CURRICULUM OF THE MIND: A BLACKCRIT, NARRATIVE INQUIRY, HIP-HOP ALBUM ON ANTI-BLACKNESS & FREEDOM FOR BLACK MALE COLLEGIANS AT HISTORICALLY WHITE INSTITUTIONS

Curriculum of the Mind is a Hip-Hop album that explores how Black male collegians at historically white institutions (HWIs) theorize and disrupt anti-Blackness in an effort to take flight or become free. Few previous studies have connected anti-Blackness to the field of higher education, and none within the field of Hip-Hop studies. This study examines how Black male collegians who currently attend, have graduated from, or have stopped attending an HWI use the fugitive space of Hip-Hop to theorize and/or disrupt anti-Blackness, to define and make meaning of what freedom is, and to narratively express their notions of freedom and experiences of anti-Blackness at HWIs. This study employs a narrative inquiry approach utilizing theoretical frameworks such as Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Black Critical Theory (BlackCrit), as well as marronage. The catalyst, or medium, used in this dissertation consists of Black male collegians creating a Hip-Hop album that aesthetically illustrates their individual and collective theorizations of anti-Black experiences at HWIs

Visual Function Questionnaire as an outcome measure for homonymous hemianopia: subscales and supplementary questions, analysis from the VISION trial

Background: We conduct supplementary analyses of the NEI VFQ-25 data to evaluate where changes occurred within subscales of the NEI VFQ-25 leading to change in the composite scores between the three treatment arms, and evaluate the NEI VFQ-25 with and without the Neuro 10 supplement. Methods: A prospective, multicentre, parallel, single-blind, three-arm RCT of fourteen UK acute stroke units was conducted. Stroke survivors with homonymous hemianopia were recruited. Interventions included: Fresnel prisms for minimum 2 h, 5 days/week over 6-weeks (Arm a), Visual search training for minimum 30 min, 5 days/week over 6-weeks (Arm b) and standard care-information only (Arm c). Primary and secondary outcomes (including NEI VFQ-25 data) were measured at baseline, 6, 12 and 26 weeks after randomisation. Results: Eighty seven patients were recruited (69% male; mean age (SD) equal to 69 (12) years). At 26 weeks, outcomes for 24, 24 and 22 patients, respectively, were compared to baseline. NEI VFQ-25 (with and without Neuro 10) responses improved from baseline to 26 weeks with visual search training compared to Fresnel prisms and standard care. In subscale analysis, the most impacted across all treatment arms was ‘driving’ whilst the least impacted were ‘colour vision’ and ‘ocular pain’. Conclusions: Composite scores differed systematically for the NEI VFQ-25 (Neuro 10) versus NEI VFQ-25 at all time points. For subscale scores, descriptive statistics suggest clinically relevant improvement in distance activities and vision-specific dependency subscales for NEI VFQ-25 scores in the visual search treatment arm. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN05956042

Bellingham International Airport expansion: environmental impact assessment

The Bellingham International Airport Expansion Project seeks to improve and expand the capacity of the airport and the adjacent airport related and airport compatible uses. This project will accomplish this by rehabilitating the runway and widening the taxiway, building more hangars, expanding the terminal and the air cargo area, creating an additional parking lot, developing an area for rental car agencies and lodging, and expanding the light industrial area

AMPK-dependent phosphorylation of MTFR1L regulates mitochondrial morphology

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo membrane remodeling events in response to metabolic alterations to generate an adequate mitochondrial network. Here, we investigated the function of mitochondrial fission regulator 1-like protein (MTFR1L), an uncharacterized protein that has been identified in phosphoproteomic screens as a potential AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) substrate. We showed that MTFR1L is an outer mitochondrial membrane-localized protein modulating mitochondrial morphology. Loss of MTFR1L led to mitochondrial elongation associated with increased mitochondrial fusion events and levels of the mitochondrial fusion protein, optic atrophy 1. Mechanistically, we show that MTFR1L is phosphorylated by AMPK, which thereby controls the function of MTFR1L in regulating mitochondrial morphology both in mammalian cell lines and in murine cortical neurons in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MTFR1L is required for stress-induced AMPK-dependent mitochondrial fragmentation. Together, these findings identify MTFR1L as a critical mitochondrial protein transducing AMPK-dependent metabolic changes through regulation of mitochondrial dynamics.</p

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Poster presented at the 2023 SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity fair. Pictured here are students Stevie Langstraat and Rachel Uhlig. Efficient nutrient cycling is key to plant growth and waste management on Earth, and will certainly be critical for human habitation off of Earth, as colonies on extraterrestrial planets become closer to reality. The NASA-affiliated Plant the Moon competition challenges groups to grow food in simulated mars soil (regolith) in an eight-week period. Ten students at Southwestern Oklahoma State University are examining interactions between microbes, Mars regolith, mammal fecal matter, and growth of food plants. We are growing three species of plants (spinach, lettuce, and basil) in simulated Mars regolith that has been enhanced with soil amendments, including rabbit feces, and to which different microbial treatments have been added. In addition to documenting total plant yield, we are monitoring soil pH, seedling germination rates, and chlorophyll content. In our exploration of the effects of different microbial sources (worm castings, purchased soil bacteria, purchased soil fungi, and rabbit droppings) we expect to see differences in growth both above and below ground. In addition to implications for food and waste management on Mars, the results may be beneficial to organic farmers and home gardeners.https://dc.swosu.edu/rf_2023/1007/thumbnail.jp

A randomised controlled trial of treatment for post-stroke homonymous hemianopia: screening and recruitment

The authors report the screening process and recruitment figures for the VISION (Visual Impairment in Stroke; Intervention Or Not) trial. This is a prospective, randomised, single-blinded, three-arm controlled trial in 14 UK acute hospital stroke units. Stroke teams identified stroke survivors suspected as having homonymous hemianopia. Interventions included Fresnel prisms versus visual search training versus standard care (information only). Primary outcome was change in visual field assessment from baseline to 26 weeks. Secondary measures included change in quality-of-life questionnaires. Recruitment opened in May 2011. A total of 1171 patients were screened by the local principal investigators. Of 1171 patients, 178 (15.2%) were eligible for recruitment: 87 patients (7.4%) provided consent and were recruited; 91 patients (7.8%) did not provide consent, and 993 of 1171 patients (84.8%) failed to meet the eligibility criteria. Almost half were excluded due to complete/partial recovery of hemianopia (43.6%; n = 511). The most common ineligibility reason was recovery of hemianopia. When designing future trials in this area, changes in eligibility criteria/outcome selection to allow more patients to be recruited should be considered, e.g., less stringent levels of visual acuity/refractive error. Alternative outcomes measurable in the home environment, rather than requiring hospital attendance for follow-up, could facilitate increased recruitment