Identifying Faculty Perceptions Of Awareness And Preparedness Relating To ADA Compliance At A Small, Private College In NE PA

This paper explores post-secondary faculty perceptions of awareness and preparedness relating to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Institutions of higher education are businesses. The largest threat to sustained viability for many businesses is litigation. Business-related litigation is often the result of non-employment discrimination or torts (violation of civil rights).  Lack of knowledge (awareness and preparedness) is usually not a sufficient reason for defendants in business-related litigation. The number of college students reporting learning-related disabilities is growing. About 2.2 million students enrolled in higher education institutions have a documented disability (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). Disability related litigation is a trending concern for institutions of higher education.  Are post-secondary faculty ‘aware’ and ‘prepared’ to make the necessary accommodations for students with qualified learning disabilities in classrooms? ADA awareness is defined as cognizance relating to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  ADA preparedness is defined as readiness and ability to follow obligations relating to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  A moderate, positive correlation was discovered between the two variables, indicating the more awareness one has of ADA laws and requirements, the more prepared one is in dealing with accommodations for those with learning disabilities. Research indicates a need for updated and current training in the area of ADA awareness and preparedness of post-secondary faculty

Effects of creatine monohydrate timing on resistance training adaptations and body composition after 8 weeks in male and female collegiate athletes

Background: Limited research is available on the potential impact of creatine monohydrate administration before or after workouts among athletes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pre- vs. post-exercise creatine monohydrate supplementation on resistance training adaptations and body composition. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, 34 healthy resistance-trained male and female athletes were randomly assigned and matched according to fat free mass to consume a placebo, or 5-g dose of creatine monohydrate within 1 h before training, or within 1 h after training for 8 weeks, while completing a weekly resistance training program. Participants co-ingested 25-gram doses of both whey protein isolate and maltodextrin along with each assigned supplement dose. Body composition, muscular strength, and endurance, along with isometric mid-thigh pull were assessed before and after the 8-week supplementation period. A 3 × 2 mixed factorial (group x time) ANOVA with repeated measures on time were used to evaluate differences. Results: All groups experienced similar and statistically significant increases in fat free mass (+1.34 ± 3.48 kg, p = 0.04), upper (+2.21 ± 5.69 kg, p = 0.04) and lower body strength (+7.32 ± 10.01 kg, p \u3c 0.001), and decreases in body mass (−1.09 ± 2.71 kg, p = 0.03), fat mass (−2.64 ± 4.16 kg, p = 0.001), and percent body fat (−2.85 ± 4.39 kg, p \u3c 0.001). Conclusions: The timing of creatine monohydrate did not exert any additional influence over the measured outcomes

PREFERENTIAL FLOW EFFECTS ON SUBSURFACE CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT IN ALLUVIAL FLOODPLAINS

For sorbing contaminants, transport from upland areas to surface water systems is typically considered to be due to surface runoff, with negligible input from subsurface transport assumed. However, certain conditions can lead to an environment where subsurface transport to streams may be significant. The Ozark region, including parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri, is one such environment, characterized by cherty, gravelly soils and gravel bed streams. Previous research identified a preferential flow path (PFP) at an Ozark floodplain along the Barren Fork Creek in northeastern Oklahoma and demonstrated that even a sorbing contaminant, i.e., phosphorus, can be transported in significant quantities through the subsurface. The objective of this research was to investigate the connectivity and floodplain-scale impact of subsurface physical heterogeneity (i.e., PFPs) on contaminant transport in alluvial floodplains in the Ozarks. This research also evaluated a hypothesis that alluvial groundwater acts as a transient storage zone, providing a contaminant sink during high stream flow and a contaminant source during stream baseflow. The floodplain and PFP were mapped with two electrical resistivity imaging techniques. Low-resistivity features (i.e., less than 200 Ω-m) corresponded to topographical depressions on the floodplain surface, which were hypothesized to be relict stream channels with fine sediment (i.e., sand, silt, and clay) and gravel deposits. The mapped PFP, approximately 2 m in depth and 5 to 10 m wide, was a buried gravel bar with electrical resistivity in the range of 1000 to 5000 Ω-m. To investigate the PFP, stream, and groundwater dynamics, a constant-head trench test was installed with a conservative tracer (Rhodamine WT) injected into the PFP at approximately 85 mg/L for 1.5 h. Observation wells were installed along the PFP and throughout the floodplain. Water table elevations were recorded real-time using water level loggers, and water samples were collected throughout the experiment. Results of the experiment demonstrated that stream/aquifer interaction was spatially non-uniform due to floodplain-scale heterogeneity. Transport mechanisms included preferential movement of Rhodamine WT along the PFP, infiltration of Rhodamine WT into the alluvial groundwater system, and then transport in the alluvial system as influenced by the floodplain-scale stream/aquifer dynamics. The electrical resistivity data assisted in predicting the movement of the tracer in the direction of the mapped preferential flow pathway. Spatially variable PFPs, even in the coarse gravel subsoils, affected water level gradients and the distribution of tracer into the shallow groundwater system

Understanding the relationship between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Hospital Compare star rating, surgical case volume, and short‐term outcomes after major cancer surgery

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138844/1/cncr30866.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138844/2/cncr30866_am.pd

Genes regulated by estrogen in breast tumor cells in vitro are similarly regulated in vivo in tumor xenografts and human breast tumors

