Into the Pines

Into the Pines is a body of work that leads the viewer on a mediated journey, one that encourages the reader to construct meaning through an investigation of several photographic mediums and materials. A patchwork of incomplete stories, the work is a genre study of North American murder ballads, built on a spine of both personal and cultural histories. While many of the images found within the work reference such histories, others speak to a universal fascination with tragedy, where it comes from, and how it shapes our lives. In book form, the work is presented as a visual dossier, a collection of many individual “pieces” that function within a larger puzzle. By using an array of visual strategies, the work hints at past events, both authentic and fabricated. While the absence of original context invites speculation about what has or has not occurred, it is in the sequence that the images begin to foster new meanings and relationships. The work acts as an enigmatic book, a mixture of materials that the viewer is left with to construct meaning with on their own terms, allowing for narratives that become representative of the mind that constructs them. In the end, the work is an examination of a deviant world through deviant eyes

TARGET-DIRECTED BIOSYNTHETIC EVOLUTION: REDIRECTING PLANT EVOLUTION TO GENOMICALLY OPTIMIZE A PLANT’S PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILE

The dissertation describes a novel method for plant drug discovery based on mutation and selection of plant cells. Despite the industry focus on chemical synthesis, plants remain a source of potent and complex bioactive metabolites. Many of these have evolved as defensive compounds targeted on key proteins in the CNS of herbivorous insects, for example the insect dopamine transporter (DAT). Because of homology with the human DAT protein some of these metabolites have high abuse potential, but others may be valuable in treating drug dependence. This dissertation redirects the evolution of a native Lobelia species toward metabolites with greater activity at this therapeutic target, i.e. the human DAT. This was achieved by expressing the human DAT protein in transgenic plant cells and selecting gain-of-function mutants for survival on medium containing a neurotoxin that is accumulated by the human DAT. This created a sub-population of mutants with increased DAT inhibitory activity. Some of the active metabolites in these mutants are novel (i.e. not detectable in wild-type cells). Others are cytoprotective, and also protect DAergic neurons against the neurotoxin. This provides proof-of-concept for a novel plant drug discovery platform, which is applicable to many different therapeutic target proteins and plant species

Certified staff and teacher perceptions of systematic regular classroom noncognitive factors interventions and their perceived impact on student noncognitive factors growth in one Midwestern elementary school

Noncognitive factors, such as persevering, having grit and self-control, using metacognition and setting goals, and exhibiting a growth mindset, are considered intrapersonal characteristics necessary for lifelong success both in and out of school. However, most U.S. elementary schools do not concentrate specifically on developing most noncognitive factors and may spend less time on such development than in the past. This decreased focus simultaneously stems from and has contributed to a lack of understanding of effective practices for growing individual student noncognitive factors in the classroom setting and lower levels of academic achievement. This qualitative case study sought to understand educators' perceptions of the impact of schoolwide and regular classroom noncognitive factors interventions on growing student noncognitive factors over time at one U.S. Midwest elementary school. Through surveys, interviews, and focus groups, teachers and other certified staff members shared their experiences growing these factors. The study produced the overarching theme that this development was a long, steady, cumulative process and also found that noncognitive factors interventions were impactful at growing noncognitive factors, giving students ownership over their growth. Some best practices include having the principals and teachers engage in conversations with students about their noncognitive factors, including scores about noncognitive factors on report cards, schoolwide motivators (e.g., brag tags and student-of-the-month awards). Recommendations to improve programming include creating more child-friendly rubrics with pictures for younger students, training parents and new teachers about the rubric, and further developing the program by extending it to middle school and beyond.Includes bibliographical references

A Survey of Occupational Therapy Services Provided for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: We examined the services provided to adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by occupational therapists across the United States. Method: This cross-sectional study used an online survey, with a combination of structured and open-ended questions, to collect data from a nonprobability sample. Descriptive, inferential, and nonparametric statistics were used to analyze data. Results: In our sample (N= 57), the majority of the participants spent less than half of their workweek intervening with the adult ASD population. Caregivers were instrumental in both referral and discharge, and Medicaid was the most common payer source. The Adult Sensory Profile was used by more than half of the participants and sensory integration was the most influential model underlying practice (77%). The participants advised new occupational therapists to pursue high quality continuing education courses and formal mentorship from senior colleagues. Conclusion: This study suggests that working with adults with ASD remains a niche area of practice. Further research is needed to examine the pathways to receiving occupational therapy for the adult ASD population

