Assessing the Relationship Between the Catholic Church and Germany in the 20th Century

In the 20th century, Germany restructured and had many forms of governmental systems. With rapid restructuring and widespread international conflict, there was a strained relationship between these governments and the religious organizations found within Germany. This paper explores the relationship between the German government(s), and one of those religious organizations, the Roman Catholic Church. Through a within-case analysis, this paper examines Catholic doctrine and Catholic action in the 20th Century and how it relates to German laws and German action. After examining both primary and secondary sources, this paper concludes that the Catholic Church acted uniquely. When the autonomy of the Church was high, there was a moderate to low amount of resistance to the German government, but when the autonomy of the Church was threatened, there was resistance from the Catholic Church. This resistance was also greatly affected by the personal beliefs of the popes and individual Church leaders at the time

Skull and Jaw Musculature Variation: Adaptive Feeding Strategies Across Four Hyena Species

Abstract This study explores the complex relationship that exists between the skull structures of various hyena species and how they feed. Using the advanced software program ImageJ from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), we thoroughly analyze the size and strength of a hyena\u27s skull. Four different hyena species are included in our study: the hardy spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), the flexible striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the diligent brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea), and the specialized aardwolf (Proteles cristata). By constructing and verifying theories about the connection between feeding habits and skull structure, one can anticipate providing insight into how hyenas have adapted to fill a variety of ecological specialties. It anticipates gaining insights into the skull\u27s characteristics by carefully measuring and analyzing them using ImageJ. The evolutionary modifications have influenced the feeding ecology and cranial construction of hyenas. The feeding habits of the four hyena species would change if their skull sizes and jaw strength differed. In animals like the spotted hyena, larger skulls and stronger jaws might allow for more effective bone-crushing and scavenging. The brown hyena\u27s medium-sized skull and moderate jaw strength may allow for a varied diet and more feeding opportunities. Aardwolves may be more suited for specialized insectivory due to their smaller skulls and stronger jaws. Jaw strength and skull sizes that are universal may allow for adaptation

Protein Expression, Purification, and Binding Assays to Characterize CSL Point Mutations Causing Adams-Oliver Syndrome

Adams-Oliver Syndrome (AOS) is a rare multiple-malformation genetic disorder which is characterized by scalp, cranium, and transverse limb developmental defects. Several point mutations within the CSL transcription factor protein of the Notch signaling pathway have been associated with AOS. CSL can bind to DNA and transcriptional corepressor/coactivator proteins. Of the AOS-associated CSL point mutations tested, all have shown a significant reduction in DNA binding affinity while having no effect on CSL binding affinity to corepressors or coactivators. The following four point mutations in CSL were characterized: Y60C, R65G, S332R, and F66V. We purified each of these CSL variants, and performed thermal shift assays and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The results indicate that each variant was properly folded but specifically showed reduced binding to DNA, agreeing with the previously published model of AOS. Future ITC experiments will be done to confirm that these CSL variants still bind to corepressors and coactivators

An Examination of Cosmic Ray Behavior in Giant Molecular Cloud Environments

Giant Molecular Clouds (GMC) are highly dense regions in interstellar space within which stars are formed. During the star formation process, stellar magnetic fields are twisted due to rotation of the star-forming disk through which they permeate. This twisting leads to a recombination of these randomly moving fields which in turn energizes particles into cosmic rays. Cosmic rays are cosmologically significant as they serve to drive the chemistry of what happens in the formation of non-stellar bodies within this region. We have recreated mathematically the means of production and interaction of cosmic rays within this region, focused specifically on the secondary production of neutral pions via relativistic pp-scattering between cosmic rays and the ambient medium. In deriving an expression for the pion emissivity we assume a power log distribution, consistent with that which is observed in solar flares. In turn, the ɣ-ray emissivity resulting from the decay of neutral pions is easily derived. With expressions to describe both the neutral pion emissivity and the resultant ɣ-ray emissivity we are able to procure a figure to represent the energy distribution spectrum of ɣ-rays produced via the decay chain of neutral pions

Functional Characterization of 3CBW Using Bioinformatics and Wet-Lab Experiments

BASIL is a course-based undergraduate research experience that includes using a computer and various websites and services to assign functions to proteins. The first four modules of BASIL were used to investigate the protein, 3CBW. First, SPRITE was used to find active sites of known enzymes that have a similar structure to the side chains on 3CBW. Next, BLAST was used to perform a sequence-based search for 3CBW to identify known proteins with similar sequence. Third, InterPro was used to compare the sequence of 3CBW to find proteins with similar protein families. Finally, DALI and Foldseek were used to determine possible functions of 3CBW by comparing the structure to other enzymes and determine how similar structures must be to have the same function. The results of these tests led to the hypothesis that 3CBW is likely a beta-mannosidase. Cells containing a plasmid that includes the 3CBW protein were grown and then the protein was purified. Several malate dehydrogenase enzymes were evaluated kinetically to confirm their function and to learn how to perform a kinetic analysis of an enzyme. Kinetic analysis of 3CBW was performed with both alpha- and beta-mannose substrates to evaluate the hypothesis that 3CBW is a beta-mannosidase enzyme

