The microbiome of the equine roundworm, \u3ci\u3eParascaris\u3c/i\u3e spp.

Parasitic nematodes, including the large roundworms colloquially known as ascarids, affect the health and well-being of livestock animals worldwide. The equine ascarid, Parascaris spp., was the first ascarid parasite to develop wide-spread anthelmintic drug resistance, with other species slowly following suit. There are no new classes of anthelmintics currently in development, and a solution to the ever-increasing prevalence of resistance is desperately needed. The microbiome has been shown to be an important factor in the fitness and health of many organisms and changes to microbiome composition have been associated with a plethora of diseases. The microbiome is also important to the health of parasitic nematodes, and the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia, whose presence is essential for the viability of filarial nematodes, has been exploited for treatment of filariasis in humans by using both broad-range and, more recently, specific anti-Wolbachial antimicrobial treatments. Despite this success, parasite microbiomes are understudied. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to characterize the microbiome of Parascaris spp. by identifying a common core microbiota, by comparing microbiota diversity metrics for the whole worm at different life stages and in individual organs in male and female parasites, and by assessing the female gonad microbiota in greater detail. Worms, along with jejunal content samples, were collected from foals at necropsy and used for both the whole worm study, which utilized a total of 27 parasites (9 male, 9 female, 9 immature), and in the organ study, which utilized a total of 46 adult parasites (24 male, 22 female). DNA extracted from these samples was used to produce a library using a 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing protocol, and this library was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. A bioinformatics pipeline was developed to identify taxa and their relative abundance in the samples, and subsequent data analysis was carried out using R packages including Vegan, DESeq2, corncob, metagenomeSeq, and ANCOM.BC. The 22 female gonad samples were further analyzed using next generation metagenomic sequencing following the same protocol as the other two studies, and then using a kit that targeted to multiple regions and that allowing consensus sequences to be assembled. Additionally, another female worm was also collected, immediately fixed, dissected, and submitted for sectioning and examination by transmission electron microscopy. A common core microbiota consisting of eleven genera was established for Parascaris spp. and consisted of: Acinetobacter, Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium (ANPR), Clostridium senso stricto 1, Gemella, Janthinobacterium, Lactobacillus, Reyranella, Sarcina, Sphingomonas, Streptococcus, and Veillonella. When comparing organs, Veillonella was differentially abundant when using DESeq2 and ANCOM-BC (p \u3c 0.0001), corncob (p = 0.0008), and metagenomeSeq (p = 0.0118) and Sarcina was differentially abundant across all four analytical methods (p \u3c 0.0001). Alpha and beta diversity for the whole worm microbiota was similar across groups for all three taxonomic levels. Alpha diversity for the organ microbiota was significantly different based upon both sex and location at all three taxonomic levels. Simpson alpha diversity was significantly different between the female intestine (FI) and male gonad (MG) at the phylum (p \u3c 0.0001), family (p = 0.0058) and genus (p = 0.0018) levels, and between both the female gonad (FG) and FI (p \u3c 0.0001) and the FI and male intestine (MI; p = 0.0072) at the phylum level. Shannon alpha diversity was significantly different between the FI and the FG (p \u3c 0.0001), the horse jejunum (HJ; p = 0.0483), the MG (p \u3c 0.0001) and the MI (p = 0.0007) at the phylum level, between the FI and MG (p = 0.0003) at the family level and between the FG and MG (p = 0.0130), the FI and HJ (p = 0.0383) and the FI and MG (p = 0.0001) at the genus level. Beta diversity was significantly different between FI and FG (p = 0.0377) at the phylum level, MG and FG (p = 0.0010), FI (p = 0.0174), and HJ (p = 0430), and FG and MI (p = 0.0061) at the family level, and MG and FG (p = 0.0006), MI and FG (p = 0.0093), and MG and FI (p = 0.0041) at the genus level. Twelve species were identified in the female gonad, and phylogenetic trees were created for the genera Aminobacter, Reyranella, Limosilactobacillus and Ligilactobacillus. Cladograms indicated that consensus sequences from members of these genera were related to species found in soil and water, and to those that had previously been found in horses, and thus the presence of related bacteria in parasites makes biological sense. Finally, morphological structures identified as candidate bacteria were found in the cells of Parascaris spp. female gonad sections, indicating that there are also possibly endosymbionts associated with these parasites. In summary, the overarching goal of this research was met. A common core microbiota was established for Parascaris spp., diversity metrics were compared for different life stages and organs, and the female gonad was explored in more detail. This research lays the groundwork for future studies involving the Parascaris spp. microbiome and provides more data to the effort to understand parasite microbiomes

