Mice, Acorns, and Lyme Disease: a Case Study to Teach the Ecology of Emerging Infectious Diseases

Ebola, Zika, the recall of contaminated lettuce - these are just a few recent outbreaks making headlines. Students should be able to connect what they learn in their biology courses to explain these events happening around them. Unfortunately, students do not necessarily make those connections. Therefore, it is important, as instructors, to provide opportunities where students engage with societal issues and problems related to course content and case studies, using headlines from the news are one way to do this. Here I describe a case study about Lyme disease that engages students in learning about the ecology of infectious disease. Lyme disease incidence has tripled in the last 15 years and is estimated to affect 300,000 Americans annually. This lesson uses an NPR news audio clip containing interviews with two disease ecologists, Rick Ostfeld and Felicia Keesing, who describe predicting Lyme disease incidence by measuring mice populations. The activities in this lesson explore factors that led to the recent surge in Lyme disease. In small collaborative groups, students analyze data figures from publications by the Ostfeld and Keesing labs (along with others) to construct an understanding of the ecology of Lyme disease and predict how changes to the ecosystem could affect Lyme disease incidence. This case study lesson could be relevant to those teaching microbiology, ecology, public health or biology for majors

Examining democratic ideals: A case study of dialogic interactions of fifth -grade citizens

Four overarching questions guided the purpose of this study: (1) to examine the role of dialogic and social interactions in the classroom setting when constructing a democratic classroom, (2) to explore whether the dialogic co-construction of a democratic classroom community supported student learning and student ownership of learning in the classroom, (3) to investigate how the use of classroom dialogue facilitated meaning about classroom community membership and citizenship for students in a democratic classroom community, and (4) evaluate the effects and influences a democratic classroom community had on students; The study was a qualitative case study utilizing a cultural model and listening guide as part of data analysis. The analysis demonstrated that students progressed as community members, democratic classroom citizens, and academic learners through the use of dialogic interactions between members of the democratic classroom environment. The first part of the paper articulated a conceptual background framed within a sociocultural theoretical perspective with the concepts of Lev Vygotsky and the progressive educational ideals of John Dewey. Next, an overview of the study including a description of the setting and participants was presented. This information was followed by an in-depth, multi-faceted, multi-layered analysis of the data, specifically the classroom dialogue, dialogic terminology generated from the cultural model, and social and dialogic interactions exhibited by the teacher and students to examine consequential progressions of the students as members, citizens, and learners. The paper concluded with a discussion of the implications of this work, specifically for teacher pedagogy and the role of teacher as a guide, facilitator, and mentoring facilitator

Assessing “Discover Mojave” Instrument Development and Analysis

We developed a comprehensive assessment plan and tested the curriculum to determine whether hands-on outdoor recreation events promote knowledge, attitudes, and performance among at-risk urban children. Knowledge, attitude, and performance assessments were developed, refined and conducted through various stages based on cultural and language barriers as well a variety of age groups participating within the events. Findings revealed that knowledge, attitudes, and performance increased substantially as a result of participating in the outdoor recreation events. We conclude that the implementation and assessment of the program is strong. We also make several recommendations for future programs

The HIV-1 Protein Vpr Targets the Endoribonuclease Dicer for Proteasomal Degradation to Boost Macrophage Infection

The HIV-1 protein Vpr enhances macrophage infection, triggers G2 cell cycle arrest, and targets cells for NK-cell killing. Vpr acts through the CRL4DCAF1 ubiquitin ligase complex to cause G2 arrest and trigger expression of NK ligands. Corresponding ubiquitination targets have not been identified. UNG2 and SMUG1 are the only known substrates for Vpr-directed depletion through CRL4DCAF1. Here we identify the endoribonuclease Dicer as a target of HIV-1 Vpr-directed proteasomal degradation through CRL4DCAF1. We show that HIV-1 Vpr inhibits short hairpin RNA function as expected upon reduction of Dicer levels. Dicer inhibits HIV-1 replication in T cells. We demonstrate that Dicer also restricts HIV-1 replication in human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and that reducing Dicer expression in MDMs enhances HIV-1 infection in a Vpr-dependent manner. Our results support a model in which Vpr complexes with human Dicer to boost its interaction with the CRL4DCAF1 ubiquitin ligase complex and its subsequent degradation

