26 research outputs found
Transitioning from Letter Grades to Pass/Fail System: The Effect on Post-secondary Students and their Academic Performances
No full textThis research paper, written by Navdeep Badhan in WRS 101, compares two grading systems in a post-secondary institution. Written from a student\u27s perspective, the paper engages in an informative and interesting way with traditional and non-traditional ways of assessing student work, and it argues that one system is more favourable than the other in an academic setting
Honey bee PTEN--description, developmental knockdown, and tissue-specific expression of splice-variants correlated with alternative social phenotypes.
No full textPhosphatase and TENsin (PTEN) homolog is a negative regulator that takes part in IIS (insulin/insulin-like signaling) and Egfr (epidermal growth factor receptor) activation in Drosophila melanogaster. IIS and Egfr signaling events are also involved in the developmental process of queen and worker differentiation in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Here, we characterized the bee PTEN gene homologue for the first time and begin to explore its potential function during bee development and adult life.Honey bee PTEN is alternatively spliced, resulting in three splice variants. Next, we show that the expression of PTEN can be down-regulated by RNA interference (RNAi) in the larval stage, when female caste fate is determined. Relative to controls, we observed that RNAi efficacy is dependent on the amount of PTEN dsRNA that is delivered to larvae. For larvae fed queen or worker diets containing a high amount of PTEN dsRNA, PTEN knockdown was significant at a whole-body level but lethal. A lower dosage did not result in a significant gene down-regulation. Finally, we compared same-aged adult workers with different behavior: nursing vs. foraging. We show that between nurses and foragers, PTEN isoforms were differentially expressed within brain, ovary and fat body tissues. All isoforms were expressed at higher levels in the brain and ovaries of the foragers. In fat body, isoform B was expressed at higher level in the nurse bees.Our results suggest that PTEN plays a central role during growth and development in queen- and worker-destined honey bees. In adult workers, moreover, tissue-specific patterns of PTEN isoform expression are correlated with differences in complex division of labor between same-aged individuals. Therefore, we propose that knowledge on the roles of IIS and Egfr activity in developmental and behavioral control may increase through studies of how PTEN functions can impact bee social phenotypes
Preliminary results from the Call to Action program
No full textRetreat environments are shown to provide emotional support and the opportunity for previous cancer patients to engage with fellow cancer survivors, experience therapeutic aspects of connecting with nature, and remove feelings of isolation, which are often present when undergoing traditional cancer treatment (Barber, 2012). Knights Cabin Cancer retreats was created in 2014 to improve health behavior post cancer diagnosis (see Lesser et al., 2019 for more information about the program). Preliminary findings of Knights Cabin retreats, which are no-cost retreats for participants and their supporters, show an improvement in mental health related QOL, physical activity, self-esteem, and perceived stress at the 3 and 6 month mark post-retreat. Adherence and motivation are challenging in cancer survivors due to the long-term adverse effects of treatment on psychosocial and physiological health. Thus, the aim of this report was to assess the impact of a behavioral phone intervention after participants attended a Knights Cabin Cancer retreat on health related QOL and physical activity.This poster won an Associate Vice-President, Research, Engagement, and Graduate Studies award (2020). Advisors: and Dr. Iris Lesser, Department of Kinesiology, and Dr. Lisa Belanger
Development of an RNA Interference Tool, Characterization of Its Target, and an Ecological Test of Caste Differentiation in the Eusocial Wasp Polistes
No full textRecent advancements in genomics provide new tools for evolutionary ecological research. The paper wasp genus Polistes is a model for social insect evolution and behavioral ecology. We developed RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing to explore proposed connections between expression of hexameric storage proteins and worker vs. gyne (potential future foundress) castes in naturally-founded colonies of P. metricus. We extended four fragments of putative hexamerin-encoding P. metricus transcripts acquired from a previous study and fully sequenced a gene that encodes Hexamerin 2, one of two proposed hexameric storage proteins of P. metricus. MALDI-TOF/TOF, LC-MSMS, deglycosylation, and detection of phosphorylation assays showed that the two putative hexamerins diverge in peptide sequence and biochemistry. We targeted the hexamerin 2 gene in 5th (last)-instar larvae by feeding RNAi-inducing double-stranded hexamerin 2 RNA directly to larvae in naturally-founded colonies in the field. Larval development and adult traits were not significantly altered in hexamerin 2 knockdowns, but there were suggestive trends toward increased developmental time and less developed ovaries, which are gyne characteristics. By demonstrating how data acquisition from 454/Roche pyrosequencing can be combined with biochemical and proteomics assays and how RNAi can be deployed successfully in field experiments on Polistes, our results pave the way for functional genomic research that can contribute significantly to learning the interactions of environment, development, and the roles they play in paper wasp evolution and behavioral ecology
Political Fears: How the fundamental motives of disease avoidance and self protection affect conservatives’ out-group prejudice
No full textPoster presented at the Human Behavior and Evolution Society Meeting (2017), Amsterdam, Netherlands.Not peer reviewe
Rights of the Author: Possible Extensions under Copyright Law in India
