Laochra

University of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136823/1/Waters_Thesis1.pd

Application of an Imprint-and-Report Sensor Array for Detection of the Dietary Metabolite Trimethylamine N-Oxide and Its Precursors in Complex Mixtures

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is produced in the gut via metabolism of dietary betaine, choline, and carnitine, and elevated TMAO in plasma is associated with adverse health effects, including cardiovascular events. Currently, we lack high throughput methods for sensing these metabolites and detecting high TMAO. Thus, we have adapted our previously described "imprint-and-report" fluorescent sensing method using dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs) to create a sensor array for these four metabolites that functions at physiologically relevant concentrations. Templation of DCLs with dye and subsequent addition of analytes generates a fluorescent fingerprint for each metabolite and allows for differentiation via principal component analysis (PCA). Furthermore, we demonstrate that this system can be used to characterize mixtures of the metabolites in both buffer and human plasma samples. Using three to six DCLs, we can distinguish between plasma samples with healthy and elevated levels of TMAO

Organismal Biology

This Grants Collection for Organismal Biology was created under a Round Four ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/biology-collections/1006/thumbnail.jp

Evolution and Biodiversity

This Grants Collection for Evolution and Biodiversity was created under a Round Four ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/biology-collections/1005/thumbnail.jp

Creating Critical Dialogue with Gender and Sexual Minority and Ally Adolescents at HS High School through the use of Photovoice

During the spring of 2015, the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) student group at HS high school will participate in a photovoice project to better understand gender and sexual minority (GSM) youth experiences at the school and advocate for a more inclusive environment for these populations. Compared to their cisgender or heterosexual peers, GSM adolescents are more likely to engage in risky behavior and experience poor health outcomes. GSM youth experience high rates of tobacco and other drug use, suicide, self-harm, sexually transmitted infections, and physical and sexual violence (Saewyc, 2011; Davis, Stafford, & Pullig, 2014; Goodenow, 2006). GSM youth experience discrimination in the form of homophobia and transphobia on all levels of the social context (Saewyc, 2011; Kuper, Coleman, & Mustanksi, 2013; Heck, Flentje, & Cochran, 2013). Many GSM youth experience some form of internalized homophobia and transphobia and shame around their identities (Kuper et al., 2013). Programs working with GSM youth often focus solely on the internal shame of GSM youth rather than focusing on their social environments. GSM youth are constantly weighing the benefits and consequences of disclosing their identity to others for fear of rejection, harassment, or violence (Kuper et al., 2013; Klein et al., 2014). Therefore, GSM youth more often experience fear of stigmatization and discrimination rather than feel shame about their identities (Klein et al., 2014). GSM youth experience high rates of discrimination and harassment within the school context. According to a 2013 National School Climate Survey conducted by Kocsiw, Greytak, Palmer, and Boesen (2014), 95% of the GSM youth in North Carolina had heard the word "gay" used in a negative way, 87% had heard other homophobic remarks (e.g., dyke, fag), and 81% heard negative remarks about gender expression. GSAs are student groups that provide social and emotional support to GSM students and their allies as well as advocate to create a more 2 inclusive and safe school environment (Heck et al., 2013; Mayberry, Chenneville, & Currie, 2011). The photovoice project described in this master's paper will collaborate with a GSA in a rural county in North Carolina to challenge the homophobia and transphobia in their school and wider community. Photovoice is a community-based participatory research method in which participants use photography to explore problems that affect their community and develop action steps to address those problems (Wang & Burris, 1997). The GSA will use a modified version of photovoice to 1.) Identify the unique challenges that GSM students at their high school experience, 2.) Create awareness on the homophobia and transphobia that exist within the school, and 3.) Enhance group cohesion and establish projects to continue to challenge the silence surrounding these issues in the school and community at large.Master of Public Healt

Economic analysis of the oil trade between Mexico and the United States

Oil trade relations between the United States and Mexico originated over two centuries ago and although at times the relationship has been extremely volatile, it remains an important relationship. In order to understand the evolution of the crude oil and petroleum trade, one must return to the beginning and track the history of trade policy between the two countries. The economic and national relationship between Mexico and the United States is important simply due to logistics and the great amount of trade that takes place. The oil sector in Mexico accounts for the majority of the country's national income and beyond that, produces a picture of the future, specifically the development of the world's energy reserves and future oil dependence. One concern that remains for potential investors and partners is the uncertainty that surrounds the political environment in Mexico. Along with the uncertainty surrounding the future of the oil industry comes ambiguity in the future of relations between Mexico and the United States, which could come full-circle and affect the oil industry again. Through this paper, I attempt to trace the history of trade relations between the United States and Mexico in order to paint a picture of what the future may be in regards to oil and trade between the two countries

Evaluating Established Methods for Rumen 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing With Mock Microbial Populations

peer-reviewedThe rumen microbiome scientific community has utilized amplicon sequencing as an aid in identifying potential community compositional trends that could be used as an estimation of various production and performance traits including methane emission, animal protein production efficiency, and ruminant health status. In order to translate rumen microbiome studies into executable application, there is a need for experimental and analytical concordance within the community. The objective of this study was to assess these factors in relation to selected currently established methods for 16S phylogenetic community analysis on a microbial community standard (MC) and a DNA standard (DS; ZymoBIOMICSTM). DNA was extracted from MC using the RBBC method commonly used for microbial DNA extraction from rumen digesta samples. 16S rRNA amplicon libraries were generated for the MC and DS using primers routinely used for rumen bacterial and archaeal community analysis. The primers targeted the V4 and V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and samples were subjected to both 20 and 28 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycles under identical cycle conditions. Sequencing was conducted using the Illumina MiSeq platform. As the bacteria contained in the microbial mock community were well-classified species, and for ease of explanation, we used the results of the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool classification to assess the DNA, PCR cycle number, and primer type. Sequence classification methodology was assessed independently. Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated that utilizing the repeated bead beating and column method for DNA extraction in combination with primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene using 20 first-round PCR cycles was sufficient for amplicon sequencing to generate a relatively accurate depiction of the bacterial communities present in rumen samples. These results also emphasize the requirement to develop and utilize positive mock community controls for all rumen microbiomic studies in order to discern errors which may arise at any step during a next-generation sequencing protocol

A Crisis of Hate: A Report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Hate Violence Homicides In 2017

In 2017, NCAVP recorded reports of 52 hate violence related homicidesof LGBTQ people, the highest number ever recorded by NCAVP. This number represents an 86% increase in single incident reports from 2016. In 2017, there was the equivalent of one homicide of an LGBTQ person in the U.S. each week