Touch-stimulation increases host-seeking behavior in Steinernema Carpocapsae.

Previous research demonstrated that Steinernema carpocapsae infective juveniles (IJs) exposed to a host cuticle were more attracted toward certain host-associated volatile odors. We wanted to test the specificity of attraction that results from exposure to host cuticle. Host recognition behavior was analyzed after stimulating IJs by allowing them to physically interact with Galleria mellonella cuticles. The subsequent behavioral response and the proportion of the population participating in chemotaxis to multiple host odors were measured. We found that exposure to host cuticles resulted in a significantly higher percentage of the population participating in host-seeking behavior, with threefold more nematodes participating in chemotaxis. We tested whether exposure to live or dead host cuticle resulted in a different response and found that a higher percentage of IJs exposed to a live host cuticle participated in chemotaxis than IJs exposed to a dead host cuticle, but that IJs exposed to a dead host demonstrated significantly higher participation than was observed for non-stimulated IJs. To test whether the increase in IJ participation in host-seeking behaviors after exposure to a live host cuticle was specific, we exposed stimulated IJs to a known repulsive odor, a neutral odor, and two predicted attractants. We found that stimulation of IJs through physical contact with a host cuticle induces a specific enhancement of host-seeking behavior to host-specific odors rather than a general increased chemotactic response to all volatile stimuli. However, the nematodes displayed an enhanced response to multiple host-specific odors. Future work should focus on the mechanism through which contact with live host cuticle stimulates increased behavioral response.Previous research demonstrated that Steinernema carpocapsae infective juveniles (IJs) exposed to a host cuticle were more attracted toward certain host-associated volatile odors. We wanted to test the specificity of attraction that results from exposure to host cuticle. Host recognition behavior was analyzed after stimulating IJs by allowing them to physically interact with Galleria mellonella cuticles. The subsequent behavioral response and the proportion of the population participating in chemotaxis to multiple host odors were measured. We found that exposure to host cuticles resulted in a significantly higher percentage of the population participating in host-seeking behavior, with threefold more nematodes participating in chemotaxis. We tested whether exposure to live or dead host cuticle resulted in a different response and found that a higher percentage of IJs exposed to a live host cuticle participated in chemotaxis than IJs exposed to a dead host cuticle, but that IJs exposed to a dead host demonstrated significantly higher participation than was observed for non-stimulated IJs. To test whether the increase in IJ participation in host-seeking behaviors after exposure to a live host cuticle was specific, we exposed stimulated IJs to a known repulsive odor, a neutral odor, and two predicted attractants. We found that stimulation of IJs through physical contact with a host cuticle induces a specific enhancement of host-seeking behavior to host-specific odors rather than a general increased chemotactic response to all volatile stimuli. However, the nematodes displayed an enhanced response to multiple host-specific odors. Future work should focus on the mechanism through which contact with live host cuticle stimulates increased behavioral response

(Re)Writing History: Public Memories of the Holocaust, Vietnam War, and American Civil Rights Movement

Interest in the study of public memories has been growing in recent years, particularly after Maurice Halbwachs introduced the concept of collective memory in La mémoire collective. Differing from personal memory, collective memory focuses on the memories shared by a larger group or society, which are then used to form ideas and narratives about our pasts. It creates a connection to past events for those who were not there to actually experience it. Public memory enters into the social conscience when there is some event or time period that needs to be remembered, and can be found in a variety of forms—books, museums, public spaces, films, and monuments. Although Pierre Nora asserts that memories are stabilized and rooted in physical spaces such as archives, libraries, or monuments, recent other studies have added film to the lists of sites of public memory. It is not a spontaneous occurrence; public memory is deliberately created, which has two implications. First, public memories have intentions behind them, and secondly, as a created remembrance, they require maintenance on the part of the society to which they belong in order to survive. Unlike official history, public memories are open to a multitude of interpretations and may well change over time. They can have a significant impact on history though, and have the potential to create or alter past accounts of “official” history. This paper examines the ways in which public memories of the Holocaust, Vietnam War, and American Civil Rights Movement have been created and changed over time, through studying the memorials and film portrayals of these times