Structural Survey of the Woodford Shale at McAlister Cemetery Quarry, Carter County, Oklahoma

The focus of this thesis is creating a geologic map of the Woodford Shale in McAlister Cemetery Quarry, and providing data indicating how the bitumen in fractures came to be in this location. Prior studies have focused on defining the stratigraphy of the Woodford within the quarry, agreeing on at least three distinct segments: the Upper, Middle, and Lower Woodford. Key results of this thesis include a map of the quarry created using newly acquired GPS points noting the locations of significant structures, landmarks, and contacts as well as an analysis of thin sections taken from samples within the quarry. Contacts between beds were mapped using a combination of data from Andrea Serna’s thesis and new GPS data. Initially this meant that the Upper, Middle, and Lower Woodford were 95, 133, and 144 feet thick, however part way through mapping, the definition of the boundary between the Middle and Upper Woodford was changed based on the first appearance of phosphate nodules. With this change, the Middle Woodford thickened to approximately 185 feet thick, and the Upper Woodford thinned to approximately 92 feet thick. While gathering data for the geologic map, measurements of the mounds in the center of the quarry were taken to ascertain whether or not the mounds were in situ or were piles of debris from quarrying activities. Most of the mounds were in situ, with the only exception being the circular portion of the southernmost tip of the mounds, which can be seen on the map near the intersection of the gravel roads. Faulting and folding within the quarry was investigated and what structures are currently visible in the quarry were documented. This included a NW trending fault which can be seen on the North Wall of the quarry, and a series of folds visible on the Eastern Wall, including a syncline, an anticline, and an overturned syncline. Thin sections were taken from samples from the Middle Woodford and analyzed for a mineralogical evaluation and to confirm the hypothesis that the mounds are in situ. Thin sections displayed fractures occasionally infilled with bitumen and calcite. In at least one instance, the bitumen infill was observed cutting through a calcite filled fracture while taking advantage of a previous plane of weakness, indicating that the event which created the bitumen-filled fractures happened after the event which created the calcite-filled fractures. In addition, all five samples displayed graded bedding, indicating sediment gravity flow and not suspension settling

Die GTPase Dynamin A : strukturelle und biochemische Hinweise auf einen molekularen Motor

Die GTPasen der Dynamin-Familie besitzen eine einheitliche Domänenstruktur, erfüllen aber sehr unterschiedliche biologische Funktionen, wie die Vesikelgenerierung in der Endocytose, den Erhalt der Mitochondrienmorphologie und die Abwehr von viralen Pathogenen. Während die biologische Funktion zumeist das Abschnüren von Lipidmembranen zu beinhalten scheint, ist der Mechanismus, nach dem Dynamine diese Funktion erfüllen, ungeklärt. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde das Protein Dynamin A aus dem eukaryotischen Modellorganismus Dictyostelium discoideum (Sozialamöbe) verwendet, um den Mechanismus der Dynamine zu untersuchen. Nach der Optimierung der Reinigung von Dynamin A aus D. discoideum konnte mit Hilfe der Elektronenmikroskopie gezeigt werden, daß Dynamin A zu Ringen assembliert, die denen von humanem Dynamin 1 stark ähneln. Aus den elektronenmikroskopischen Aufnahmen wurden Projektionen der Aufsicht und der Seitenansicht des nukleotidfreien Dynamin A Ringkomplex erstellt und daraus die dreidimensionale Struktur des Ringkomplexes berechnet. Diese Struktur erlaubt erstmals Einblicke in die molekulare Organisation von assemblierten Dynaminen. Der Dynamin A Ringkomplex besteht aus 22 Monomeren, die sich in zwei Lagen zu jeweils zwei konzentrischen Ringen mit 11-facher Rotationssymmetrie anordnen. An der Innenseite des inneren Rings befinden sich spitze Strukturen, die ideal positioniert sind, um eine umwickelte Lipidmembran zu perforieren. Die elektronenmikroskopische Analyse der nukleotidabhängigen Konformationsänderungen zeigte, daß Dyanmin A bei Bindung eines schwer-hydrolysierbaren GTP-Analogs zu Filamenten assembliert. Der nukleotidfreie Ringkomplex reorganisiert sich dabei zu einer Spirale und verkleinert seinen Durchmesser um 20 Dies ist der direkte Nachweis, daß der Ringkomplex nukleotidabhängig kontrahiert und daß diese Kontraktion bereits bei GTP-Bindung erfolgt. Damit ist Dynamin A prinzipiell in der Lage, auf eine umwickelte Lipidmembran Kraft auszuü

