Transmissible Lymphosarcoma

On Feb. 10, 1953, a ten-year-old male boxer was admitted to the Stange Memorial Clinic with many small urticarial- like swellings in the skin of the entire body. A large growth, one and one-half inches in diameter, was in the skin of the back. Some of the swellings were reported to have existed for only a short time, while others were quite firm in consistency and more persistent in growth. The condition had been noted for approximately two months by the owner and was diagnosed by a local veterinarian as urticaria. Antihistamine treatment had been administered without benefit

Ecozon@ with love

Key words: new directions in ecocriticism, regional literature, regional studies, literary Nevada, place, caring for the environment, eco-cosmopolitanism, sense of place, sense of planet Regional studies and literary regionalism continue to fulfil important functions in the era of globalisation. Educating people (particularly those in parts of the world with a “self-image problem”) in the richness of local literary tradition can help them identify more strongly, through story, with the place they live in, and take care of it. Ecocritics must learn to work together with the curators of local history museums, people running community arts centres, and the members of writing circles. World citizenship and eco-cosmopolitanism do not obviate the need for a local sense of place. Palabras clave: nuevas tendencias de la ecocritica, literature regional, studios regionales, el Estado literario de Nevada, lugar, cuidado del medioambiente, eco-cosmopolitanismo, sentido de lugar, sentido de planeta Los estudios regionales y el regionalismo literario continúan realizando importantes funciones en la era de la globalización.  Educar a la gente – en especial aquella en lugares del mundo con un “problema de imagen de sí mismo” – en la riqueza de la tradición literaria local puede ayudarles a identificarse más sólidamente, a través de historias, con el lugar en el que viven  y a cuidar de él. Los/as ecocríticos/as deben aprender a trabajar con los conservadores de los museos de historia local, con la gente que dirige centros de arte comunitarios y con los miembros de los círculos de escritura. La ciudadanía mundial y el eco-cosmopolitanismo no obvian la necesidad de un sentido de lugar local

Automatic selection of optimal window size and shape for texture analysis

This thesis is a theoretical and empirical examination of the relationship between texture and scale, and its effects on image classification. This study involved creating a model that automatically selected windows of optimal size according to the location of a pixel within a land cover region and the texture of the surrounding pixels. Large windows were used to get a representative sample of within-class variability in the interior of these regions. Smaller windows were used near the boundaries of land cover regions in order to reduce edge effect errors due to between-class variability. This program was tested using a Maximum Likelihood classification scheme against spectral data and texture from fixed-size windows to determine if there were any improvements in classification accuracy. Three different types and scales of data, including SPOT, SIR-C, and ADAR, were used to test the robustness of this program.;The results from this research indicate that the addition of texture can improve classification accuracy, especially in land cover regions with high local variability among the pixels. The 21 x 21 texture image achieved a Kappa Index of Agreement (KIA) of 0.97 for the highly textured Sunlit Forest (leaf off) class in the ADAR data, compared to 0.92 using the spectral data alone. However, texture windows of fixed-size created some errors due to between-class texture. This was most evident in the SPOT interior test data where the 21 x 21 texture window achieved a KIA of 0.70, compared to 0.92 for the spectral data. In many cases, images that incorporated the Optimal Size Window Program were superior in accuracy to all of the other images. In the radar data, the image created from the Optimal Size Window Program improved the overall KIA from 0.51 in the spectral data, to 0.71

