POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF MANAGING BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL RESOURCES ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES

Fisheries Management under the best of scenarios is a complex action. It requires thoughtful consideration of resources that tend to be out of sight, widely distributed, highly variable both spatially and temporally, and present dramatic variation in life history and ecology. No one management approach has been developed which can effectively incorporate all these variables. Add to this the issue of transnational boundary movements of these resources, and one discovers that this complex issue needs to be addressed by multiple entities, agencies, and nations to have any chance of success. This research set out to discover ways in which fisheries management could be improved across transnational boundaries. With a multi-tiered approach, using interviews, surveys, and literature review, I discovered the state of cooperative management on transnational fisheries management in the populations of Lake Trout (a success) and Atlantic Cod (a failure) that occur in the United States and Canada as case studies. Fishery management decisions were not being guided by the life histories of fish, stakeholders are generally well informed on fisheries actions that are occurring across borders, and there is a lack of commitment from governments to make sacrifices to reduce overfishing. Ultimately, fisheries management is people management because politics, socioeconomics, public perceptions, as well as available science must all be considered. Data from this research then provides rationale for a series of recommendations for policy action which can broadly be applied to further improve transnational fisheries management into the future so that we can reliably reproduce the success of trout management and avoid the failures of cod management. The lessons learned, and policy prescriptions, should be transferable to co-management of other transnational fisheries populations across international borders

A State of Interdependence: Caryl Phillips and the Postwar World Order

This essay examines Caryl Phillips’s second novel, A State of Independence, suggesting that it is often left out of critical accounts of Phillips’s career not only, as has been assumed, because of its formal simplicity, but also and primarily because of its ambivalent representation of the United States. Considering the novel’s critical reception within the broader patterns of postcolonial literary scholarship, the essay argues for a reading of the book that emphasizes its measured evaluation of U.S. influence in the post-independence landscape. In doing so, it ties the novel’s concerns directly to Phillips’s later work and career, while proposing that his entire oeuvre can be seen to suggest a mode of critique far more attuned to the affective, political, and economic nuances of global U.S. power than is normally encouraged by postcolonial critical paradigms

An Investigation of Scleral Biomechanics and Myopia in the Mouse

The prevalence of myopia, or ”nearsightedness” is on the rise globally, set to affect about half of the global population by 2050. A myopic eye is characterized by a mismatch between the focal point of incoming light and the position of the photosensitive retina, most commonly due to excessive axial elongation of the eye (axial myopia). Axial myopia is thought to be driven by remodeling of the scleral microstructure and altered biomechanics. Certain types of visual cues drive or protect against myopigenic axial elongation, coupling retinal signaling to scleral remodeling via a complex ”retinoscleral” signaling cascade. However, the key signaling molecules that may propagate retinal signal(s) through the choroid to the sclera are largely unknown. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) has been suggested to be both capable of trans-choroidal signaling and influencing scleral remodeling of glycosaminoglycans, biomechanically relevant extracellular matrix components known to change rapidly upon presentation of visual cues. The mouse can be an excellent model organism for causal studies of myopigenesis, yet its small eye makes confirming axial elongation and scleral changes technically challenging. The central hypothesis of this work was that visual cues will lead to scleral remodeling and altered biomechanics comparable to other species. Additionally, we hypothesized that artificially increasing atRA concentration in the eye leads to a myopic phenotype. To address these hypotheses, we developed a method to quantify the material properties of the mouse sclera using compression testing and a poroelastic material model, permitting the first characterizations of mouse scleral compressive/tensile stiffness and hydraulic permeability. In the mouse model of form-deprivation myopia, we then showed that the extensibility and permeability of the mouse sclera are greatly increased during myopigenesis, even without measurable axial elongation. We then characterized the ocular phenotype of mice treated with atRA, showing that atRA is myopigenic in the mouse and that scleral biomechanics are altered in a manner similar to that seen in visually mediated myopigenesis. These results implicate retinoic acid in the myopigenic retinoscleral signaling cascade and lay the groundwork for future studies of myopigenesis in the mouse.Ph.D