No full textInternational audienceCopyright is an intellectual property right and is creation of a statute. In India, the Copyright Act of 1957 forms the basis of protection of the copyright works. The owners of the copyright enjoy variety of rights in the form of economic and moral rights. These rights are transferable and the subsequent owner enjoys certain economic benefits, almost similar to those of the author of the work. Keeping in mind the interest of the authors who transfer their copyright to the producers of the cinematograph films or the sound recordings, some new provisions have been inserted by the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2012, which has been drafted in a very impartial manner so as to empathize the authors of the literary or musical works that are included in the cinematograph films or the sound recordings by the producers of such works. For enjoying the fruits of their labor and skill, the authors of the aforesaid works have been embargoed not to assign or waive their right to receive royalties on equal basis with the producers of the respective works. Besides, the authors of the work, independent of their copyright in the work, have also been conferred with the certain special rights
Rights of the Author: Possible Extensions under Copyright Law in India
No full textInternational audienceCopyright is an intellectual property right and is creation of a statute. In India, the Copyright Act of 1957 forms the basis of protection of the copyright works. The owners of the copyright enjoy variety of rights in the form of economic and moral rights. These rights are transferable and the subsequent owner enjoys certain economic benefits, almost similar to those of the author of the work. Keeping in mind the interest of the authors who transfer their copyright to the producers of the cinematograph films or the sound recordings, some new provisions have been inserted by the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2012, which has been drafted in a very impartial manner so as to empathize the authors of the literary or musical works that are included in the cinematograph films or the sound recordings by the producers of such works. For enjoying the fruits of their labor and skill, the authors of the aforesaid works have been embargoed not to assign or waive their right to receive royalties on equal basis with the producers of the respective works. Besides, the authors of the work, independent of their copyright in the work, have also been conferred with the certain special rights
Precise Data-Driven Modelling of Reticle Heating Induced Spatial Deformations for Correcting Non-Moving Average Effects
No full textIn the thesis, the challenge of precisely developing a data-driven Linear Time Invariant MIMO Reticle Heating Induced Deformation Prediction (RHIDP) model for ASML's DUV systems is presented. The model is developed for two inputs, namely airflow temperature and dose for full field exposures. A reduced order data-driven based approach for developing a RHIDP model for various Use Cases (UC) is presented. This prediction model will be used for precisely estimating the global reticle deformation geometry as well as remove engendered non-Moving Average (non-MA) effects below the reticle surface. The identified linear regression model exhibits a very high degree of prediction accuracy for a broad working envelope, the prediction is accurate to within a range of 10^(-12) m and 10^(-10) m with 99% VAF values for all static inputs (UCs) and low frequency (<= 0.01 Hz) sine inputs. This model can thus be used for precise feed-forward correction of RH induced thermal deformation and non-MA effectsMechanical Engineering | Systems and Contro
The worker honeybee fat body proteome is extensively remodeled preceding a major life-history transition.
No full textHoneybee workers are essentially sterile female helpers that make up the majority of individuals in a colony. Workers display a marked change in physiology when they transition from in-nest tasks to foraging. Recent technological advances have made it possible to unravel the metabolic modifications associated with this transition. Previous studies have revealed extensive remodeling of brain, thorax, and hypopharyngeal gland biochemistry. However, data on changes in the abdomen is scarce. To narrow this gap we investigated the proteomic composition of abdominal tissue in the days typically preceding the onset of foraging in honeybee workers. In order to get a broader representation of possible protein dynamics, we used workers of two genotypes with differences in the age at which they initiate foraging. This approach was combined with RNA interference-mediated downregulation of an insulin/insulin-like signaling component that is central to foraging behavior, the insulin receptor substrate (irs), and with measurements of glucose and lipid levels. Our data provide new insight into the molecular underpinnings of phenotypic plasticity in the honeybee, invoke parallels with vertebrate metabolism, and support an integrated and irs-dependent association of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism with the transition from in-nest tasks to foraging
Impact of provider guidebook on implementation of continuous glucose monitors at a family care setting
No full textPurpose of Project:
There is a gap in provider knowledge on the utilization of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) in the family care setting. The aim of this quality improvement project was to create a guidebook with information regarding costs, coverage requirements, and prescribing instructions for different insurance companies.
Methodology:
A retrospective chart review was performed to collect data on the number of diabetic patients prescribed CGMs three months prior to implementing the provider guidebook. The goal was to increase provider knowledge and comfort on prescribing CGMs with the utilization of the new provider guidebook.
Results:
Results showed that with the readily available information provided in the new guidebook, providers prescribed more CGMs. The percentage of sampled patients who utilized CGMs before intervention out of all the patients that were prescribed CGM was 80%. Whereas the percentage of the post-intervention sample who utilized CGMs out of all the patients prescribed CGMs was 100%.
Implications:
This project had an implication on education, clinical practice, quality, and safety as the office staff gained knowledge on CGM coverage and costs to better help direct patient care.D.N.P.Includes bibliographical reference