Mitigating neuroinflammation : new potential therapeutics and targets

Neurodegenerative disorders, from chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) to more acute injuries such traumatic brain injury (TBI), present a particular challenge to public health as they lack treatments and have devastating consequences. Across the variety of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and injuries, inflammation is a hallmark and potential target for effective therapies. Microglia, the immune cells of the brain, normally perform homeostatic maintenance roles in the brain; however, in cases of injury and disease, they are often dysfunctional and produce excessive quantities of pro-inflammatory proteins that exacerbate conditions. This makes microglia a prime target for intervention. As there is a current lack of drugs available to treat brain injuries and diseases, repurposing clinically approved medications may be the fastest route for new drugs to reach patients. Understanding cellular mechanisms and proteins that mediate inflammation are valuable for the development of new therapies. Overall, this thesis aims to evaluate several drug classes, including incretins and Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase (ROCK) inhibitors, which have potential for repurposing from their approved uses to treating neurodegenerative disorders. Herein, novel cellular mechanism and proteins that induce neuroinflammation are also investigated. In this thesis, the incretins, which are endogenous insulin regulating hormones currently used to treat diabetes, and ROCK inhibitors, clinically used for glaucoma, are evaluated in different injury and disease models to understand their ability to affect brain health. With these studies, we evaluate microglia as a primary source of inflammation and utilize both cellular and rodent models of neuroinflammation. Our cellular studies leverage the potent inflammatory properties of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic in vivo neuroinflammation observed in our rodent models of mildmoderate traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which are also used throughout this thesis. We apply pharmacologic or genetic manipulations to understand how pathology progresses with the intervention, assessing proinflammatory protein production and microglial activation via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), electrochemiluminescence, and immunochemistry, among other methods. Incretin effects on the brain are the focus of Papers I-III. In Paper I, we investigate the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of PT302, a new slow-release formulation of the GLP-1 mimetic, Exenatide. Exenatide was initially approved for clinical use as a twice daily subcutaneously administered drug. We demonstrate steady-state plasma levels of Exenatide formulated as PT320 for up to three weeks after a single subcutaneous injection, with brain penetration reaching up to 2 to 3% of peak plasma concentrations, which is reasonable for a peptide-based drug and appears to be within its pharmacologically relevant range. Notably, PT302 administered at a dose that is translatable to human use is anti-inflammatory in the mouse brain, as we demonstrated the drug’s ability to decrease microglial activation following a mTBI injury. Behavioral deficits were also mitigated by PT302. For the next study (Paper II), we also utilized the mTBI model to investigate efficacy of a novel monomeric incretinbased triagonist, which showed similar effects as PT302 at mitigating behavioral deficits and inducing cellular signaling pathways that are neuroprotective. Additionally, I introduce a primary microglia (PMg) cell model for neuroinflammation and show potent anti-inflammatory potential for the triagonist. The last of the incretin studies (Paper III) utilizes cellular models of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation to understand the physiological roles in the nervous system of the GLP-1 metabolite, GLP-1(9-36). This work has relevance as GLP-1(9-36) circulates in the bloodstream long after its insulinotropic parent peptide is inactivated. Our work indicates this metabolite, indeed, has physiologic roles in nervous system cells, including microglia. In this study, I utilized the relatively new immortalized (IMG) mouse microglial cell line as a model system for PMg. The Nogo-signaling system, known for its neuronal plasticity restricting properties via RhoA and ROCK1 and ROCK2 activation, has recently been implicated in microglial inflammation processes. In Paper IV, we sought to elucidate the roles that RhoA and ROCK play in influencing the inflammatory process. We show that ROCK inhibitors potently inhibit LPS induced inflammation via a variety of mechanisms in both primary and IMG microglia. In parallel to the inquiry of ROCK influence on inflammation, this study serves as a “proof of concept” for the utility of using IMG cells in preclinical drug development and screening. Lastly, in Paper V, we investigated the effects of microglial conditional deletion of a potent endogenous activator of RhoA/ROCK signaling in nervous system cells, Nogo. I developed a novel mouse model to perform this genetic manipulation and applied a moderate TBI injury, via a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury to exposed brain tissue. Mice with conditional deletion of microglial Nogo (MinoKO mice) show signs of decreased microglial and astrocytic activation following CCI. CCI injured mice with microglial specific Nogo deletion exhibited hyperactivity among other phenotypes post-injury. MinoKO mice did not exhibit asymmetric motor function one week post-CCI as their control cohorts did, thereby providing further evidence of microglial Nogo negatively influencing recovery. Overall, the studies within this thesis provide strong evidence for the utility of using incretins to treat neurodegenerative conditions. In addition, the current studies elucidating novel roles of RhoA, ROCK, and Nogo in microglial-induced inflammation add to the growing list of potential drug targets that may mitigate disease pathology

Development of an observational instrument for measuring role behavior in social work groups.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

(S)Expectations Abroad: Male Traveler Interactions with Southeast Asian Economies

Interacting with locals is a highlight of the tourism experience; however, these interactions may be accompanied by unsolicited propositions for the traveler to participate in the sex industry. Through the lens of Thailand’s largely visible sex industry, this work addresses issues of tourism and travel intertwined with the sex industry in greater Southeast Asia. Governments, a variety of businesses and individuals benefiting financially from a burgeoning sex tourism industry encourage persistence of a viable local sex trade. Although subtleties exist between human trafficking, the sex industry, and sex tourism, each can be intertwined. This article provides an overview of the Southeast Asian sex industry followed by my (Elliot Glotfelty) personal experience witnessing child sex trafficking during an otherwise normal tourist excursion in Vientiane, Laos. During the drive back from the early evening trip, my driver offered to join me for a beer and made stops at a karaoke bar and beer shop, which turned out to be thinly veiled brothels. Having worked on human trafficking research in Thailand during the prior months, I recognized the situation into which I had stumbled. I was soon encouraged to purchase sex from multiple women and girls and therefore given an unexpected insight into local interaction with sex establishments. I was clear that I did not want to partake/buy anyone and extracted myself as soon as possible to get back to my guesthouse. My driver entered these spaces and seemed to know some of the girls inside and treated the situation with casualness. Local buyers of sex, such as my driver, are largely responsible for perpetuation of sex economies, though tourists have historically driven and remain important sources of income for many individuals, including businesses not directly associated with the sex industry. The goal of this article is to bring more awareness to child/human sexual exploitation and how tourists, specifically men, interact with the economies where it is prevalent. Focus on male buyers of sex throughout this piece is not intended to imply that women do not buy sex or engage in sex tourism. Recommendations for ethical tourism practices and possible policy interventions are provided at the end of the article

