Master of Science in Geology

thesisLake Bonneville was the largest of the Pleistocene pluvial lakes that once filled part of the Great Basin of the interior western United States. As the lake reached its highest level at the Bonneville shoreline and overflowed, it eroded through alluvium at Red Rock Pass, Idaho, and quickly dropped over 100 m to the Provo shoreline. This unique flooding history and resulting rapid lake-level fall allows us to assume that all other shorelines with elevations between the Bonneville and Provo levels formed during the lake's transgressive phase. Various types of depositional features characterize the shorelines within this transgressive interval, including many forms of barriers. This study uses 5-m auto-correlated digital elevation models (DEMs), airborne light detection and ranging (lidar), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to measure the internal and external structure of intermediate barriers in late Pleistocene Lake Bonneville. Corrections for differential isostatic rebound reveal only one confidently correlatable intermediate shoreline at 1530 m (+/- 4 m) while differences in barrier morphology indicate that the formation of depositional features is highly dependent on local, not basin-scale, conditions

RANKL and Osteoprotegerin Levels in Response to Orthodontic Forces

Orthodontic tooth movement is mediated by interactions between PDL cells and those of the alveolus. One protein—the receptor activator nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)—is critical for osteoclastogenesis, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy ligand that competitively inhibits RANKL. A higher RANKL/OPG ratio is associated with areas of bone resorption, while a lower ratio occurs in areas of bone deposition and homeostasis. There have been almost no clinical studies of RANKL and OPG expression in human subjects undergoing orthodontic tooth movement. The purpose of this study was to quantify changes in the levels of RANKL and of OPG expression in human gingival crevicular fluid in growing (adolescent) and non-growing (adult) patients in response to orthodontic force. Untreated adolescents (under 18 years of age) and adults (over 18 years of age) had a calibrated force applied across a left-right pair of maxillary premolars with a transpalatal spring (TPS). RANKL and OPG were measured in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) sampled serially from the pressure and tension sides of maxillary premolars at 5 different time points: before placement of transpalatal spring, 1 day (24 hours) after TPS placement, 2 days (48 hours) after TPS placement, 5 days (120 hours) after TPS placement (TPS was then removed), and 3 days (72 hours) after TPS removal. RANKL and OPG expression was measured by the ELISA assay. Expectations were that (1) force would raise RANKL and diminish OPG, (2) force removal would reverse the RANKL-OPG levels, (3) strength and duration of force are associated with RANKL-OPG levels, (4) responses would exhibit considerable inter-individual variation, (5) the RANKL/OPG levels will be higher in children due to general growth and bone remodeling in response to orthodontic forces, and (6) the RANKL/OPG levels will be lower in adults because no growth is occurring and osteoclastogenesis is triggered solely by orthodontic forces. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume increased significantly after applying force with the nickel-titanium coil spring. The volume remained elevated until the force was removed, and had not quite returned to baseline by 3 days (72 hours) following force removal. There were no significant differences found in the levels of GCF collected in regards to age, sex, or race. When evaluating the changes in gingival crevicular fluid in response to mechanical force, it appears that time is the significant factor regardless of the person’s age, sex, or race. In general, both RANKL and OPG levels decreased significantly over the time while the spring was in place; however, the RANKL/OPG ratio increased over time. No significant differences were found in the levels of RANKL when comparing sex, age, and race. Higher levels of OPG were found in males. A linear decrease in OPG was seen in regards to age; therefore, adults have less OPG than their younger counterparts. Although not significant, African American levels of OPG were higher than Caucasians. Further research is needed to better describe what effect variations in individual RANKL and OPG expression have on orthodontic tooth movement

Love and Learn: Creating Space for Authentic Caring in Family Child Care

Children benefit from engagement in early education and care (ECE) programs that support their learning and development while also providing a point of connection to critical resources for their families. For children from economically disadvantaged families, the lack of access to high-quality ECE results in a persistent achievement and opportunity gap (García & Weiss, 2015). A significant portion of ECE occurs in home-based early learning environments, also known as family child care (FCC) programs, which play a critical role in supporting children from low-income and immigrant families (Layzer et al., 2007; Porter et al., 2010). Unfortunately, this sector of ECE has seen declining numbers of licensed caregivers over the past decade, due to increased regulatory requirements, low pay, competing commitments, low professional status, and working conditions involving long days in isolation from colleagues or peers (NSECE Project Team, 2016; Tuominen, 2003; Stitou et al., 2018). Using grounded theory methodology, this study explored the lived experience of successful FCC educators, examining the impact of professional identity, intentionality of practice, and management of competing demands on educators’ efficacy, psychosocial well-being, and job satisfaction. The stories shared by educators in this study underscore the value of maintaining and supporting this sector of the ECE ecosystem. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the conditions and social processes that allow FCC educators to be effective and thrive in their work. This insight is the key to retaining high-quality programs, recruiting new professionals into the field, and developing strategies to support and strengthen FCC programs that serve young children and their families. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu)

Ethanol’s Affect on Basis in the Corn Belt

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Single copy/knock-in models of ALS SOD1 in C. elegans suggest loss and gain of function have different contributions to cholinergic and glutamatergic neurodegeneration

Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) lead to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that disproportionately affects glutamatergic and cholinergic motor neurons. Previous work with SOD1 overexpression models supports a role for SOD1 toxic gain of function in ALS pathogenesis. However, the impact of SOD1 loss of function in ALS cannot be directly examined in overexpression models. In addition, overexpression may obscure the contribution of SOD1 loss of function in the degeneration of different neuronal populations. Here, we report the first single-copy, ALS knock-in models in C. elegans generated by transposon- or CRISPR/Cas9- mediated genome editing of the endogenous sod-1 gene. Introduction of ALS patient amino acid changes A4V, H71Y, L84V, G85R or G93A into the C. elegans sod-1 gene yielded single-copy/knock-in ALS SOD1 models. These differ from previously reported overexpression models in multiple assays. In single-copy/knock-in models, we observed differential impact of sod-1 ALS alleles on glutamatergic and cholinergic neurodegeneration. A4V, H71Y, G85R, and G93A animals showed increased SOD1 protein accumulation and oxidative stress induced degeneration, consistent with a toxic gain of function in cholinergic motor neurons. By contrast, H71Y, L84V, and G85R lead to glutamatergic neuron degeneration due to sod-1 loss of function after oxidative stress. However, dopaminergic and serotonergic neuronal populations were spared in single-copy ALS models, suggesting a neuronal-subtype specificity previously not reported in invertebrate ALS SOD1 models. Combined, these results suggest that knock-in models may reproduce the neurotransmitter-type specificity of ALS and that both SOD1 loss and gain of toxic function differentially contribute to ALS pathogenesis in different neuronal populations.Peer reviewe

Assessing Physician Response Rate Using a Mixed-Mode Survey

Background. It is important to minimize time and cost of physician surveys while still achieving a reasonable response rate. Mixed-mode survey administration appears to improve response rates and decrease bias. A literature review revealed physician response rates to mixed-mode surveys averaged about 68%. However, no identified studies used the combination of e-mail, fax, and telephone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate physician response rates based on surveys first administered by e-mail, then fax, then telephone. Methods. Surveys initially were administered by e-mail to 149 physicians utilizing SurveyMonkey©. Two follow-up reminder e-mails were sent to non-respondents at two-week intervals. Surveys then were faxed to physicians who had not responded. A follow-up fax was sent to non-respondents one week later. Finally, phone interviews were attempted with physicians who had not responded by e-mail or fax; each physician was called at least twice. Results. Of the 149 eligible physicians, 102 completed the survey for a response rate of 68.5%. Of those who responded, 49 (48%) responded by e-mail, 25 (24.5%) by fax, and 28 (27.5%) by phone. Mode of response did not differ by gender, specialization, or years in practice. In addition, mode of response was not related to the primary study question, physician willingness to use text messaging for immunization reminders. Conclusions. This mix of survey methodologies appeared to be a feasible combination for achieving physician responses and may be more cost effective than other mixed methods

Missing men with tuberculosis: the need to address structural influences and implement targeted and multidimensional interventions.

Tuberculosis (TB) is treatable but is the leading infectious cause of death worldwide, with men over-represented in some key aspects of the disease burden. Men's TB epidemiological scenario occurs within a wider public health and historical context, including their prior sidelining in health discussions. Differences are however noticeable in how some Western countries and high TB and HIV burden low and middle-income countries (LMIC) including in Africa have approached the subject(s) of men and health. The former have a comparatively long history of scholarship, and lately are implementing actions targeting men's health and wellness, both increasingly addressing multilevel social and structural determinants. In contrast, in the latter men have received attention primarily for their sexual practices and role in HIV and AIDS and gender-based violence; moreover, interventions, guided by the public health approach, have stressed short-term, measurable and medical goals. Debates and the limited available empirical literature on men's engagement with TB-related healthcare are nevertheless indicating need for a shift, within TB work with men in high burden LMICs towards, structural and multicomponent interventions

Impact of Dietary Fat Source on Beef Tenderness

Steers were finished on either a corn control, 40% full-fat modified distillers grains plus solubles, 40% de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles, or 38% de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles plus 2% corn oil diet to evaluate the effects of dietary fat source on the mechanism of beef tenderization . Feeding modified distillers grains plus solubles increased polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane and increased free Ca2+ concentration early postmortem. Steaks from cattle fed de-oiled modified distillers grains and de-oiled modified distillers grains plus corn oil were more tender at 2 d of aging when compared to corn control diet. These data indicate that feeding modified distillers grains plus solubles to cattle has the potential to increase beef tenderness early postmortem in comparison to corn diets

Ultrastructural features of Cowdria ruminantium in midgut epithelial cells and salivary glands of nymphal Amblyomma hebraeum

Colonies of Cowdria ruminantium were studied in midgut epithelial cells and salivary gland acini of nymphal Amblyomma hebraeum that were infected experimentally as larvae. Colonies were found in both tissues and studied with light and electron microscopy. Colonies observed within gut cells frequently contained 2 types of the organism : electron-dense and reticulated forms. The morphology of colonies from salivary glands, as seen with light microscopy, varied from compact, densely-staining, small colonies to larger ones in which individual organisms were apparent. With electron microscopy, most organisms in salivary glands were reticulated and appeared to be dividing by binary fission. In both types of host cells, colonies often contained a dense inclusion to which reticulated organisms were adhered.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.lmchunu2014mn201