Reverse Hyperextension Device

The Reverse Hyperextension Device is an exercise device typically used to aid in the recovery of those with lower back problems. Its main use is to substitute squats for those who cannot sustain the strain that comes with doing regular squats. A typical Reverse Hyperextension device is a bulky and immovable device, which poses a problem if the placement area has limited space. With our innovative design, the device will be foldable so it can be stored away when not in use and still as stable as needed to serve its purpose without causing injury. Another benefit coming from the redesign is the ability to easily move the device when needed. The redesign of the device will be made out of aluminum, with a few components out of steel for added strength. Finally, something not seen on ordinary Reverse Hyperextension devices that our redesign has is a real time angle readout. The readout is intended to keep track of the patients’ progress along their recovery process. With the redesign of the Reverse Hyperextension device, one will have everything found on the typical device along with many added features to make the device more user friendly and flexible to the users

Effects of cochlear implantation on binaural hearing in adults with unilateral hearing loss

A FDA clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the potential benefit of cochlear implant (CI) use for adults with unilateral moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. Subjects were 20 adults with moderate-to-profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and normal or near-normal hearing on the other side. A MED-EL standard electrode was implanted in the impaired ear. Outcome measures included: (a) sound localization on the horizontal plane (11 positions, −90° to 90°), (b) word recognition in quiet with the CI alone, and (c) masked sentence recognition with the target at 0° and the masker at −90°, 0°, or 90°. This battery was completed preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after CI activation. Normative data were also collected for 20 age-matched control subjects with normal or near-normal hearing bilaterally. The CI improved localization accuracy and reduced side bias. Word recognition with the CI alone was similar to performance of traditional CI recipients. The CI improved masked sentence recognition when the masker was presented from the front or from the side of normal or near-normal hearing. The binaural benefits observed with the CI increased between the 1- and 3-month intervals but appeared stable thereafter. In contrast to previous reports on localization and speech perception in patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, CI benefits were consistently observed across individual subjects, and performance was at asymptote by the 3-month test interval. Cochlear implant settings, consistent CI use, and short duration of deafness could play a role in this result

Treatment Technology Validation for Water Softening Technology

MT Hard Water of Montana Tech of the University of Montana submits Task 3: Treatment Technology Validation for Water Softening Technology as an entry into the 2012 WERC Environmental Design Contest. Currently, there are several commercially available technologies that treat water hardness. The objective of this project is to develop a strategy to evaluate and validate different water hardness treatment technologies. MT Hard Water (MTHW) has studied several technologies including: electromagnetic water treatment, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis. For validation purposes, an electromagnetic water treatment system (ScaleRID) was selected according to the WERC task description

(POSTER) Design and Construction of a Transportable Swimming Pool Flume to Aid in the Development UIndy Swimmers

A transportable “endless pool” device to improve the speed, endurance, and stroke techniques of swimmers is being developed. To guide our design processes, we used the implementation of the Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodology. The “endless pool” will create a non-turbulent swim current that allows stationary swimming. It will be a high-volume propellor system which has a variable speed to help all ranges of swimmers. After researching existing devices, we created CAD designs that were used in computational fluid dynamics simulations to optimize performance parameters like backflow, turbulence, and device dimensions. From the initial simulation results, we addressed the backflow by creating a novel design. We then 3D printed a scaled model of our design and plan to test whether the scaled numbers are reliable, and the flow is laminar. To test this we had created a scaled model of the pool. Inside the scaled model we installed false walls to attempt to create a circular flow that will keep it as laminar as possible. If the false walls in the models simulation are reliable, we plan to use them in our final design. In the new UIndy “endless pool” swimmers can view their mirror reflection and video replays to analyze and improve their own technique. In addition to swimmer improvement, the University of Indianapolis Kinesiology department will be able to conduct research on the swimmers’ stroke technique

Regulation of succinate-fuelled mitochondrial respiration in liver and skeletal muscle of hibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrels.