No Other Choice : A Baseline Study on the Vulnerabilities of Males in the Sex Trade in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Social and cultural norms often assume men and boys to be inherently strong and/or invulnerable to sexual exploitation. As a result, sexual violence against men and boys is often ignored in programs and policy, with the efforts of organizations providing for the needs of male victims often left under-supported. Among the studies that have been conducted on males, most have primarily focused on sexual health, seeing males as agents of their own lives and careers, and largely ignored holistic needs and vulnerabilities. This study attempts to take a holistic approach to understanding the needs and vulnerabilities of young males working in the sex industry in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and provide a baseline of information in order for social service providers to better understand them and provide adequate services. Structured interviews focused on a number of key areas including: stigma and discrimination, financial security, sexual health and history, experiences of violence, substance abuse, and emotional well-being. Key vulnerabilities to sexual violence and exploitation include ethnic minority/immigration status, family dependence on income, alcohol and drug use, early entry into the sex industry, and complicit government and law enforcement officials towards trafficking and exploitation. The research uncovered significant numbers of trans-border migrants from Myanmar, as well as the high numbers of respondents migrating from tribal areas in northern Thailand. Within the working environments of participants of this study, the research finds a high dependency on tips as the sole source of income, seemingly increasing respondents’ frequency of meeting buyers of sexual services. Violence and sexual abuse was found to be common among some groups, with one in four respondents reporting instances of being forced to have sex against his wishes, and the vast majority (72%) of those working within bar based establishments reporting the same. Two clear cases of child sex trafficking were identified, with an additional one in five of total respondents reporting entrance into the sex industry at ages below 18. This indicates a high prevalence of child sex trafficking in Chiang Mai among males within the sex industry. Substance abuse was found to be a significant issue among many respondents working within bars—particularly among those working as freelancers, or individuals not directly employed by an establishment. The findings of this study, combined with increasing evidence and global visibility, should lead to recognition from the Thai government, United Nations (UN) agencies, and donors that sexual exploitation of males does exist and needs attention. Additionally, we recommend the development of more assistance programs for young males and their families to secure alternative employment and aid in obtaining identification cards and citizenship, along with further research–particularly qualitative–on younger boys living off of the streets and engaging in survival sex

Assay to assess predator avoidance behaviors in tadpoles of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)

An animal's behavioral response to various sensory inputs affects survival probability. Aquatic species have a lateral line system that provides information on water wave disturbances through receptor cells called neuromasts. I conducted this study to test a modified behavioral assay from Claas and Dean (2006) with Xenopus laevis tadpoles as a model species. Intensity of behavioral response to an air puff stimulus was recorded for 45 tadpoles staged 51-54 (Nieuwkoop and Faber, 1994) for 0.5 centimeter height intervals spanning from the surface of the water up to 7 centimeters above the surface of the water. A response threshold was at 5 centimeters above the surface of the water for 44 of the 45 tadpoles with response intensity decreasing steadily as stimulus height increased. The behavioral assay was predictable and repeatable for the X. laevis tadpoles and provided a pattern of behavioral responses that can be used to understand movement decisions linked to survival probability

Student team projects and natural resources education: Are we achieving educational objectives?

As college instructors have recognized the benefits provided by cooperative and active learning, many have shifted from their traditional teaching style, dominated by lectures, to a new style where students work together and learn from each other as well as from the instructor. One strategy commonly used to implement cooperative learning in the classroom is to require students to work in teams to complete a class project. This strategy is particularly attractive to natural resources educators because natural resource issues are generally complex and interdisciplinary providing a natural setting for teaching concepts regarding natural resources ecology and management using student team projects. Further, natural resources agencies are seeking to employ individuals who have the skills to work in interdisciplinary teams to address current problems. Thus, assigning projects to student teams in natural resources classes can serve several important purposes: it can aid student mastery of the subject matter by creating a cooperative learning environment; it can provide a hands-on, problem solving context for student learning; and it can provide students with the necessary skills and experience to work effectively in teams as professionals. Although using student team projects has many potential benefits, the effectiveness of this approach as a teaching tool can vary greatly. We reflect on our experiences with using the team approach in three different courses: Fishery Management, designed for junior and senior level students; Natural Resources Decisions, a capstone course designed for seniors in the School of Forest Resources; and Watershed Management Planning, a graduate level course. As a result of our collective experiences in these three courses, we propose that investing a relatively small amount of class time to introduce students to the concept of a team and how teams work can increase the effectiveness of teaching by using student team projects

Help is available: Supporting mental wellness through peer health navigation with young black men who have sex with men with HIV

Young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) with HIV experience disproportionate rates of trauma, incarceration, poverty, racial discrimination, and homophobia. The synergistic effects of these adverse experiences, along with increased rates of mental health disorders, increase their risk for poor health. To address this need, the study authors adapted a current HIV service model to include a peer-health navigation intervention (WITH U) to attend to behavioral health, health literacy, linkage to services, and psychosocial support for YBMSM with HIV. This longitudinal, mixed-methods, nonexperimental study reports on the mental health burden among participants and the association between participation in WITH U and mental wellness outcomes. Participants