Interregulation between msaABCR operon and ccpE to determine Staphylococcal metabolism and virulence

Staphylococcus aureus is a complex human pathogen that causes problems in both healthcare and community settings. Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive, sphere shaped bacterium that usually colonizes in the nasal cavity of healthy individuals. Staphylococcus aureus infections are a growing health concern due to its ability to produce virulence factors, such as pigmentation, protease production, and capsule formation. Two regulators in S. aureus virulence factors are msaABCR, which is a newly characterized operon, and ccpE. In order to determine the interaction between these two regulators in regulating virulence and metabolism in S. aureus, ccpE and ccpE/msaABCR transposon mutants were constructed. The ability for S. aureus to survive and adapt is due to its capability to reutilize acetate via TCA pathway, produce pigment and protease, and survive without access to nutrients and oxygen. Various assays such as aconitase activity assay, pigmentation assay, protease assay, and survival assay were performed in these strains and were compared to wild type and msaABCR mutant strains. Results from aconitase activity assays showed that msaABCR represses aconitase activity most likely via ccpE. Whereas, pigmentation assays and protease activity assays showed that msaABCR operon activate pigment production and repress protease expression independent of ccpE. In addition, we showed the role of ccpE in the stationary phase survival of S. aureus. This study thus elucidated the complex regulatory network of ccpE and msaABCR to determine virulence in S. aureus

Whole genome metagenomic analysis of the gut microbiome of differently fed infants identifies differences in microbial composition and functional genes, including an absent CRISPR/Cas9 gene in the formula-fed cohort

Background: Advancements in sequencing capabilities have enhanced the study of the human microbiome. There are limited studies focused on the gastro-intestinal (gut) microbiome of infants, particularly the impact of diet between breast-fed (BF) versus formula-fed (FF). It is unclear what effect, if any, early feeding has on short- term or long-term composition and function of the gut microbiome. Results: Using a shotgun metagenomics approach, differences in the gut microbiome between BF (n = 10) and FF (n = 5) infants were detected. A Jaccard distance principle coordinate analysis was able to cluster BF versus FF infants based on the presence or absence of species identified in their gut microbiome. Thirty-two genera were identified as statistically different in the gut microbiome sequenced between BF and FF infants. Furthermore, the computational workflow identified 371 bacterial genes that were statistically different between the BF and FF cohorts in abundance. Only seven genes were lower in abundance (or absent) in the FF cohort compared to the BF cohort, including CRISPR/Cas9; whereas, the remaining candidates, including autotransporter adhesins, were higher in abundance in the FF cohort compared to BF cohort. Conclusions: These studies demonstrated that FF infants have, at an early age, a significantly different gut microbiome with potential implications for function of the fecal microbiota. Interactions between the fecal microbiota and host hinted at here have been linked to numerous diseases. Determining whether these non- abundant or more abundant genes have biological consequence related to infant feeding may aid in under- standing the adult gut microbiome, and the pathogenesis of obesity

Prioritizing Engagement and Movement in the World Language Classroom: An Action Research Study on Deskless Seating in Secondary, Novice-Level Spanish Classes

Deskless seating is a seating trend that has grown in popularity in recent years, particularly among world language educators of students of all ages. In deskless seating, the desks in the classroom are removed and the students sit in chairs in the center of the room. While educators in this field are finding success with this seating option, little to no research has been collected on this topic. The purpose of this action research study was: 1) to determine what effects deskless seating had on student behavior and engagement and 2) investigate student opinions of deskless seating. The participants in this study were 7th and 8th grade students in a novice-level Spanish class. Through field notes, student surveys, and student interviews, the researcher found deskless seating increased student engagement and slightly improved student behavior. Students gave mixed opinions on deskless seating, with the positive elements they liked outweighing the aspects they did not enjoy. Keywords: Deskless seating, flexible seating, traditional seating, engagement, student perceptions, secondary, novice level language learner