Student Perceptions of Undergraduate Research At Fort Hays State University

Undergraduate Research is becoming an increasingly important aspect of all academic areas in universities today, and as a result an effort must be made to underand how students feel about conducting undergraduate research. Literature suggests that students are aware of the benefits to be gained from conducting research, but there are a variety of factors holding them back from actually doing so. This particular study aimed to examine the benefits students feel they receive from conducting research as well as examine how the students feel about the availability of research opportunities at a Midwestern, predominantly undergraduate institution, Fort Hays State University. Five hundred seventy-six students responded to an e-mail survey. Results reflected that the majority of students have conducted research in some capacity. Students who had conducted research felt overwhelmingly positive about the benefits they received with regard to an increase in their understanding, an increase in their skills/abilities, and an increase in their awareness of various aspects of the research process, and an increase in their confidence and qualifications in conducting research. Students seemed very satistied with their research opportunities. Also, students recornized that a variety of personal qualities are impacted through the process of research. Similar to the literature, though, a majority of students did not feel research was for them. Further understanding the motivations for student research will help mitigate this, and provide insight into what can be done to influence students to conduct more research. Furthermore, as a university, FHSU must strive to maintain and increase research opportunities. FHSU must research why faculty engage in research with students, and try to utilize this to further enhance the experiences for both students and faculty

Mechanisms of pattern formation during T cell adhesion

T cells form intriguing patterns during adhesion to antigen-presenting cells. The patterns at the cell-cell contact zone are composed of two types of domains, which either contain short TCR/MHCp receptor-ligand complexes or the longer LFA-1/ICAM-1 complexes. The final pattern consists of a central TCR/MHCp domain surrounded by a ring-shaped LFA-1/ICAM-1 domain, while the characteristic pattern formed at intermediate times is inverted with TCR/MHCp complexes at the periphery of the contact zone and LFA-1/ICAM-1 complexes in the center. In this article, we present a statistical-mechanical model of cell adhesion and propose a novel mechanism for the T cell pattern formation. Our mechanism for the formation of the intermediate inverted pattern is based (i) on the initial nucleation of numerous TCR/MHCp microdomains, and (ii) on the diffusion of free receptors and ligands into the contact zone. Due to this inward diffusion, TCR/MHCp microdomains at the rim of the contact zone grow faster and form an intermediate peripheral ring for sufficiently large TCR/MHCp concentrations. In agreement with experiments, we find that the formation of the final pattern with a central TCR/MHCp domain requires active cytoskeletal transport processes. Without active transport, the intermediate inverted pattern seems to be metastable in our model, which might explain patterns observed during natural killer (NK) cell adhesion. At smaller TCR/MHCp complex concentrations, we observe a different regime of pattern formation with intermediate multifocal TCR/MHCp patterns which resemble experimental patterns found during thymozyte adhesion.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure

The association of preoperative cardiac stress testing with 30-day death and myocardial infarction among patients undergoing kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND:Although periodic cardiac stress testing is commonly used to screen patients on the waiting list for kidney transplantation for ischemic heart disease, there is little evidence to support this practice. We hypothesized that cardiac stress testing in the 18 months prior to kidney transplantation would not reduce postoperative death, total myocardial infarction (MI) or fatal MI. METHODS:Using the United States Renal Data System, we identified ESRD patients ≥40 years old with primary Medicare insurance who received their first kidney transplant between 7/1/2006 and 11/31/2013. Propensity matching created a 1:1 matched sample of patients with and without stress testing in the 18 months prior to kidney transplantation. The outcomes of interest were death, total (fatal and nonfatal) MI or fatal MI within 30 days of kidney transplantation. RESULTS:In the propensity-matched cohort of 17,304 patients, death within 30 days occurred in 72 of 8,652 (0.83%) patients who underwent stress testing and in 65 of 8,652 (0.75%) patients who did not (OR 1.07; 95% CI: 0.79-1.45; P = 0.66). MI within 30 days occurred in 339 (3.9%) patients who had a stress test and in 333 (3.8%) patients who did not (OR 1.03; 95% CI: 0.89-1.21; P = 0.68). Fatal MI occurred in 17 (0.20%) patients who underwent stress testing and 15 (0.17%) patients who did not (OR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.71-1.32; P = 0.84). CONCLUSION:Stress testing in the 18 months prior to kidney transplantation is not associated with a reduction in death, total MI or fatal MI within 30 days of kidney transplantation

