. The proposed system dynamically alters encryption protocols and autonomously patches vulnerabilities in real-time based on continuous threat analysis. Unlike static Artificial Intelligent (AI) systems or fixed Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)-256 encryption, this model adapts encryption strength and structure by mimicking quantum randomness, unpredictability, and quick key rotation. This would help prevent attackers from penetrating environments at a faster, more persistent rate than the current landscape. With the ability to detect, defend, and heal itself without manual input, the framework presents a resilient and proactive defense strategy. Though implementing such a system may require infrastructure shifts and additional overhead, the long-term benefits of reduced breaches, stronger adaptability, and forward compatibility make it a compelling innovation. This idea opens the door to redefining how we protect sensitive data in an era of rising cyber threats and quantum computing risks
Studying the Indoor Air Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus
No full textWhen humans exhale, they release microbes into the air and many factors support the airborne transmission of microbes. We’re using Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) to model this phenomenon, as it is found in 30% of healthy humans. We’re investigating the relationship between temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels and the prevalence of S. aureus in air samples, along with other variables such as room size, occupancy, movement, and masking. We’re using a Trio.Bas air sampler with mannitol salt agar (MSA) plates to select for S. aureus in various rooms with differing occupancy levels at 30-minute and 60-minute intervals, and an additional sample was taken when the room was unoccupied. Samples were incubated for 24-48 hours, and S. aureus colonies were counted. Preliminary data suggests that CO2 levels and occupancy correlated with the amount of Staphylococcus found. We’re conducting further analysis to determine if significant differences exist between our variables
Network Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: Identification of Hub Genes and Potential Therapeutic Targets
No full textStaphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen with increasing antibiotic resistance, posing a global health threat. To identify key genes facilitating resistance, we analyzed 1,062 genomes from the NCBI Genome database and compiled 229 antimicrobial resistance genes from CARD, ResFinder, NCBI, and AR-ANNOT databases. Using network analysis, we identified mecA, mgrA, arlR, arlS, and msrA1 as hub genes, playing central roles in resistance pathways. Functional enrichment and molecular function analyses revealed that these genes are primarily involved in antibiotic efflux, target replacement, and target protection. These mechanisms contribute to resistance against disinfectants, fluoroquinolones, penams, streptogramins, macrolides, peptides, tetracyclines, and glycylcyclines. Identifying hub genes and their biological processes enhances our understanding of S. aureus resistance mechanisms and provides potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies. Our findings offer valuable insights into combatting antibiotic resistance and guiding future drug development efforts
Utilizing agent-based modeling to understand amphibian complex life cycle ecology and evolution
No full textMany amphibian species undergo complex life cycles in which larvae must balance consuming resources and metamorphosing quickly enough to escape their shrinking pond. Modeling this has been difficult due to the interplay of environmental, physiological, and genetic factors influencing metamorphosis. We have developed a spatially-explicit agent-based model simulating Ambystoma maculatum across four developmental stages—egg, larva, juvenile, and adult. Agents are characterized by properties emulating real-life amphibian attributes, including genes that either additively influence metamorphic risk or remain functionally neutral. The environment in the model consists of a grid of patches defined by parameters for agent mortality risk, habitat permeability, and food availability, and it includes the ability to import GIS data. We have utilized the model to study gene flow and natural selection under several spatial scenarios, featuring ponds with unique hydroperiods. The model has the potential to serve as a powerful tool for conservation, research, and education
Optimizing Omnivory: Quantifying Digestive Efficiency in Response to Different Diets in the Day Gecko, Phelsuma grandis.
No full textMany organisms exhibit physiological and morphological adaptations, along with symbiotic relationships with specialized gut microbes, to enhance their digestive efficiency. Omnivores, especially those that consume arthropods and plant material, face the challenge of digesting both chitin and cellulose—compounds that typically require symbiotic gut bacteria to break down. This investigation explores how dietary changes acutely and chronically affect digestive efficiency in the gastrointestinal tracts of a reptilian omnivore. A sample of day geckos (Phelsuma grandis) was provided with three distinct dietary regimens: arthropod-only, fruit-only, and a combination of both. Here, we present short-term and long-term differences in digestive efficiency and microbiome diversity across these treatments. This study not only enhances our understanding of reptilian digestive physiology but also highlights the complex interactions among diet, gut microbiota, and overall digestive efficiency in these organisms
Building Resilience: The Role of Social Rank and Alliances
Get PDFResilience, the ability to recover from adversity, is a cornerstone of psychological well-being and a key to human thriving and mental fortitude. This study examines resilience as an adaptive psychological mechanism and situates it within an evolutionary framework to provide a clearer understanding of resilience across diverse populations, personalities, and cultures. Specifically, this study investigates whether perceived social rank predicts resilience and explores how social support and alliances mediate this relationship in a population of human service professionals. Participants (N = 256) completed an online survey that included measurements of resilience, social rank perceptions, personality, and coalition-related variables. Results suggest that higher rank perceptions and emotional stability predict enhanced resilience, partially due to social support and reliable alliances. These results support an evolutionary model wherein rank functions as a mechanism for navigating social hierarchies and predicts human resilience
Removal of Diisopropylamine From Water Using Ultraviolet- and Thermal-Activated Persulfate Degradation
Get PDFUV light-activated persulfate degradation of diisopropylamine (DIPA) was explored as a means for improving water quality in product water derived from oil and natural gas produced water. A set of temperature swing solvent extraction (TSSE) tests was conducted to investigate the effect of varying ratios of DIPA to feed ratios on water recovery and conductivity and also to reinforce available data suggesting that TSSE may remove saline ions from synthetic produced water enough to improve water quality sufficient enough at sufficient quantities enough for reuse. TSSE may result in residual DIPA remaining in the product water. A three-part test to explore the removal of DIPA from synthetic product water consisted of: a heat-activated and UV-activated test both with a sample containing .01 M DIPA treated with .1 M persulfate, a sample containing .01 M DIPA treated with .3 M persulfate and a final UV-activated test with a sample containing 2% DIPA treated with .3 M persulfate.
The DIPA to feed ratio 5:1 generated a relatively moderate or high-water recovery with low conductivity under high saline conditions, while ratios 1:1 and 1:5 did not have a well-balanced performance in these metrics. Up to 99% DIPA was removed from the synthetic product water with smaller initial DIPA concentrations