In-situ measurements of total reactive nitrogen, total water vapor, and aerosols in polar stratospheric clouds in the Antarctic stratosphere

Measurements of total reactive nitrogen, NOy, total water vapor, and aerosols were made as part of the Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment. The measurements were made using instruments located onboard the NASA ER-2 aircrafts which conducted twelve flights over the Antarctic continent reaching altitudes of 18 km at 72 S latitude. Each instrument utilized an ambient air sample and provided a measurement up to 1 Hz or every 200 m of flight path. The data presented focus on the flights of Aug. 17th and 18th during which Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) were encountered containing concentrations of 0.5 to 1.0 micron diameter aerosols greater than 1 cm/cu. The temperature pressure during these events ranged as low as 184 K near 75 mb pressure, with water values near 3.5 ppm by volume (ppmv). With the exception of two short periods, the PSC activity was observed at temperatures above the frost point of water over ice. The data gathered during these flights are analyzed and presented

Victimization and Psychological Wellbeing among Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults: Testing the Moderating Role of Emotional Comfort from Companion Animals

Introduction: Human-animal interaction science is a growing field, largely due to the potential psychosocial benefits companion animals provide to humans. One way companion animals may influence psychosocial outcomes is through their ability to provide emotional comfort, though few studies have examined relationships between sexual and gender minority stressors (i.e. discrimination, victimization, rejection), human-animal interaction, and psychological wellbeing. To address this gap in the literature, the current study evaluates whether, and to what extent, the association between gender-based victimization and psychological wellbeing (i.e., anxiety, depression, self-esteem) varies as a function of emotional comfort from companion animals among emerging adults. Methods: Data were collected from young people between the ages of 18 and 21 years who self-identified as a sexual and/or gender minority (N = 134; 37.3% ethnic/racial minority; 49.2% gender minority; 98.5% sexual minority). We conducted three simple moderation analyses that examined whether, and to what extent, gender-based victimization was associated with mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, self-esteem) as a function of comfort from companion animals. Additive multiple moderation models were also conducted to examine comfort from companion animals and social support as moderators between victimization and each psychological wellbeing indicator. Results: Results of the simple moderation models suggest that the effect of gender-based victimization on self-esteem was moderated by comfort from companion animals (ΔR2 = .03, F(1, 125) = 4.66, β = .22, t(125) = 2.16, p = .03) and that the relationship is statistically significant only at low levels of comfort from companion animals (β = -0.38, t = -2.41, p = .02). Further, our additive multiple moderation model with both comfort from companion animals and social support as moderators of the relation between victimization and self-esteem found that victimization was significantly moderated by comfort from animals (ΔR2 = .03, F(1, 123) = 5.38, β = .24, t(123) = 2.32, p = .02), but not social support. The relation between victimization and self-esteem was significant and negative at low levels of comfort from companion animals, but only for those with high levels of social support (β = -0.43, t = -2.65, p \u3c .01). In contrast, when high levels of comfort from companion animals were reported, the effect of victimization on self-esteem was no longer statistically significant, regardless of whether social support was low or high. We did not find evidence of moderation in models with either anxiety or depression as the dependent variable. Conclusion: These results suggest that high levels of comfort from companion animals may be a protective factor against the harmful effects of victimization on self-esteem. However, our results suggest that comfort from companion animals may not provide the same benefits for anxiety and depression. Further research is needed to replicate our results and to elucidate whether other aspects of HAI, such as attachment to pets or caretaking for pets, may play a role in associations between victimization and anxiety and depression. Given the harmful effects of gender-based victimization and other stressful circumstances that LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately at risk of experiencing (i.e., employment issues, housing insecurity), this study highlights the importance of exploring how, and for whom, comfort from companion animals and other aspects of HAI may provide protective benefits.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1145/thumbnail.jp

Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass, and restoration

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.esa.org/esa.Prairie hay meadows are important reservoirs of grassland biodiversity in the tallgrass prairie regions of the central United States and are the object of increasing attention for conservation and restoration. In addition, there is growing interest in the potential use of such low-input, high-diversity (LIHD) native grasslands for biofuel production. The uplands of eastern Kansas, USA, which prior to European settlement were dominated by tallgrass prairie, are currently utilized for intensive agriculture or exist in a state of abandonment from agriculture. The dominant grasslands in the region are currently high-input, low-diversity (HILD) hay fields seeded to introduced C3 hay grasses. We present results from a long-term experiment conducted in a recently abandoned HILD hay field in eastern Kansas to evaluate effects of fertilization, haying, and native species sowing on community dynamics, biomass, and potential for restoration to native LIHD hay meadow. Fertilized plots maintained dominance by introduced grasses, maintained low diversity, and were largely resistant to colonization throughout the study. Non-fertilized plots exhibited rapid successional turnover, increased diversity, and increased abundance of C4 grasses over time. Haying led to modest changes in species composition and lessened the negative impact of fertilization on diversity. In non-fertilized plots, sowing increased representation by native species and increased diversity, successional turnover, and biomass production. Our results support the shifting limitations hypothesis of community organization and highlight the importance of species pools and seed limitations in constraining successional turnover, community structure, and ecosystem productivity under conditions of low fertility. Our findings also indicate that several biological and functional aspects of LIHD hay meadows can be restored from abandoned HILD hay fields by ceasing fertilization and reintroducing native species through sowing. Declines in primary production and hay yield that result from the cessation of fertilization may be at least partially compensated for by restoration

The Moderating Effect of Comfort from Companion Animals and Social Support on the Relationship between Microaggressions and Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults

Introduction: Sexual and/or gender minority (SGM; e.g., lesbian, transgender, nonbinary, LGBTQ+) individuals are frequently exposed to various forms of minority stress that impact their mental health and wellbeing. Microaggressions, a form of minority stress, are defined as unconscious behaviors or statements directed at members of marginalized groups that reflect a hostile or discriminatory message. Microaggressions have been associated with several detrimental outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Social support has been found to be an important protective factor for SGM emerging adults. Additionally, relationships with companion animals are an underexplored source of support that may be important for SGM individuals. This study aims to explore whether, and to what extent, social support from humans and comfort from companion animals moderates the relationship between SGM-related microaggressions and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Methods: We partnered with five community organizations to recruit our sample, which consisted of 134 SGM emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 21 (Mage = 19.31). Approximately 98.5% of our sample identified with a sexual minority identity, 49.5% identified with a gender minority identity, and 37.3% identified as a racial/ethnic minority. All participants had lived with a companion animal within the past year, with the majority of participants living with a dog and/or a cat. We conducted eight simple moderation analyses to explore whether, and to what extent, comfort from companion animals and human social support individually moderated the relationship between two forms of microaggressions (i.e., interpersonal, environmental) and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Further, we ran four additive moderation analyses to investigate whether comfort from companion animals and social support from humans moderated the relationship between each form of microaggressions and mental health symptoms, when the other moderator was held constant. Results: The results of our simple moderation analyses indicated that social support moderated the relationship between both forms of microaggressions and depressive symptoms (interpersonal: ΔR2 = 0.03, F(1, 125) = 4.74, ꞵ = -0.17, t(125) = -2.18, p = .03; environmental: ΔR2 = 0.02, F(1, 124) = 3.93, ꞵ = -0.19, t(124) = -1.98, p = .05). Our findings suggest that social support acted as a protective factor, because the relationship between exposure to microaggressions and depressive symptoms was not significant when participants reported high levels of social support. Comfort from companion animals also moderated the relationship between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms (ΔR2 = 0.03, F(1, 125) = 4.78, ꞵ = 0.18, t(125) = 2.19, p = .03). However, comfort from companion animals seemed to exacerbate the association between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms, as there was a positive and significant relationship between these two variables when participants reported medium or high levels of comfort from companion animals. The results of the additive moderation analyses found that the relationship between exposure to microaggressions and depressive symptoms was positive and significant when social support was low or medium and comfort from companion animals was high or medium. However, when social support was high, the relationship was no longer significant, regardless of the level of comfort from companion animals. Discussion: Our results suggest that social support from humans may be a key protective factor that buffers the relationship between microaggressions and depressive symptoms. Further, these findings also highlight the need to continue investigating the complex role of relationships with companion animals on mental health outcomes for SGM emerging adults. In particular, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the direction of these relationships, as we are unable to make causal inferences with this cross-sectional study. The results from this study have important implications for future research in this area and practice with SGM populations.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1142/thumbnail.jp

