Expression and function of heat shock factors in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Heat shock proteins (hsp) and heat shock transcription factors (HSF) have important roles in the development of the eye lens. Our lab previously demonstrated that knockdown of hsp70 gene expression using morpholino antisense technology (MO) resulted in a small lens phenotype in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. A less severe phenotype was seen with knockdown of hsf1, suggesting other factors that regulate hsp70 are involved during lens formation. Both HSF1 and HSF4 are known to play a role in mammalian lens development. An expressed sequence tag encoding zebrafish HSF4, named hsf4a, has been identified and a second splice variant, hsf4b, has been predicted in the Ensembl database. The objectives of this thesis were to characterize the zebrafish HSF4 and compare its expression to other HSFs as well as investigate its role in lens development. Analysis of zebrafish HSF4 sequence was performed using standard in silico analytical software. The deduced amino acid sequence of HSF4a shares structural similarities with mammalian HSF4 including the lack of an HR-C domain. This domain is absent due to a C-terminal truncation within zebrafish HSF4a relative to the mammalian protein. HSF4b is identical to the HSF4a sequence with the exception of an additional 155 amino acids at the carboxyl end of the protein which contains an HR-C domain, unlike mammalian HSF4. Surprisingly, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated that the binding affinity of zebrafish HSF4 to discontinuous HSEs is more similar to HSF1 than to other HSF4 proteins. The amino acid sequence of zebrafish HSF4 DNA binding domain was also more similar to HSF1 than other HSF4 proteins. These results, along with a phylogenetic analysis of HSF proteins from eleven species, suggest that HSF1 was an evolutionary precursor of HSF4 and that functions of this protein may differ between zebrafish and mammals. The expression level for each of the three zebrafish HSFs was determined in adult tissues and in developing embryos by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Expression of both hsf4 transcripts was observed predominantly in the eye but only observed in developing embryonic tissue at 60 hours post fertilization or later. This, together with the lack of an observable phenotype following MO knockdown of hsf4, suggests that HSF4 likely has a role in later stages of lens development. Additionally, hsf1 and hsf2 expression were detected in all tissues and in all stages of development as well as being present as maternal transcripts in zebrafish eggs. The results presented in this thesis demonstrate that while zebrafish HSFs share some similarity with HSF proteins from other species, they also have structural characteristics and expression patterns unique to the zebrafish

Hidden in Plain Sight For Too Long: Using Text Mining Techniques to Shine a Light on Workplace Sexism and Sexual Harassment

Objective: The goal of this study is to understand how people experience sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace by discovering themes in 2,362 experiences posted on the Everyday Sexism Project's website everydaysexism.com. Method: This study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative method was a computational framework to collect and analyze a large number of workplace sexual harassment experiences. The qualitative method was the analysis of the topics generated by a text mining method. Results: Twenty-three topics were coded and then grouped into three overarching themes from the sex discrimination and sexual harassment literature. The Sex Discrimination theme included experiences in which women were treated unfavorably due to their sex, such as being passed over for promotion, denied opportunities, paid less than men, and ignored or talked over in meetings. The Sex Discrimination and Gender harassment theme included stories about sex discrimination and gender harassment, such as sexist hostility behaviors ranging from insults and jokes invoking misogynistic stereotypes to bullying behavior. The last theme, Unwanted Sexual Attention, contained stories describing sexual comments and behaviors used to degrade women. Unwanted touching was the highest weighted topic, indicating how common it was for website users to endure being touched, hugged or kissed, groped, and grabbed. Conclusions: This study illustrates how researchers can use automatic processes to go beyond the limits of traditional research methods and investigate naturally occurring large scale datasets on the internet to achieve a better understanding of everyday workplace sexism experiences

CANcer BEhavioural nutrition and exercise feasibility trial (CanBenefit); phase I qualitative interview findings

Background: Older people with lung cancer are often frail and unfit due to their cancer and co-morbidities and may tolerate cancer treatments poorly. Physical activity (PA) and a healthy diet offer quality of life benefit to people with cancer before, during, and post treatment. However, older adults are poorly represented in the clinical trials on which recommendations were made. Objective: To assess the acceptability, usefulness, and practicality of delivering a tailored wellbeing (PA and nutrition) intervention for older adults with lung cancer before, during, and after cancer treatments (chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy). Methods: Semi-structured interviews conducted with nine patients with lung cancer and three patients with mesothelioma, ≥70 years and ten informal carers, and nine Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) members. A topic guide covered the acceptability, usefulness, and practicality of a wellbeing intervention as well as specific feedback on individual components. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings: Four themes were generated: current lack of wellbeing care in clinical work; preferred “can have” dietary and “can do” PA advice; peer support as facilitating factor; and barriers to compliance including patients' psychological and physical issues as well as current cancer pathway and staffing issues. Conclusion: Older adults with lung cancer would welcome a proactive, clear and instructive, wellbeing intervention. Many barriers to compliance exist, particularly before and during cancer treatments due to the psycho-social impact of diagnosis, and the effects of cancer treatment. The intervention must be tailored to individual need and address physical limitations, psychological and social welfare in addition to PA and nutritional advice

Volume 4 Issue 2 (Complete Spring 2017)