BACKGROUND: Estrogen plays a central role in breast cancer pathogenesis. Although many studies have characterized the estrogen regulation of genes using in vitro cell culture models by global mRNA expression profiling, it is not clear whether these genes are similarly regulated in vivo or how they might be coordinately expressed in primary human tumors. RESULTS: We generated DNA microarray-based gene expression profiles from three estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer cell lines stimulated by 17β-estradiol (E2) in vitro over a time course, as well as from MCF-7 cells grown as xenografts in ovariectomized athymic nude mice with E2 supplementation and after its withdrawal. When the patterns of genes regulated by E2 in vitro were compared to those obtained from xenografts, we found a remarkable overlap (over 40%) of genes regulated by E2 in both contexts. These patterns were compared to those obtained from published clinical data sets. We show that, as a group, E2-regulated genes from our preclinical models were co-expressed with ERα in a panel of ERα+ breast tumor mRNA profiles, when corrections were made for patient age, as well as with progesterone receptor. Furthermore, the E2-regulated genes were significantly enriched for transcriptional targets of the myc oncogene and were found to be coordinately expressed with Myc in human tumors. CONCLUSION: Our results provide significant validation of a widely used in vitro model of estrogen signaling as being pathologically relevant to breast cancers in vivo

CREB-Induced Inflammation Is Important for Malignant Mesothelioma Growth

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive tumor with no treatment regimen. Previously we have demonstrated that cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) is constitutively activated in MM tumor cells and tissues and plays an important role in MM pathogenesis. To understand the role of CREB in MM tumor growth, we generated CREB-inhibited MM cell lines and performed in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro experiments demonstrated that CREB inhibition results in significant attenuation of proliferation and drug resistance of MM cells. CREB-silenced MM cells were then injected into severe combined immunodeficiency mice, and tumor growth in s.c. and i.p. models of MM was followed. We observed significant inhibition in MM tumor growth in both s.c. and i.p. models and the presence of a chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin, further inhibited MM tumor growth in the i.p. model. Peritoneal lavage fluids from CREB-inhibited tumor-bearing mice showed a significantly reduced total cell number, differential cell counts, and pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IL-8, regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor). In vitro studies showed that asbestos-induced inflammasome/inflammation activation in mesothelial cells was CREB dependent, further supporting the role of CREB in inflammation-induced MM pathogenesis. In conclusion, our data demonstrate the involvement of CREB in the regulation of MM pathogenesis by regulation of inflammation

Ultraviolet radiation affects intumescence development in ornamental sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas)

Intumescences are a physiological disorder characterized by hypertrophy and possibly hyperplasia of plant tissue cells. Ultimately, this disorder results in the death of the affected cells. Previous observations and research suggest that the quality and quantity of light to which plants are exposed may be a factor in development of the disorder. The purpose of this study was to assess the preventive effect of ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation on intumescence development in ornamental sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas). Two sweetpotato cultivars, Sidekick Black and Ace of Spades, were grown under light treatments consisting of 1) normal greenhouse production conditions; 2) supplemental UVB lighting; 3) supplemental UVB lighting with Mylar® sleeves over the lamps to block UVB radiation; and 4) control lighting with full spectrum lamps. Treatments were administered for 2 weeks, and the experiment was repeated twice. ‘Ace of Spades’ was highly susceptible to intumescence development, whereas ‘Sidekick Black’ was much less susceptible to the disorder. For ‘Ace of Spades’, the addition of UVB radiation significantly reduced the number of leaves affected with intumescences when compared with plants grown under the other light treatments; this UVB effect was not apparent for ‘Sidekick Black’. Furthermore, there was no evidence for reduced plant growth under UVB light in either cultivar, but side effects from the radiation included leaf discoloration and deformities. This study indicates a cultivar-specific effect of UVB light in preventing intumescence development on ornamental sweetpotato, therefore suggesting a potential genetic component in intumescence susceptibility. These results provide further insight in better understanding intumescence development and how to prevent the disorder

Stage-dependent transient storage of phosphorus in alluvial floodplains

Models for contaminant transport in streams commonly idealize transient storage as a well-mixed but immobile system. These transient storage models capture rapid (near-stream) hyporheic storage and transport, but do not account for large-scale, stage-dependent interaction with the alluvial aquifer. The objective of this research was to document transient storage of phosphorus (P) in coarse gravel alluvium potentially influenced by large-scale, stage-dependent preferential flow pathways (PFPs). Long-term monitoring was performed at floodplain sites adjacent to the Barren Fork Creek and Honey Creek in northeastern Oklahoma. Based on results from subsurface electrical resistivity mapping which was correlated to hydraulic conductivity data, observation wells were installed both in higher hydraulic conductivity and lower hydraulic conductivity subsoils. Water levels in the wells were monitored over time, and water samples were obtained from the observation wells and the stream to document P concentrations at multiple times during high flow events. Contour plots indicating direction of flow were developed using water table elevation data. Contour plots of total P concentrations showed the alluvial aquifer acting as a transient storage zone, with P-laden stream water heterogeneously entering the aquifer during the passage of a storm pulse, and subsequently re-entering the stream during baseflow conditions. Some groundwater in the alluvial floodplains had total P concentrations that mirrored the streams’ total P concentrations. A detailed analysis of P forms indicated that particulate P (i.e. P attached to particulates greater than 0·45 μm) was a significant portion of the P transport. This research suggests the need for more controlled studies on stage-dependent transient storage in alluvial systems