TRAVEL MOBILITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE DAILY LIVES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

poster abstractTyson (2010) conducted research on 100 students using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Physical Activity Question-naire (PAQ). He concluded that students who engaged in more exercise had better mental health. Other studies have confirmed his findings, and have demonstrated how a student’s well-being is related to their success in build-ing relationships and maintaining academic studies. On the other hand, stu-dents that do not engage in physical activity often experience negative well-being, including difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and psychological disorders. The objectives of this study are to determine if the strength of association between daily emotion and activity participation is similar across college stu-dents, and how physical activity and travel mobility relate to well-being. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM), developed by Csikszentmihalyi, Larson, and Prescott (1977) will be used in conjunction with an accelerometer and global positioning system (GPS) to collect data from a sample of (n=24) full-time students over a period of seven days from 9:00am-9:00pm. Subjects will be randomly signaled seven times a day, at which time they will com-plete several Likert-type statements and semantic deferential items in order to measure their perceptions of well-being. To date, the combined methodo-logical use of ESM, GPS and accelerometry has not been conducted on col-lege students. Travel mobility and physical activity will be recorded using the Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS and the Actigraph accelerometer. Data collec-tion phase is incomplete. It is expected that the strength of association be-tween daily emotion and activity participation will be consistent across col-lege students, and physical activity and travel mobility will contribute to stu-dent’s well-being. It is also expected that students with high levels of physi-cal activity and travel mobility will report an overall sense of happiness and increased well-being as compared to those with low levels of physical activity and travel mobility

Inhibition of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier protects from excitotoxic neuronal death.

Glutamate is the dominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, but under conditions of metabolic stress it can accumulate to excitotoxic levels. Although pharmacologic modulation of excitatory amino acid receptors is well studied, minimal consideration has been given to targeting mitochondrial glutamate metabolism to control neurotransmitter levels. Here we demonstrate that chemical inhibition of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) protects primary cortical neurons from excitotoxic death. Reductions in mitochondrial pyruvate uptake do not compromise cellular energy metabolism, suggesting neuronal metabolic flexibility. Rather, MPC inhibition rewires mitochondrial substrate metabolism to preferentially increase reliance on glutamate to fuel energetics and anaplerosis. Mobilizing the neuronal glutamate pool for oxidation decreases the quantity of glutamate released upon depolarization and, in turn, limits the positive-feedback cascade of excitotoxic neuronal injury. The finding links mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism to glutamatergic neurotransmission and establishes the MPC as a therapeutic target to treat neurodegenerative diseases characterized by excitotoxicity

Computational and Experimental Unsteady Pressures for Alternate SLS Booster Nose Shapes

Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) predictions of the unsteady transonic flow about a Space Launch System (SLS) configuration were made with the Fully UNstructured Three-Dimensional (FUN3D) flow solver. The computational predictions were validated against results from a 2.5% model tested in the NASA Ames 11-Foot Transonic Unitary Plan Facility. The peak C(sub p,rms) value was under-predicted for the baseline, Mach 0.9 case, but the general trends of high C(sub p,rms) levels behind the forward attach hardware, reducing as one moves away both streamwise and circumferentially, were captured. Frequency of the peak power in power spectral density estimates was consistently under-predicted. Five alternate booster nose shapes were assessed, and several were shown to reduce the surface pressure fluctuations, both as predicted by the computations and verified by the wind tunnel results

Inflammation and Immune Evasion Coexist in Treponema Pallidum-infected Skin

Syphilis is a systemic, multistage, sexually transmitted infection caused by the highly invasive spirochetal bacterium, Treponema pallidum, subspecies pallidum. In the United States, the annual rate of primary and secondary syphilis (SS) between 2002 and 2016 has increased from 2.1 to 8.7 cases per 100,000.1 Gestational and congenital syphilis cases have also increased in the last few years. There is no evidence of a change in T pallidum susceptibility to penicillin as an explanation for the significant increase in the number of syphilis cases in the United States. It is more likely that changes in risk-taking behavior in the general population are responsible for this change. Although syphilis is easily treatable with penicillin, if left untreated up to one-third of syphilitic patients will go on to have the typical complications associated with tertiary syphilis. It is therefore critically important for clinicians to be well versed in the classic and not so classic dermatologic manifestations of the disease

Orion Crew Module Aerodynamic Testing

The Apollo-derived Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), part of NASA s now-cancelled Constellation Program, has become the reference design for the new Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). The MPCV will serve as the exploration vehicle for all near-term human space missions. A strategic wind-tunnel test program has been executed at numerous facilities throughout the country to support several phases of aerodynamic database development for the Orion spacecraft. This paper presents a summary of the experimental static aerodynamic data collected to-date for the Orion Crew Module (CM) capsule. The test program described herein involved personnel and resources from NASA Langley Research Center, NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Johnson Space Flight Center, Arnold Engineering and Development Center, Lockheed Martin Space Sciences, and Orbital Sciences. Data has been compiled from eight different wind tunnel tests in the CEV Aerosciences Program. Comparisons are made as appropriate to highlight effects of angle of attack, Mach number, Reynolds number, and model support system effects