The Effects of Stressors and Stress Hormones on Behavior, Physiology, and Disease Susceptibility in Terrestrial Salamanders

Amphibians are exposed to numerous environmental stressors, which may contribute to population declines being experienced by amphibians worldwide. Upon exposure to stressors, animals will release the glucocorticoid hormone, corticosterone (CORT), which typically mediates physiological and behavioral responses for resisting or coping with the stressor. Additionally, amphibians are at risk from a chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). After Bd infection, amphibians may develop the potentially fatal disease chytridiomycosis. To better understand how CORT mediates responses to different stressors, and possible immunosuppressive effects of CORT on Bd susceptibility, I performed several experiments. First, I tested the predation stress hypothesis in terrestrial salamanders by exposing animals to acute and prolonged predator kairomones, and measuring anti-predator behaviors and plasma CORT. The predation stress hypothesis predicts that, upon predator cue exposure, both anti-predator behaviors and plasma CORT will increase. Despite expression of anti-predator behaviors from an acute exposure, there was no CORT response after acute or prolonged exposure to predator kairomones. Secondly, I tested the effects of prolonged thermal elevation on body mass, locomotory activity, plasma CORT, and immunity, in order to examine behavioral and physiological consequences of prolonged temperature shifts for amphibians. After 3 weeks at 24°C, male and female salamanders lost more body mass compared to animals housed at 17°C, a preferred temperature. There were also differences in immunity, with relatively more monocytes and fewer neutrophils and lymphocytes in animals held at 24°C. However, prolonged thermal elevation did not affect activity or plasma CORT when measured after 3 weeks at 24°C. Finally, I examined whether repeated plasma CORT elevations affected Bd susceptibility and chytridiomycosis development. Chronic CORT treatment simulates chronic exposure to stressors, which may reduce Bd resistance. I found that prior, repeated CORT elevations increased Bd infection abundance after Bd exposure, with no discernable effect on expression of chytridiomycosis symptoms. Additionally, I observed that prior CORT elevations increased incidence of skin sloughing after Bd exposure. Collectively, these studies show that CORT responses to putative stressors may be context-dependent. Furthermore, chronic CORT elevations may contribute to pathogen susceptibility in amphibians, and may partially explain the variable Bd resistance among different species

Molecular investigation of polypyrrole and surface recognition by affinity peptides

textSuccessful tissue engineering strategies in the nervous system must be carefully crafted to interact favorably with the complex biochemical signals of the native environment. To date, all chronic implants incorporating electrical conductivity degrade in performance over time as the foreign body reaction and subsequent fibrous encapsulation isolate them from the host tissue. Our goal is to develop a peptide-based interfacial biomaterial that will non-covalently coat the surface of the conducting polymer polypyrrole, allowing the implant to interact with the nervous system through both electrical and chemical cues. Starting with a candidate peptide sequence discovered through phage display, we used computational simulations of the peptide on polypyrrole to describe the bound peptide structure, explore the mechanism of binding, and suggest new, better binding peptide sequences. After experimentally characterizing the polymer, we created a molecular mechanics model of polypyrrole using quantum mechanics calculations and compared its in silico properties to experimental observables such as density and chain packing. Using replica exchange molecular dynamics, we then modeled the behavior of affinity binding peptides on the surface of polypyrrole in explicit water and saline environments. Relative measurements of the contributions of each amino acid were made using distance measurements and computational alanine scanning.Biomedical Engineerin

Effect of Metacarpal Gloves on Pinch and Grip Strength

Hand Injuries are common in industrial settings. In 2014 alone, there were 137,440 total cases of hand injuries in the United States that required days away from work. Hand injuries can be classified into six general categories: lacerations, fractures and dislocations, soft tissue injuries and amputations, infections, burns and high pressure injuries. Some of these injuries can be prevented with proper personal protective equipment. In recent times, metacarpal gloves are widely used to protect the workers against hand/metacarpal injuries in various industries including mining. The benefits of wearing metacarpal gloves for protection are unquestionable, but little is known about how these gloves can affect grip strength, pinch strength and the overall work performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if metacarpal gloves have an impact on user’s gripping and pinching strengths. Five metacarpal gloves were evaluated using a sample size of 10 participants. Type of glove had a significant effect on the gripping strength. Use of glove, on an average, reduced the gripping strength by 20%. Between the gloves, the gripping strength varied in the range of 3% to 10%. The pinching strength was un-affected by the use of glove

Pandemic Priorities: Exploring unemployment and demographic characteristics of arts and culture workforces and artists across the U.S.