Trends in coal miners' exposure to coal mine dust before and after implementation of the continuous personal dust monitor and reduced exposure limit

Background: Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP) is a lung disease caused by overexposure to respirable coal mine dust (CMD). Since the 1990s, CWP prevalence increased. In response, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), with external partners, created the Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM), and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reduced the CMD exposure limit. Due to recent increases in CWP and regulatory changes in mining practice, it is imperative to understand miners’ current exposure. Objectives: The primary objective of this report is to describe trends in U.S. underground coal miners’ CMD exposure during three intervals; 1) before implementation of the CPDM; 2) after CPDM implementation but before establishing a lower CMD exposure limit; 3) after both the implementation of the CPDM and lower CMD exposure limit. The secondary objective is to describe CMD exposure trends by state, mine size, and occupation title. Methods: CMD exposure and mine data were downloaded from MSHA’s website. Data were restricted from August 1, 2015 to January 31, 2017 and divided into three six-month intervals. 111,002 CMD samples were included. Median concentration of CMD and CMD exposure limit exceedances were computed for each month and six-month interval. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine differences in median CMD concentrations, and the Chi-Square and Cochran-Armitage tests were used to determine differences and trends, respectively, in CMD exposure limit exceedances among the six-month intervals. Results: Median concentrations of CMD significantly differed among the six-month intervals (p-valu

Latino and Non-Latino Perceptions of the Air Quality in California's San Joaquin Valley.

The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California has poor air quality, high rates of asthma, and high rates of obesity. Informational campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of the health impacts of poor air quality and promoting behavior change need to be tailored to the specific target audiences. The study examined perceptions of air quality, perceived health impacts, and methods of accessing information about air quality between Latinos and other groups in the SJV. Residents of the SJV (n = 744) where surveyed via one of three methods: community organizations (256), public locations (251), and an internet panel (237). The results suggest that people perceive the air quality in their region to be generally unhealthy, particularly for sensitive groups. The air quality is more likely to be reported as being unhealthy by people with health problems and less unhealthy by Latinos and people who report regularly exercising. Latinos are more likely to report working outdoors regularly, but also more likely to report being able to reduce their exposure if the air quality is unhealthy. The results report differences in informational sources about air quality, suggesting that informational campaigns should target high risk groups using a variety of media

Filamentary structure of serpens main and serpens south seen in N2H+, HCO+, and HCN

We present the N$_{2}$H$^{+}$ (J = 1 $\rightarrow$ 0) map of the Serpens Main and Serpens South molecular cloud obtained as part of the CARMA Large Area Star Formation Survey (CLASSy). The observations cover 150 arcmin$^{2}$ and 250 arcmin$^{2}$, respectively, and fully sample structures from 3000 AU to 3 pc with a velocity resolution of 0.16 km s$^{-1}$. They can be used to constrain the origin and evolution of molecular cloud filaments. The spatial distribution of the N$_{2}$H$^{+}$ emission is characterized by long filaments that resemble those observed in the dust continuum emission by Herschel. However, the gas filaments are typically narrower such that, in some cases, two or three quasi-parallel N$_{2}$H$^{+}$ filaments comprise a single observed dust continuum filament. Our results suggest that single filaments seen in Serpens South by Herschel may in fact be comprised of multiple narrower filaments. Some molecular filaments show velocity gradients along their major axis, and two are characterized by a steep velocity gradient in the direction perpendicular to the filament axis. The observed velocity gradient along one of these filaments was previously postulated as evidence for mass infall toward the central cluster, but these kind of gradients can be interpreted as projection of large-scale turbulence. Finally we compare the morphologies of these N$_{2}$H$^{+}$ filaments with those detected in HCO$^{+}$ and HCN. In Serpens South we find that the N$_{2}$H$^{+}$ and dust maps are well correlated, whereas HCO$^{+}$ and HCN do not have regularly have N$_{2}$H$^{+}$ counterparts. We postulate that this difference is due to large-scale shocks creating the HCO$^{+}$ and HCN emission

