Cultured

This memoir piece comprises three parts, each of which tells a humorous and perhaps slightly embarrassing story of interpersonal upsets the narrator experienced while studying abroad in Europe. Their telling exposes the narrator as a naïve American tourist, despite her conscious attempts to be culturally sensitive and respectful. The intent of this piece was neither to make a political statement about being American in Europe, nor to present yet another trite account “the best four months of [my] life.” While my primary goal was to share these stories for their entertainment value (if self-effacing), my hope was to transform the piece from a fact-driven personal essay into a compelling piece of memoir in which the narrator’s character drives the reader to stick with it. Nevertheless, readers in workshop noted that the piece does grapple with the misguided belief that merely travelling abroad accomplishes some ideal of cultural immersion and enlightenment. The experiences are enriching, yes, but hard won. Further, their meaning may not be realized until long after they\u27ve passed and are subjected to workshop scrutiny! In any case, the piece was fun to write, is riddled with irony, and I hope the reader derives some pleasure from it

Effects of additional anterior body mass on gait

BACKGROUND: Gradual increases in mass such as during pregnancy are associated with changes in gait at natural velocities. The purpose of this study was to examine how added mass at natural and imposed slow walking velocities would affect gait parameters. METHODS: Eighteen adult females walked at two velocities (natural and 25 % slower than their natural pace) under four mass conditions (initial harness only (1 kg), 4.535 kg added anteriorly, 9.07 kg added anteriorly, and final harness only (1 kg)). We collected gait kinematics (100 Hz) using a motion capture system. RESULTS: Added anterior mass decreased cycle time and stride length. Stride width decreased once the mass was removed (p < .01). Added mass resulted in smaller peak hip extension angles (p < .01). The imposed slow walking velocity increased cycle time, double limb support time and decreased stride length, peak hip extension angles, and peak plantarflexion angles (p < .01). With added anterior mass and an imposed slow walking velocity, participants decreased cycle time when mass was added and increased cycle time once the mass was removed (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Gait adaptations may be commensurate with the magnitude of additional mass when walking at imposed slow versus natural velocities. This study presents a method for understanding how increased mass and imposed speed might affect gait independent of other effects related to pregnancy. Examining how added body mass and speed influence gait is one step in better understanding how women adapt to walking under different conditions.K12 HD055931 - NICHD NIH HHS; K23 AR063235 - NIAMS NIH HH

Public Response to Large-Scale Produce Contamination

Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, D12, D01, Q13,

Encouraging testicular self-examination behaviors in college males: Examining the role of fear appeals in protection motivation theory

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer occurring in males between the ages of 15 & 35. Although testicular cancer holds a survival rate of 99% when detected and treated early, prior research shows most males do not perform regular testicular self-examinations. This research examined the role of fear appeals in the revised protection motivation theory (PMT) model to predict the performance of testicular self-examination behaviors in college males. An experiment was conducted among a convenience sample of 156 (N = 156) males enrolled in a state university. All males answered a set of questions measuring their threat appraisal concerning testicular cancer-perceived severity, perceived vulnerability- and intentions to perform self-examinations. Participants were then presented with either a fear appeal or informational message about performing testicular self-examinations and developing testicular cancer. The participants then answered the same set of questions in addition to fear measures. Any differences were noted. Findings, discussion, limitations, and suggestions for future research are included

Characterization of the prokaryotic community associated with the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta across the Caribbean

Sponges have long been known to be ecologically important members of the benthic fauna on coral reefs. Recently, it has been shown that sponges, and their symbiotic microbes, are also important contributors to the nitrogen biogeochemistry of coral reefs. Here, I investigate the ecology and physiology of the microbial community associated the ecologically dominant sponge, Xestospongia muta. A natural experiment was conducted with X. muta form three different locations (Florida Keys, USA; Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas, and Little Cayman, Cayman Islands) to compare nitrogen cycling and prokaryotic community composition. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) fluxes of sponges were studied using nutrient analysis, stable isotope ratios, and isotope tracer experiments. Results showed that the fluxes of DIN were variable between locations but clearly showed that X. muta can be either a source or sink of DIN. Stable isotope values of sponge and symbiotic bacterial fractions indicate that the prokaryotic community is capable of taking up both NH4+ and NO3 --, and there is potential for translocation of labeled N from the symbiotic bacteria to the host. The prokaryotic community composition of X. muta, and the variability of this community across the Caribbean were quantified using 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Phlyogenetic analysis showed differences between the sponge prokaryotic community and the surrounding bacterioplankton. Additionally, both symbiont and bacterioplankton populations were different between locations. In addition to the recovery of many sequences from bacterial phyla commonly found in sponges, a diverse archaeal community was also recovered from X. muta including sequences representing the phyla Euryarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota. Transcriptomic analysis for X. muta and its symbionts revealed a similar prokaryotic community composition to the metagenetic analyses indicating an active and diverse symbiotic community. Additionally, gene specific analyses combined with preliminary metatranscriptome data indicate the presence of genes involved in nitrogen cycling including nifH (nitrogen fixation), amoA (ammonia oxidation), norB (denitrification), and nirK (denitrification). Nitrogen cycling in X. muta appears to be more complex than previous studies have shown. These results have important ecological implications for the understanding of host-microbe associations, and provide a foundation for future studies addressing the functional roles these symbiotic prokaryotes have in the biology of the host sponge and the nutrient biogeochemistry of coral reefs