Validation in the Wild

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109916/1/drev10290.pd

Implementing a 4 Week Balance Protocol to Impact Quality of Life in Cancer Patients

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2): 145-153, 2015. As a result of various cancer treatments, balance, fall risk, and quality of life (QOL) of cancer survivors are often negatively compromised. There has been no prior research conducted examining balance ability and its association with QOL in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether improved balance will positively influence QOL. Eight female cancer patients (age 55.8 ± 11.8 yrs.) volunteered for an experimental group, and five sex-matched cancer patients (age 64.5 ± 4.6 yrs.) volunteered for a control group. A 4-week balance program, employed twice per week and consisting of 5 different exercises, was utilized with the experimental group participants. Measures of balance and fall risk were obtained using a balance system (Biodex SD 950-440). QOL was assessed by employing the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) survey. Alpha level of .05 was used for all statistical analyses. There was no significant relationship between QOL and fall risk (r=.08, p=.790). A two-way ANOVA demonstrated significant group difference in QOL, but not time. More specifically, control group had higher QOL score than did experimental group. A second two-way ANOVA shows no significant difference in fall risk between groups nor time. Due to a lack of improvement in balance from pre- to post-tests, we did not examine an improvement in QOL scores among cancer patients. Further research needs to be completed to more appropriately measure improvements in balance and a longer-term intervention

ADAD1 and ADAD2, testis-specific adenosine deaminase domain-containing proteins, are required for male fertility.

Adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing, a fundamental RNA modification, is regulated by adenosine deaminase (AD) domain containing proteins. Within the testis, RNA editing is catalyzed by ADARB1 and is regulated in a cell-type dependent manner. This study examined the role of two testis-specific AD domain proteins, ADAD1 and ADAD2, on testis RNA editing and male germ cell differentiation. ADAD1, previously shown to localize to round spermatids, and ADAD2 had distinct localization patterns with ADAD2 expressed predominantly in mid- to late-pachytene spermatocytes suggesting a role for both in meiotic and post-meiotic germ cell RNA editing. AD domain analysis showed the AD domain of both ADADs was likely catalytically inactive, similar to known negative regulators of RNA editing. To assess the impact of Adad mutation on male germ cell RNA editing, CRISPR-induced alleles of each were generated in mouse. Mutation of either Adad resulted in complete male sterility with Adad1 mutants displaying severe teratospermia and Adad2 mutant germ cells unable to progress beyond round spermatid. However, mutation of neither Adad1 nor Adad2 impacted RNA editing efficiency or site selection. Taken together, these results demonstrate ADAD1 and ADAD2 are essential regulators of male germ cell differentiation with molecular functions unrelated to A-to-I RNA editing

Lasting Effects of a Graduate Pedagogy Course on the Development of Teacher-Scholars

While graduate pedagogy courses may result in specific teaching behaviors in the short term, little is known whether these scholarly teaching behaviors and attitudes endure over time. Multiple evidenced-based assessments of pedagogy courses which continue well past the completion of the course can demonstrate the ongoing development of students’ perceptions of teaching and learning and students’ progression as teacher-scholars. This poster summarizes an investigation exploring the lasting effects of a graduate pedagogy course entitled MSCI M620: Pedagogical Methods in Health Sciences. This course has been offered for two semesters and a total of sixteen graduate students from a variety of science-related disciplines enrolled in the course. We examined whether the course caused students to: 1) Develop more complex and refined attitudes regarding student learning; 2) Evaluate their current teaching methods and explore alternative teaching strategies; 3) Assess their teaching effectiveness; 4) Plan to be involved in a public teaching resource network; and 5) Develop lasting attitudes about scholarly teaching

Rationing Limited Healthcare Resources in the COVID‐19 Era and Beyond: Ethical Considerations Regarding Older Adults

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155955/1/jgs16539_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155955/2/jgs16539.pd

AGS Position Statement: Resource Allocation Strategies and Age‐Related Considerations in the COVID‐19 Era and Beyond

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155900/1/jgs16537.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155900/2/jgs16537_am.pd