Phenomenological Psychology as a Human Science

What is consciousness? This question has been the source of many important findings in both philosophical contemplation and scientific research for centuries. René Descartes’ famous cogito argument (“I think, therefore I am”) provided psychologists with a philosophical foundation for the view that human consciousness consists in the ability of the mind to relate to itself in self-awareness. Descartes’ separation of the mind from the body also influenced the late 19th century German distinction between Naturwissenschaften (the natural sciences) and Geistwissenschaften (the human sciences.) In the early 20th century, the founder of phenomenology, Edmund Husserl, used his background in mathematics and physics to propose a method to identify the a priori correlation between mind and reality. This school of thought proved to be an important crossroads in the relationship between philosophy and psychology, the latter of which had shifted from a science concerned with the intangible, to one driven by data and statistics. It was not until the work of Duquesne University psychologist, Amadeo Giorgi, in the 1970s, that the methodical scope of psychological research broadened to include the intrinsic relation of consciousness to an object outside of itself, and not just the material components of consciousness, like neuroscience. The purpose of this presentation is to show how someone like Giorgi has helped contemporary psychologists grasp consciousness as a totality, which is irreducible to its material parts

Analysis of CBX1\u27s Role in Cancer

CBX1 is a coding gene that encodes a highly conserved non-histone protein. CBX1 functions in embryonic development, stem cell maintenance, and regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mutations in this gene disrupt transcriptional regulation by giving DNA polymerase inappropriate access to DNA. Data from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) was utilized for analysis after parsing for patient age. Relevant clinical data was extracted for analysis focusing on mutation type, cancer type, primary histology, and coding vs noncoding sequences. To determine the significance of CBX1 gene mutations, Cancer-Related Analysis of Variants Toolkit (CRAVAT) software was used. Clustal Omega was used to perform multiple sequence alignments to identify homologous sequences. Statistical analysis and graph generation was performed using GraphPad Prism. The results showed that there were more mutations in noncoding regions compared to coding regions. The most common mutation type was missense substitutions identified in the endometrium. The mutations in CBX1 were commonly found in carcinomas. Through genome analysis, CBX1 expression was more prevalent in the brain compared to the endometrium. Mean age at time of analysis were observed between patients 55+ and 54-. A chi-squared analysis showed no significance between the non-conserved regions and the conserved regions. In the significant mutations multiple sequence alignment, clustered functional domains were found in the conserved region. The main significant mutation was a change from glutamic acid to lysine. Evidence of upregulation in CBX1 has been found in oncogenes across various malignant tumors and cancer types

Exploring Healthcare Challenges Across Urban, Suburban, and Rural Nursing Homes in Greater Cincinnati

This study investigates the primary healthcare challenges experienced by elderly individuals residing in nursing homes across urban, suburban, and rural settings within the Greater Cincinnati Area. The research aims to identify and compare these challenges to gain a better understanding of the healthcare needs of elderly residents in diverse nursing home environments. Using an exploratory research approach, data will be gathered from the Pro Seniors database, ODIS (Ombudsmen Documentation & Information System), to analyze cases opened, closed, or started at each facility. Criteria will be established to classify nursing homes into their designated environments, and data analysis will uncover patterns, trends, and differences in healthcare challenges among the three settings

Efavirenz and Dolutegravir May Alter Sirolimus Metabolism in People Living with HIV

Sirolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor commonly used to prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients was evaluated for safety and efficacy to reduce latent HIV reservoirs in people with HIV (PWH) on chronic suppressive antiretroviral (ARV) therapy (ART). Despite the potential for ARVs to alter common metabolic pathways (e.g., CYP3A4, P-gp) shared by ARVs and sirolimus, there are no prospective PK drug interaction studies. This PK substudy aimed to assess the impact of ARVs on sirolimus PK, during the A5337 study. This single-arm open label study enrolled 32 PWH on suppressive ART for at least two years. Sirolimus was administered orally for up to 20 weeks following a 12-week lead-in period. Sirolimus was dose adjusted to attain target trough levels of 5-10 mcg/mL. The most common ARVs (i.e., tenofovir, TFV; emtricitabine, FTC; efavirenz, EFV; dolutegravir, DTG) were analyzed from samples collected every 4 weeks. Dose-corrected average sirolimus levels were compared across ARVs, and ARV trough levels were compared before, during, and after sirolimus therapy, by calculating geometric mean ratios. Using Wilcox rank-sum test, the impact of each ARV on time to achieve target sirolimus trough was also assessed. Participants enrolled were 28% female, 56% black, 52 years on average. No ARV had any impact on time to achieve target sirolimus trough (p\u3e0.05). This analysis suggests EFV as a moderate inducer, and DTG as a weak inhibitor of sirolimus metabolism. There was no apparent difference in ARV exposure following sirolimus therapy

Universal Design for Learning for General Chemistry Class

Ways to implement UDL principles with the plus-one approach to the general chemistry classes at Xavier University are summarized. These include some modification of the existing teaching materials, class management, assessment and grading policies, as well as ways to support students outside of class.https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/udlxu/1002/thumbnail.jp