Probing planetary disks: from birth to protoplanets

Protoplanetary disks set the physical and chemical conditions for the planets that will eventually form inside of them. While the exact details of the process remain a large area of research, it is the gas and dust in these disks that will grow into planets. By the Class II phase of a protostar’s evolution, large disks are common (so there is a large mass reservoir available) and it is commonly assumed that most of the planet formation process occurs at this time. However, with the advent of high-sensitivity interferometers, such as the VLA or ALMA, we are finding that large disks can grow even at the earliest times of a protostars life (Class 0 phase). These young objects are heavily obscured in their dusty natal envelope and often carry information from the cloud with them (i.e., the local magnetic field). In fact, theoretical studies have shown that these fields can directly influence whether a disk can grow in Class 0 sources. Through observational studies of both evolved and young protostars, the research presented in this dissertation concentrates on observing planet formation via grain growth inferred by disk substructure, examining the role magnetic fields have in the youngest sources, and probing the way magnetic fields are traditionally inferred. I first present an unbiased survey of the evolved disks in the ρ Ophiuchus cloud using ALMA. I measured the flux and radius from ∼ 50 pre-main-sequence stellar systems. I found that binary systems are both dimmer and have smaller disks than their isolated components. I used these results to test if these disks were smaller due to tidal truncation, and found that the disks surrounding binaries in this cloud are too small to have been affected by truncation. This survey also revealed six transition and gapped disks, indicating active planet formation in these sources. I then present work examining the magnetic fields of the Class 0 protostar, IRAS 4A, to infer disk growth at young stages. This is the first result of the VANDAM survey and uses dust continuum polarization to infer the projected magnetic field morphology at disk-scales. I show that the inferred field has an azimuthal pattern, which appears to be from the field lines being dragged down to a rotating disk. Since this source is very well studied, I use previous sub-/millimeter flux data to show that large (∼ cm size) dust grains have grown in the 10kyr age of IRAS 4A. Then I show the results from an ALMA polarization study of ten protostars. Here we looked at dust continuum polarization observations of 3 sources that are candidate disks from 8 mm data, 2 sources that are likely fragmenting disks, 1 close binary and 4 sources that do not have discernible disks down to ∼ 12 au. I found that all sources show ordered polarization, as well as a low polarization fraction, in the inner ∼ 150 au and that outside of that radius, the polarization becomes higher and more disordered. The disk candidates all show a polarization morphology that is akin to self-scattering in the disk region. However, this morphology can also be attributed to a tightly wrapped toroidal field in an inclined disk. Lastly, since these observations probe the interface of an infalling envelope down to disk-scales, we see, possibly for the first time, that the polarization mechanism likely changes as the density increases. Finally, I present the full polarization results from the VANDAM survey. This survey observed all known protostars (Class 0 and Class I sources) in the Perseus Molecular Cloud using both A- and B-configuration (∼ 12 au and ∼ 50 au resolution, respectively) at Ka-band (8 mm and 1 cm) and using the A-configuration at C-band (4 cm and 6 cm). The main goals of VANDAM were to characterize the multiplicity of these young sources, and so the integration time was ∼ 30 minutes on each source. With these observations, I present the upper limits of polarization at ∼ 50 au. I find that most of the upper limits are ⪆ 30% peak polarization

HPV VACCINE IN MALES: BREAKING THROUGH THE BARRIERS

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States (Seto, Marra, Raymakers, & Marra, 2012). A literature review was conducted to investigate the barriers to vaccine uptake in the male population. Barriers were categorized into three main categories including lack of education, perceived fears, and inaccessibility. The review of literature revealed that education is critical in breaking through the barriers inhibiting the uptake of the HPV vaccine. Following the literature review a clinical article was submitted to the Journal of Pediatric Nursing for consideration for publication