Local Elements

The mission of Local Elements is to create an eco-urban park to harbor Boise’s local movement and need for recreational community space. This project is an integrated park that includes a cultural and artistic marketplace, an outdoor amphitheater, greenhouses and multipurpose educational facilities. A key aspect of Local Elements is to create a socio-economic space that enables sustainable development, through both its design and function. This will be accomplished through a collaborative plan including: a new construction method made from completely recycled building materials, geothermal heating, xeriscaping, rainwater recycling and solar power. Local Elements will stimulate the economy and steer Boise toward a connected local community focus. Local Elements is a valuable development project for the City of Boise. People of all ages will enjoy this addition to downtown, as it will remain a prominent place of interaction and use for generations to come

Differential segregation in a cell-cell contact interface: the dynamics of the immunological synapse

Receptor-ligand couples in the cell-cell contact interface between a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell form distinct geometric patterns and undergo spatial rearrangement within the contact interface. Spatial segregation of the antigen and adhesion receptors occurs within seconds of contact, central aggregation of the antigen receptor then occurring over 1-5 min. This structure, called the immunological synapse, is becoming a paradigm for localized signaling. However, the mechanisms driving its formation, in particular spatial segregation, are currently not understood. With a reaction diffusion model incorporating thermodynamics, elasticity, and reaction kinetics, we examine the hypothesis that differing bond lengths (extracellular domain size) is the driving force behind molecular segregation. We derive two key conditions necessary for segregation: a thermodynamic criterion on the effective bond elasticity and a requirement for the seeding/nucleation of domains. Domains have a minimum length scale and will only spontaneously coalesce/aggregate if the contact area is small or the membrane relaxation distance large. Otherwise, differential attachment of receptors to the cytoskeleton is required for central aggregation. Our analysis indicates that differential bond lengths have a significant effect on synapse dynamics, i.e., there is a significant contribution to the free energy of the interaction, suggesting that segregation by differential bond length is important in cell-cell contact interfaces and the immunological synapse

Care coordinator assistants: Job satisfaction and the importance of teamwork in delivering person-centered dementia care

As the prevalence of persons with dementia increases, a larger, trained, and skilled healthcare workforce is needed. Attention has been given to models of person-centered care as a standard for dementia care. One promising role to deliver person-centered care is the care coordinator assistant. An inquiry about care coordinator assistant’s job satisfaction is reasonable to consider for retention and quality improvement purposes. We evaluated care coordinator assistant’s job satisfaction quantitatively and qualitatively. This study was part of a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Care Innovation Award to the Indiana University School of Medicine. Sixteen care coordinator assistants, predominately female, African American or Caucasian, college graduates with a mean age of 43.1 years participated. Care coordinator assistants wrote quarterly case reports to share stories, lessons learned, and/or the impact of their job and completed the revised Job Satisfaction Inventory and Job in General scales during the second year of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services award. For the Job Descriptive Index subscales promotion, supervision, and coworkers and Job in General, care coordinator assistants scored similar to normative means. Care coordinator assistants reported significantly higher satisfaction on the work subscale and significantly lower satisfaction on the pay subscale compared to normative data. Care coordinator assistants completed 119 quarterly case reports. Job satisfaction and teamwork were recurring themes in case reports, referenced in 47.1% and 60.5% of case reports, respectively. To address the demands of increasing dementia diagnoses, care coordinator assistants can constitute a compassionate, competent, and satisfied workforce. Training care coordinator assistants to work together in a team to address the needs of persons with dementia and caregivers provides a viable model of workforce development necessary to meet the growing demands of this population