Perceptions of IUPUI Faculty and Staff Regarding the Center for Service and Learning Faculty/Staff Development Programs

The purpose of this evaluation was to understand perceptions of IUPUI faculty and staff regarding the influence of the Center for Service and Learning’s (CSL) programs and resources on respondents. Specifically, the evaluation was intended to deepen CSL’s understanding of respondents’ experiences as community-engaged professionals at IUPUI. Additionally, the evaluation sought to gather input on new ideas to strengthen CSL services and programming going forward. IUPUI faculty and staff who have participated in CSL workshops, trainings, and/or requested information from CSL were emailed during the fall of 2018 and asked to participate in the Qualtrics survey. The survey was anonymous. This report shares overall findings from the survey and provides general recommendations

Airline deregulation: an analysis under different regulatory and operating environments

Like other transportation modes the airline industry has a long history of government regulation. In recent years however the theoretical and empirical bases for air service regulatory schemes have been questioned by opponents of such policies. In Western Europe there have been pressures for relaxation of regulation of the air transport industry with respect to air fares, service frequency and market access. Because changes in such public policies are likely to have a major impact, there is a considerable interest in their possible implications. It is the objective of this study to explore the interactions between fare and service frequency in different competitive environments, and to examine the rivalrous behaviour of airlines and their possible equilibrium position under deregulation. The study also considers the effect of a competing mode (rail) on air carriers performance under various competitive conditions. The individual carrier's performance is quantified in terms of fare, service frequency, resulting generalised costs, market share and financial results. A competition model is developed by which the objectives set above are achieved. The study is divided into three parts. The first part provides a framework within which the competition model can be built. This part also generates the policy questions which must be addressed, should relaxation of regulation take place in Europe. The second part explains the structure of the competition model and its characteristics. The assumptions upon which the model is built and its limitations are also discussed. The model consists of three sub-models: the market share model, the costing model and the reaction model. In the third part, with the aid of the model the policy questions generated in the first part are addressed and the general implications for carriers operating under different competitive conditions are discussed. Finally the technical and the policy conclusions are discussed. It is generally concluded that: competition results in lower fares and a more efficient airline industry; the impacts of competition are not evenly distributed amongst markets, routes and carriers; and the competition on equal terms amongst carriers plays an important role in maintaining the effectiveness of deregulation.Ph

Building our capacity for relational program planning in GSL: Lessons from an institution -community partner action research project

The research on service learning notes the under use of program planning theory as an instrument to improve outcomes in Service Learning, not only for students but for our aspirational goals in host communities. Program planning, particularly, when focused on relationships, power and positionality, can further the ethical integrity of SL/GSL programs. In this session, our community-academic working group will discuss an ongoing action research project that brings together multiple NGO partners, student, faculty and higher education staff to examine their relational practices across four case examples and adapting three tools to support our learning and practice: Sandmann et al [2009] Service Learning Program Planning Model [SLPPM], Bringle et al’s (2010) Transformational Relationship Evaluation Scale (TRES) and our working group´s principles for ethical global community engagement [adapted from Lasker (2016). We will introduce our processes, findings and lessons learned

Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Accumulative Roll-Bonded Co/Pb Nanocomposite.

Lead composites have been used as anode in electrowinning process to produce metals such as copper and zinc. Manufacturing of stable lead anodes with appropriate mechanical and chemical properties is required to improve the performance of the electrowinning processes. In this study, accumulative roll bonding (ARB) method was used to fabricate Co/Pb nanocomposite. Utilizing ARB method can help us to achieve a uniform structure with enhanced mechanical properties via sever plastic deformation. The results showed that suitable tensile properties were obtained in Pb-%0.5Co-10pass samples. The tensile strength and strain of these samples were 2.51 times higher and 83.7% lower than that of as-cast pure Pb. They also showed creep resistance and hardness up to 1.8 and 2.5 times more than that of as-cast pure Pb. ARB technique uniformly distributed Co par-ticles in the Pb matrix. The enhanced strength of Pb samples was observed in the composite in-cluding grain size less than 50 nm as a result of hindering the recovery phenomenon. The particle size of the Co distributed in the Pb matrix was 353 ± 259 nm. Compared to conventional methods, ARB process improved the mechanical properties of Co/Pb composites and can open a new horizon to fabricate this composite in metal industries