Optimal assay conditions for ODC-antizyme interaction

Includes bibliographical references.Polyamines are essential for life and are associated with cell cycle and development. Excess polyamine production occurs during tumor formation and is one possible target for chemopreventative and chemotherapeutic treatment. One enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), plays a key role in polyamine biosynthesis. Among other regulators, the protein antizyme (Az) limits polyamine levels in the cell. It binds ODC and renders it unable to produce polyamines. The mechanism by which ODC and Az interact is unknown and is explored in this study. It is known that ODC and Az have high affinity for one another, but the reason for the basal level of ODC activity that remains in excess Az in assays is unclear. Varying the temperature and coenzyme concentrations in an assay revealed that these factors successfully changed the level of ODC activity at which the two proteins ceased to bind. The persistence of ODC activity in excess Az under several assay conditions showed that the remaining activity is not a result of the methods by which the assay is prepared. The mechanism by which some ODC activity is allowed to remain in excess Az remains uncertain.B.S. (Bachelor of Science

Theorizing embodied, collective and societal learning through prefigurative social movements

This paper theorizes adult learning as a multi-leveled, emergent process of interactions between individuals, groups, and societal systems. We theorize from the context of prefigurative social movements that are enacting values of direct democracy, solidarity economics, and equity. We analyze Occupy encampments as sites in which individuals, movement groups, and society learn as complex adaptive systems. The theorizing of these learning processes has implications for adult education theory, research, and practice

Prospectus, January 24, 1990

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1990/1001/thumbnail.jp

Perceived Neighborhood Environmental Attributes Associated with Walking and Cycling for Transport among Adult Residents of 17 Cities in 12 Countries: The IPEN Study

Introduction Prevalence of walking and cycling for transport is low and varies greatly across countries. Few studies have examined neighborhood perceptions related to walking and cycling for transport in different countries. Therefore, it is challenging to prioritize appropriate built-environment interventions. Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the strength and shape of the relationship between adults’ neighborhood perceptions and walking and cycling for transport across diverse environments. Methods As part of the International Physical activity and Environment Network (IPEN) adult project, self-reported data were taken from 13,745 adults (18–65 years) living in physically and socially diverse neighborhoods in 17 cities across 12 countries. Neighborhood perceptions were measured using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, and walking and cycling for transport were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Long Form. Generalized additive mixed models were used to model walking or cycling for transport during the last seven days with neighborhood perceptions. Interactions by city were explored. Results Walking-for-transport outcomes were significantly associated with perceived residential density, land use mix–access, street connectivity, aesthetics, and safety. Any cycling for transport was significantly related to perceived land use mix–access, street connectivity, infrastructure, aesthetics, safety, and perceived distance to destinations. Between-city differences existed for some attributes in relation to walking or cycling for transport. Conclusions Many perceived environmental attributes supported both cycling and walking; however, highly walkable environments may not support cycling for transport. People appear to walk for transport despite safety concerns. These findings can guide the implementation of global health strategies

Parent-identified barriers to accessing exposure therapy: A qualitative study using process mapping

BackgroundYouth with anxiety and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) rarely access exposure therapy, an evidence-based treatment. Known barriers include transportation, waitlists, and provider availability. Efforts to improve access to exposure require an understanding of the process that families take to find therapists, yet no prior studies have examined parents’ perspectives of the steps involved.MethodsParents of children who have received exposure therapy for anxiety and/or OCD (N = 23) were recruited from a hospital-based specialty anxiety clinic where the majority of their children previously received exposure. Recruitment was ongoing until thematic saturation was reached. Parents completed questionnaires and attended an online focus group during which they were asked to describe each step they took—from recognizing their child needed treatment to beginning exposure. A process map was created and shown in real-time, edited for clarity, and emailed to parents for member checking. Authors analyzed process maps to identify common themes.ResultsSeveral themes emerged, as visually represented in a final process map. Participants identified a “search-outreach” loop, in which they repeated the cycle of looking for therapists, contacting them, and being unable to schedule an appointment due to factors such as cost, waitlists, and travel time. Parents often did not know about exposure and reported feeling guilty about their lack of knowledge and inability to find a suitable provider. Parents reported frustration that medical providers did not often know about exposure and sometimes dismissed parents’ concerns. Participants emphasized the difficulty of navigating the mental health system; many reported that it took years to find an exposure therapist, and that the search was sometimes stalled due to fluctuating symptoms.ConclusionA common thread among identified barriers was the amount of burden placed on parents to find treatment with limited support, and the resultant feelings of isolation and guilt. Findings point to several directions for future research, such as the development of parent support groups for navigating the mental health system; enhancing coordination of care between medical and mental health providers; and streamlining referral processes