For over 10 years, SMU DataArts has studied the demographic makeup of arts and culture workforces and boards to help organizations better understand themselves and the communities in which they serve. From Los Angeles to Houston, from to museum professionals, we have surveyed demographic characteristics related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, workplace perceptions, and more. While the results of these localized studies are very beneficial to participating organizations and their local communities, it is difficult to use this data to generalize about the state of the entire arts and culture sector in the United States.In 2021, we extended our demographics work beyond just our own studies and evaluated national data about the sector in an effort to gain deeper understanding about the makeup of the aggregate arts and culture workforce. Using data from the United States Census Bureau, in partnership with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), via their survey known as the Current Population Survey (CPS), we are now able to assess the demographic characteristics of not only those employed in the sector but also those who are unemployed on a near real-time basis.This report explores the demographic characteristics of arts and culture workforces, both employed and unemployed, and its appendix provides contextual information about the Current Population Survey's applications and limitations as related to the arts and culture sector. Additionally, this analysis will look specifically at artists employed beyond just the arts and culture sector to better understand the larger ecosystem. We start in January 2020 to establish a baseline of pre-pandemic employment characteristics and track the monthly progression through January 2022.

Bending Art and Culture Towards Justice: The Ford Foundations Creativity and Free Expression Arts and Culture Program Investments in Diverse Creative Communities

What lessons can we learn about how change happens for arts organizations and networks that center People of Color and disabled artists, cultural producers, and executive leaders, especially those who have been further marginalized by sexism, heterosexism and xenophobia? What is the influence of a $230 million investment in their stability, their ability to expand their base of support and their lasting impact on the artists whose voices and cultural contributions they lift up?The Ford Foundation's Creativity and Free Expression Arts and Culture (CFE A&C) strategy discussion began in the Fall of 2015 and targeted goals of shifting "entrenched cultural narratives" that were embedded in and driving cultural norms. The early theory of change was to actually expand the scope of mainstream ideals to include content by underrepresented creators – shifting their status from the margins into the realm of being visible and seen in the mainstream. The 'margins to the mainstream' strategy has evolved over time to center the empowerment of People of Color creators and those with disabilities. The construct of 'mainstream ideals' has shifted from including content by these artists as part of the mainstream to influencing who has voice and who is widely recognized and valued as the mainstream.This report, based on research conducted from December 2021 to April 2022, summarizes key observations and strategic considerations from an in-depth evaluation of the strategy implemented by the Ford Foundation to support CFE A&C grantees, a strategy set in motion pre-pandemic. The purpose of Ford's evaluations is not focused on holding individual grantees accountable for complex social change outcomes, and instead seeks to prioritize learning; and, more specifically, to learn about how change happens and share lessons externally. Part of that learning centers not only on whether current approaches are having the desired impact, but also on whether modifications to the approaches or other internal factors might yield even greater impact

It takes two: The dyadic and gendered context of HIV testing, risk assessment, and partner communication in Kisarawe, Tanzania

Background: Sexual transmission of HIV takes place between two people, yet dyads are rarely the focus of HIV-related interventions. Given the increasing importance of HIV testing, understanding how dyads influence each other’s motivations for HIV testing and what drives partner communication could help create effective interventions that leverage partner testing. This dissertation seeks to understand the dyadic and gendered context of partner communication and sexual risk in influencing decisions surrounding HIV testing in Kisarawe, Tanzania. Methods: Manuscript 1 examines factors associated with prior HIV testing, stratified by gender, to better understand what drives HIV testing behavior using Social Action Theory. Manuscript 2 uses Categorization and Regression Tree analysis (CaRT) to create risk assessment tools for men and women to use during testing so that high-risk individuals can be identified and encouraged to discuss HIV testing with their sexual partners. Given the emphasis on partner communication as the referral mechanism discussed in Manuscript 2, Manuscript 3 explores factors related to partner communication about HIV using the Theory of Gender and Power. Results: Correlates of HIV testing, partner communication, and HIV-related risk differed by gender across analyses. HIV testing rates were lower for men and young people. Having had prior conversations about HIV was positively correlated with prior testing among men. At the dyadic level, knowing if a sexual partner had tested for HIV was associated with recent testing among men. As a means to foster partner referral for HIV testing, we developed a 6- and 10-item risk assessment questionnaire for men and women, respectively, to classify individuals at heightened risk of infection using simple behavioral predictors. Regarding factors related to partner communication, both men and women had higher odds of communication if they had more progressive gender norms, more favorable social norms toward HIV prevention, and were socially engaged. Conclusions: Our findings help understand the specific pathways through which gender norms and social-level factors influence dyadic behavior in relation to HIV testing and partner communication. Gender-specific, proactive interventions are needed to increase testing uptake, especially for young people and men. Interventions that encourage sexual partners to test could facilitate uptake of HIV testing services but would require increased partner communication. Drivers of partner communication are inherently socially and structurally-based. Creating change will require interventions at multiple levels—from interventions to improve individual and dyadic-level communication and negotiation skills to interventions at the social-level to increase community dialogue

Service delivery interventions to increase uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention: A systematic review.

BackgroundVoluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) remains an essential component of combination HIV prevention services, particularly in priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa. As VMMC programs seek to maximize impact and efficiency, and to support World Health Organization guidance, specific uptake-enhancing strategies are critical to identify.MethodsWe systematically reviewed the literature to evaluate the impact of service delivery interventions (e.g., facility layout, service co-location, mobile outreach) on VMMC uptake among adolescent and adult men. For the main effectiveness review, we searched for publications or conference abstracts that measured VMMC uptake or uptake of HIV testing or risk reduction counselling within VMMC services. We synthesized data by coding categories and outcomes. We also reviewed studies assessing acceptability, values/preferences, costs, and feasibility.ResultsFour randomized controlled trials and five observational studies were included in the effectiveness review. Studies took place in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. They assessed a range of service delivery innovations, including community-, school-, and facility-based interventions. Overall, interventions increased VMMC uptake; some successfully improved uptake among age-specific subpopulations, but urban-rural stratification showed no clear trends. Interventions that increased adult men's uptake included mobile services (compared to static facilities), home-based testing with active referral follow-up, and facility-based HIV testing with enhanced comprehensive sexual education. Six acceptability studies suggested interventions were generally perceived to help men choose to get circumcised. Eleven cost studies suggested interventions create economies-of-scale and efficiencies. Three studies suggested such interventions were feasible, improving facility preparedness, service quality and quantity, and efficiencies.ConclusionsInnovative changes in male-centered VMMC services can improve adult men's and adolescent boys' VMMC uptake. Limited evidence on interventions that enhance access and acceptability show promising results, but evidence gaps persist due to inconsistent intervention definition and delivery, due in part to contextual relevance and limited age disaggregation

Economic compensation interventions to increase uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundEconomic compensation interventions may help support higher voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) coverage in priority sub-Saharan African countries. To inform World Health Organization guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of economic compensation interventions to increase VMMC uptake.MethodsEconomic compensation interventions were defined as providing money or in-kind compensation, reimbursement for associated costs (e.g. travel, lost wages), or lottery entry. We searched five electronic databases and four scientific conferences for studies examining the impact of such interventions on VMMC uptake, HIV testing and safer-sex/risk-reduction counseling uptake within VMMC, community expectations about compensation, and potential coercion. We screened citations, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias in duplicate. We conducted random-effects meta-analysis. We also reviewed studies examining acceptability, values/preferences, costs, and feasibility.ResultsOf 2484 citations identified, five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three non-randomized controlled trials met our eligibility criteria. Studies took place in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Meta-analysis of four RCTs showed significant impact of any economic compensation on VMMC uptake (relative risk: 5.23, 95% CI: 3.13 to 8.76). RCTs of food/transport vouchers and conditional cash transfers generally showed increases in VMMC uptake, but lotteries, subsidized VMMC, and receiving a gift appeared somewhat less effective. Three non-randomized trials showed mixed impact. Six additional studies suggested economic compensation interventions were generally acceptable, valued for addressing key barriers, and motivating to men. However, some participants felt they were insufficiently motivating or necessary; one study suggested they might raise community suspicions. One study from South Africa found a program cost of US$91 per additional circumcision and US$450-$1350 per HIV infection averted.ConclusionsEconomic compensation interventions, particularly transport/food vouchers, positively impacted VMMC uptake among adult men and were generally acceptable to potential clients. Carefully selected economic interventions may be a useful targeted strategy to enhance VMMC coverage

Effectiveness and safety of oral HIV preexposure prophylaxis for all populations.

ObjectivePreexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) offers a promising new approach to HIV prevention. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the evidence for use of oral PrEP containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as an additional HIV prevention strategy in populations at substantial risk for HIV based on HIV acquisition, adverse events, drug resistance, sexual behavior, and reproductive health outcomes.DesignRigorous systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsA comprehensive search strategy reviewed three electronic databases and conference abstracts through April 2015. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis.ResultsEighteen studies were included, comprising data from 39 articles and six conference abstracts. Across populations and PrEP regimens, PrEP significantly reduced the risk of HIV acquisition compared with placebo. Trials with PrEP use more than 70% demonstrated the highest PrEP effectiveness (risk ratio = 0.30, 95% confidence interval: 0.21-0.45, P < 0.001) compared with placebo. Trials with low PrEP use did not show a significantly protective effect. Adverse events were similar between PrEP and placebo groups. More cases of drug-resistant HIV infection were found among PrEP users who initiated PrEP while acutely HIV-infected, but incidence of acquiring drug-resistant HIV during PrEP use was low. Studies consistently found no association between PrEP use and changes in sexual risk behavior. PrEP was not associated with increased pregnancy-related adverse events or hormonal contraception effectiveness.ConclusionPrEP is protective against HIV infection across populations, presents few significant safety risks, and there is no evidence of behavioral risk compensation. The effective and cost-effective use of PrEP will require development of best practices for fostering uptake and adherence among people at substantial HIV risk