Effects of Royal Jelly and Tocotrienol Rich Fraction in obesity treatment of calorie-restricted obese rats: A focus on white fat browning properties and thermogenic capacity

Background: Obesity has reached an alarming rate worldwide. Promoting thermogenesis via increasing the function of brown adipose tissue (BAT) or white adipose tissue (WAT) browning has been proposed as a new protective approach against obesity. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of Royal Jelly (RJ) and tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) on BAT activation and WAT browning during calorie restriction diet (CRD) in obesity model. Methods: In this experimental study, 50 obese Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups and then received one of the following treatments for a period of 8-week: High-fat diet (HFD), CRD, RJ + CRD, TRF + CRD, and RJ + TRF + CRD. Effects of RJ and TRF, individually and in combination on body weight and the expression of key thermoregulatory genes in WAT and BAT were examined by quantitative real-time (qRT-PCR). Also, morphological alterations were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: RJ (- 67.21 g ±4.84 g) and RJ + TRF (- 73.29 g ±4.51 g) significantly reduced weight gain relative to the CRD group (- 40.70 g ±6.50 g, P < 0.001). In comparison with the CRD group, RJ and RJ + TRF remarkably enhanced the uncoupling protein1 (UCP1) expression in WAT (5.81, 4.72 fold, P < 0.001) and BAT (4.99, 4.75 fold, P < 0.001). The expression of PR domain containing 16(PRDM 16), cAMP response element-binding protein1 (CREB1), P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (P38MAPK), and Bone morphogenetic protein8B (BMP8B) have significantly increased following RJ and RJ + TRF treatments (P < 0.001). However, the expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (CEBPβ) and Bone morphogenetic protein7 (BMP7) did not remarkably change. Multilocular beige cells in WAT and compacted dense adipocytes were also observed in BAT of RJ and RJ + TRF received groups. TRF showed no substantial effects on the expression of the mentioned thermoregulatory genes and brown fat-like phenotype. Conclusion: Our results suggest that, Royal Jelly promotes thermogenesis and browning of WAT, contributing to an increase in energy expenditure. Thus, Royal Jelly may give rise to a novel dietary choice to attenuate obesity. © 2020 The Author(s)

Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) intake on glycemia: A meta-analysis of clinical trials

10.1186/1475-2891-13-7Nutrition Journal131

Role of HDAC3 on p53 Expression and Apoptosis in T Cells of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) belongs to a family of proteins which plays an important role in protein acetylation, chromatin remodeling and transcription of genes, including those that are involved in cell proliferation and cell death. While increased expression of HDAC3 is seen in neoplastic cells, the role of HDAC3 in T cells and their role in autoimmune disease is not known. Methodology/Principal Findings: Applying Affymetrix GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST Array and the mixed effects model for gene set analysis, we compared gene expression profiles between multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls (HC). Within the Apoptosis_GO gene set, the constitutive expression level of HDAC3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) was significantly increased in MS patients when compared to controls. Following addition of trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of HDAC3, we examined the expression of p53 by flow cytometry and p53 targeted genes by real time RT-PCR in MS and HC. Culture of PBMC with TSA resulted in increased expression of p53 in HC but not in MS patients. TSA treated T cells from MS patients also showed reduced sensitivity to apoptosis when compared to HC, which was independent of activation of p53 targeted pro-apoptotic genes. Conclusion/Significance: MS patients, when compared to controls, show an increased expression of HDAC3 and relative resistance to TSA induced apoptosis in T cells. Increased expression of HDAC3 in PBMC of MS patients may render putativ