A complete version of LMU Law Review Volume Issue 2 for Spring 2017

Physical activity and nutrition interventions for older adults with cancer: a systematic review

Purpose: The aim of this review was to summarize the current literature for the effectiveness of activity and nutritional based interventions on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults living with and beyond cancer (LWBC). Methods: We conducted systematic structured searches of CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Cochrane CENTRAL databases, and bibliographic review. Two independent researchers selected against inclusion criteria: (1) lifestyle nutrition and/or activity intervention for people with any cancer diagnosis, (2) measured HRQoL, (3) all participants over 60years of age and (4) randomized controlled trials. Results: Searches identified 5179 titles; 114 articles had full text review, with 14 studies (participant n = 1660) included. Three had nutrition and activity components, one, nutrition only and ten, activity only. Duration ranged from 7days to 1year. Interventions varied from intensive daily prehabilitation to home-based gardening interventions. Studies investigated various HRQoL outcomes including fatigue, general and cancer-specific quality of life (QoL), distress, depression, global side-effect burden and physical functioning. Eight studies reported significant intervention improvements in one or more QoL measure. Seven studies reported using a psychosocial/theoretical framework. There is a gap in tailored nutrition advice. Conclusions: Among the few studies that targeted older adults with cancer, most were activity-based programmes with half reporting improvements in QoL. Future research should focus on or include tailored nutrition components and consider appropriate behaviour change techniques to maximize potential QoL improvement. Implications for Cancer Survivors: More research is needed to address the research gap regarding older adults as current recommendations are derived from younger populations

The Ursinus Weekly, May 13, 1963

Bears annex first MAC championship • Cold weather doesn\u27t freeze Mississippi mud • Senior show slated for May 16 • Sir George Thomson, famed physicist, to speak at Commencement exercises • Joyce Maloney wins title of Miss Montgomery County • Registration open for Summer school • Angelo Cutone, custodian, plans return to Italy • Pre-med society selects officers • Music Club names 1963-64 officers • Shinnick, Kelly, Gould elected class presidents • Whitians elect 1963-64 leaders • Dr. Steere urges understanding • Peggy Cooper new head cheerleader • GOP elects officers • New officers • As Helfferich leaves Girard Trust • Greek gleanings • UC Band presents Spring concert • Minutes of MSGA • Tibetan lamas • Fine casting and producing lead Staring match to success • Ursinus smites fiery Dragons 8-1; Bears give explorers victory 9-5 • Tennis team trims the Main Line • Jim Egolf: Freshman find • Ursinus racketeers stumble • Haverford beaten second time, 6-2 • UC shears Ewes • Bears drop Shoremen from undefeated ranks • Lacrosse team drops WC, 6-4https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1296/thumbnail.jp

Impact of Level of Effort on the Effects of Compliance with the 3-Hour Rule

Objective To determine if patients’ level of effort (LOE) in therapy sessions during traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation modifies the effect of compliance with the 3-Hour Rule of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Design Propensity score methodology applied to the TBI-Practice-Based Evidence (TBI-PBE) database, consisting of multi-site, prospective, longitudinal observational data. Setting Acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF). Participants Patients (n=1820) who received their first IRF admission for TBI in the US and were enrolled for 3 and 9 month follow-up. Main Outcome Measures Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools-Objective-17, FIMTM Motor and Cognitive scores, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results When the full cohort was examined, no strong main effect of compliance with the 3-Hour Rule was identified and LOE did not modify the effect of compliance with the 3-Hour Rule. In contrast, LOE had a strong positive main effect on all outcomes, except depression. When the sample was stratified by level of disability, LOE modified the effect of compliance, particularly on the outcomes of participants with less severe disability. For these patients, providing 3 hours of therapy for 50%+ of therapy days in the context of low effort resulted in poorer performance on select outcome measures at discharge and up to 9 months post discharge compared to patients with <50% of 3-hr therapy days. Conclusions LOE is an active ingredient in inpatient TBI rehabilitation, while compliance with the 3-Hour Rule was not found to have a substantive impact on the outcomes. The results support matching time in therapy during acute TBI rehabilitation to patients’ LOE in order to optimize long-term benefits on outcomes

Research Brief: Land Education Teacher Professional Development

In Washington State, Senate Bill 5028 (2018) mandates the teaching of tribal sovereignty curriculum k-12 (STI) and integration of “Native American curriculum developed by the office of the superintendent of public instruction into existing Pacific Northwest history and government requirements” of existing teacher preparation programs. To do this work well, teacher educators in universities and communities must partner to prepare teacher candidates and in-service teachers to implement the curriculum within the context and goals of tribal nations. However, research finds that this work requires white teachers to confront their own biases that prevent them from being in true partnership with tribes to implement Indigenous informed curriculums. Our work shows that land education—that centers Indigenous people relations to land—in teacher professional development represents one avenue to do this work in good way, that is different from existing professional development models. To be clear, the findings from this research are not new understandings for tribal nation communities. The experiences and revelations depicted by white teacher participants represent generations of awareness by Indigenous peoples in public schools. We put forth the design of the LETPD and impact on white teachers for school districts as a framework to improve their school-based curriculum and engagements with Indigenous peoples. Before we describe the Land Education Teacher Professional Development (LETPD), we describe how this type of professional development (PD) is not the same as the more common place based PD work that happens in our region