Benefiting from EIU: The University as Catalyst for Economic Development in Charleston, IL

In the city of Charleston, Illinois, home of Eastern Illinois University, there exist economic problems such as underemployment, potential for brain drain, and recent market failure in the retail industry. After being defined, the traditional role of EIU is expanded to include the promotion of economic development efforts in Charleston. An economic impact study shows EIU\u27s influence on the local Charleston economy. It is concluded that with the establishment of an Office of Economic Development at EIU and the aid of local government and Charleston citizens, Eastern Illinois University may be able to reverse the effects of underemployment, potential brain drain, and the recent cycle of failed retail markets

Properties and acid risk assessment of soils in two parts of the Cherry River watershed, West Virginia

The Cherry River watershed project area is underlain by acid-forming geology. The objectives of this study were to determine the physical and chemical properties of the soils, classify the soils, and to assess the acid risk to the forests. Sixty-seven soil pedons were sampled by horizon across six landscape positions and the soil samples were analyzed. The soils of the watershed were all acid. The east area soils were more acid than the west area soils. The shoulder soils showed the highest risk and the floodplain soils showed the lowest risk of forest productivity decline. While both areas showed high acidification and forest productivity risk, the east area soils have higher risk for forest productivity decline in the future. While a few forest regeneration failures are known to have occurred after harvesting in this area, further acidification potentially will reduce the regeneration of a marketable timber stand

Differences in Lower Extremity and Trunk Kinematics between Single Leg Squat and Step Down Tasks

The single leg squat and single leg step down are two commonly used functional tasks to assess movement patterns. It is unknown how kinematics compare between these tasks. The purpose of this study was to identify kinematic differences in the lower extremity, pelvis and trunk between the single leg squat and the step down. Fourteen healthy individuals participated in this research and performed the functional tasks while kinematic data were collected for the trunk, pelvis, and lower extremities using a motion capture system. For the single leg squat task, the participant was instructed to squat as low as possible. For the step down task, the participant was instructed to stand on top of a box, slowly lower him/herself until the non-stance heel touched the ground, and return to standing. This was done from two different heights (16cm and 24cm). The kinematics were evaluated at peak knee flexion as well as at 60° of knee flexion. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between the angles at those two time points were also calculated to better understand the relationship between each task. The tasks resulted in kinematics differences at the knee, hip, pelvis, and trunk at both time points. The single leg squat was performed with less hip adduction (p ≤ 0.003), but more hip external rotation and knee abduction (p ≤ 0.030), than the step down tasks at 60° of knee flexion. These differences were maintained at peak knee flexion except hip external rotation was only significant in the 24cm step down task (p ≤ 0.029). While there were multiple differences between the two step heights at peak knee flexion, the only difference at 60° of knee flexion was in trunk flexion (p \u3c 0.001). Angles at the knee and hip had a moderate to excellent correlation (r = 0.51–0.98), but less consistently so at the pelvis and trunk (r = 0.21–0.96). The differences in movement patterns between the single leg squat and the step down should be considered when selecting a single leg task for evaluation or treatment. The high correlation of knee and hip angles between the three tasks indicates that similar information about knee and hip kinematics was gained from each of these tasks, while pelvis and trunk angles were less well predicted

A Literature Review of the Results of Traditional versus Accelerated Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Rehabilitation in Treatment following ACL Reconstruction

In recent years, the rehabilitation of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has undergone changes in its protocol. The changes in ACL rehabilitation protocol are due to clinical observations and trends in ACL rehabilitation across the country. The traditional and presently used accelerated ACL rehabilitation programs are not much different in the activities performed as in the time frames when each activity is permitted. The main purpose of this literature review is to provide material for clinicians to have accurate and recent knowledge of ACL rehabilitation. This knowledge will allow the clinician to provide the best and most beneficial treatment to the patient. The traditional and accelerated ACL rehabilitation programs will be viewed separately and versus one another. Determinants of which ACL rehabilitation program to choose are stated to increase the clinicians\u27 awareness of the proper treatment to choose for a patient. Clinicians must continue to have present knowledge of sound basic science and recent research when treating a patient with a reconstructed ACL. ACL rehabilitation protocols are guidelines only, and a clinician must be aware of all of the factors present with a patient before slowing or speeding the rehabilitation process