Hibernating ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) alternate between two distinct metabolic states throughout winter: torpor, during which metabolic rate (MR) and body temperature (Tb) are considerably suppressed, and interbout euthermia (IBE), during which MR and Tb briefly return to euthermic levels. Previous studies showed suppression of succinate-fuelled respiration during torpor in liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria; however, these studies used only a single, saturating succinate concentration. Therefore, they could not address whether mitochondrial metabolic suppression occurs under physiological substrate concentrations or whether differences in the kinetics of mitochondrial responses to changing substrate concentration might also contribute to mitochondrial metabolic regulation during torpor. The present study confirmed that succinate oxidation is reduced during torpor in liver and skeletal muscle at 37 and 10°C over a 100-fold range of succinate concentrations. At 37°C, this suppression resulted from inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), which had a greater affinity for oxaloacetate (an SDH inhibitor) during torpor. At 10°C, SDH was not inhibited, suggesting that SDH inhibition initiates but does not maintain mitochondrial suppression during torpor. Moreover, in both liver and skeletal muscle, mitochondria from torpid animals maintained relatively higher respiration rates at low succinate concentrations, which reduces the extent of energy savings that can be achieved during torpor, but may also maintain mitochondrial oxidative capacity above some lower critical threshold, thereby preventing cellular and/or mitochondrial injury during torpor and facilitating rapid recruitment of oxidative capacity during arousal

Reciprocal regulation of IL-23 and IL-12 following co-activation of Dectin-1 and TLR signaling pathways

Recognition of microbial products by germ-line-encoded PRR initiates immune responses, but how PRR mediate specific host responses to infectious agents is poorly understood. We and others have proposed that specificity is achieved by collaborative responses mediated between different PRR. One such example comprises the fungal β-glucan receptor Dectin-1, which collaborates with TLR to induce TNF production. We show here that collaborative responses mediated by Dectin-1 and TLR2 are more extensive than first appreciated, and result in enhanced IL-23, IL-6 and IL-10 production in DC, while down-regulating IL-12 relative to the levels produced by TLR ligation alone. Such down-regulation occurred with multiple MyD88-coupled TLR, was dependent on signaling through Dectin-1 and also occurred in macrophages. These findings explain how fungi can induce IL-23 and IL-6, while suppressing IL-12, a combination which has previously been shown to contribute to the development of Th17 responses found during fungal infections. Furthermore, these data reveal how the collaboration of different PRR can tailor specific responses to infectious agents

N-Methyl-NЈ-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine Activates Cell-Cycle Arrest through Distinct Mechanisms Activated in a Dose-Dependent Manner

ABSTRACT S N 1-alkylating agents, such as the mutagenic and cytotoxic drug N-methyl- NЈ-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), robustly activate the DNA damage-responsive G 2 checkpoint. Establishment of this checkpoint is dependent on a functional mismatch repair (MMR) system; however, exposure to high doses of MNNG overrides the requirement for MMR to trigger G 2 arrest. In addition, unlike moderate-dose exposure, in which the G 2 checkpoint is attenuated in ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated (ATM)-deficient cells, high-dose MNNG treatment activates G 2 arrest through an ATM-independent mechanism. We document that this arrest is sensitive to the pharmacological agents caffeine and 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) that inhibit the checkpoint kinases ATM/ATM and Rad-3-related (ATR) and Chk1/Chk2, respectively. Furthermore, these agents block inactivation of the cell-cycle regulatory molecules Cdc25C and Cdc2, establishing the downstream mechanism through which high-dose MNNG establishes G 2 arrest. Activation of both Chk2 and Chk1 was independent of ATM and MMR in response to high-dose MNNG, unlike the response to moderate doses of this drug. Chk2 was found to be dispensable for cell-cycle arrest in response to high-dose MNNG treatment; however, ATR deficiency and decreased Chk1 expression forced by RNA interference resulted in diminished checkpoint response. These results indicate that MNNG activates the G 2 checkpoint through different mechanisms activated in a dosedependent fashion