Estimating Grizzly Bear Use of Large Ungulate Carcasses With GPS Telemetry Data

Ungulate meat is among the most calorie-rich food sources available to grizzly bears  (Ursus arctos) in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem (GYE). However, the ephemeral and unpredictable nature of carcasses makes them difficult to study and their influence on grizzly bear foraging and spatial ecology is poorly understood. We developed a spatial-clustering technique specifically for detecting grizzly bear use of large ungulate carcasses using Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry locations (n = 54 bear years). We used the DBScan algorithm to identify GPS clusters of individual bears (n = 2,038) and intersected these clusters with an independent dataset of site  visits to recent bear movement paths based from randomly selected days (n = 732 site visits; 2004–2011) resulting in 174 clusters associated with field measured bear behavior. Using a suite of predictor variables derived from GPS telemetry locations, e.g., duration of cluster, area used, activity sensor values, re-visitation rate, we used multinomial logistic regression to predict the probability of belonging to  each of the five response classes (resting, multiple-use, low-biomass carcass, high-biomass carcass, old carcass). Focusing on the high-biomass carcass category, for which our top model correctly classified 88 percent of the carcasses correctly, we applied our approach to a larger dataset of GPS data to examine trends in large-ungulate carcass using of grizzly bears in the GYE from 2002-2011. We found quantitative support for a positive effect of year and mortality adjusted white bark pine cone counts on the carcass-use index during the fall months (Sep and Oct) from 2002-2011

3C. 3-Ketosteroid receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Steroid hormone receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Nuclear Hormone Receptors [65, 193]) are nuclear hormone receptors of the NR3 class, with endogenous agonists that may be divided into 3-hydroxysteroids (estrone and 17β-estradiol) and 3-ketosteroids (dihydrotestosterone [DHT], aldosterone, cortisol, corticosterone, progesterone and testosterone)

Attitudes toward osteopathic medicine scale: development and psychometrics

Objective: To develop a valid and reliable instrument for measuring attitudes toward osteopathic medicine. Methods: Participants included 5,669 first-year students from 33 U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine, who completed an online survey at the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic year. Using data from the nationwide Project in Osteopathic Medical Education and Empathy, we developed a 13-item instrument: Attitudes Toward Osteopathic Medicine Scale (ATOMS) and demonstrated the validity and reliability of its scores. The social desirability response bias was controlled in statistical analyses. Results: The corrected item-total score correlations were all positive and statistically significant, and the effect sizes of item discrimination indices were large. Cronbach\u27s coefficient alpha reliability was 0.83. Construct validity, corroborating face and content validity of the ATOMS, was supported by three components, emerged from factor analysis: Perspectives on Osteopathic Medicine, Osteopathic Diagnosis and Treatment, and Holistic-Integrative Care. Correlations between ATOMS scores and scores of cognitive empathy, emotional empathy; orientation toward interprofessional collaboration; lifelong learning; and burnout were statistically significant in the expected direction, providing validity evidence for the ATOMS. Using the method of contrasted groups, significant differences in the ATOMS scores were found by gender, ethnicity, academic background, and career interest in the expected direction, supporting the validity of the ATOMS scores. National norms were developed to assess individual scores alongside national percentile ranks. Conclusions: The ATOMS, developed in a nationwide study, supported by strong psychometric evidence for measuring orientation toward osteopathic medicine, has implications for the assessment of osteopathic medical education, patient outcomes, and admission decisions