Einfluss der Glucosekonzentration auf Genexpression und metabolische Flüsse bei Saccharomyces cerevisiae

[no abstract

Tasta Frivilligsentral - fullt og helt eller stykkevis og delt

Tema for denne oppgaven er organisasjonsformer og betingelser for Tasta Frivilligsentral. Frivilligsentraler i Norge er en unik blanding av offentlige og private interesser bygget delvis på offentlig drift, privat engasjement og frivillig engasjement. I denne oppgaven skal jeg beskrive organisasjonsformen til Tasta Frivilligsentral og belyse de organisatoriske elementene som gjør frivilligsentralen i stand til å bygge sted. Metoden jeg skal benytte meg av for å gjennomføre dette, vil være en abduktiv tilnærming basert på faglitteratur og kvalitative intervjuer med frivillige medlemmer og daglig leder på sentralen. På bakgrunn av funnene vil jeg argumentere for at Tasta frivilligsentral er en form for delvis organisasjon. Videre er de viktigste organisatoriske betingelsene ved Tasta Frivilligsentral medlemmene som del av en åpen og flat organisasjonsstruktur, uten et strengt hierarki og regelverk. Dette gir mulighet for medlemmene å bygge forhold med hverandre og med Tasta som sted.The subject of this assignment is organizational forms and conditions for the volunteer center at Tasta. Voluntary centers in Norway are a unique mix of public and private interests built partly on public operation, private involvement and voluntary work. In this thesis, I will describe the organizational form of the Tasta Volunteer center and shed light on the organizational elements that enable the volunteer center to build a place. The method I will use to carry this out will be an abductive approach based on literature and qualitative interviews with volunteer members and the day-to-day manager at the center. Based on the findings, I will argue that the Tasta volunteer center is a form of partial organization. Furthermore, the most important organizational conditions at Tasta Volunteer center are the members as part of an open and flat organizational structure, without a strict hierarchy or regulations. This gives the members the opportunity to build relationships with each other and with Tasta as a place

Tree Mortality and Decomposition Dynamics Following an Extreme Drought in East Texas, USA

Throughout 2011, the state of Texas, USA, experienced an extreme drought that broke statewide temperature and precipitations records, causing extensive tree mortality. No study comprehensively examined impacts to the heavily forested and important economic and ecologic region of east Texas. This dissertation aimed to fill that knowledge gap by: 1) examining tree species mortality responses multiple years postdrought; 2) evaluating the impacts of management and stand structure on pine species mortality; 3) quantifying and describing the dynamics of standing dead trees; and 4) refining understanding and estimation of structural volume changes in standing dead pine trees using terrestrial light-detection-and-ranging (LiDAR). The first three objectives made use of U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis data for east Texas. The final objective was accomplished using LiDAR and a novel volume calculation algorithm. Oak species experienced significant immediate mortality, presumably crossing a threshold by which they could not continue transpiring. Pine species mortality was the lowest of all examined and did not increase significantly until two years post-drought, suggesting pines successfully employed physiological strategies to avoid rapid mortality. Planted loblolly pines were generally maintained at lower densities and moderate tree sizes than naturally-regenerated loblolly and shortleaf pines. This management effect appeared to offer favorable competitive conditions allowing planted loblolly pine to resist drought mortality. Standing dead trees experienced high probability of falling. within five-years, driven primarily by stem size and decay class. Reconstructed standing dead tree volumes derived from LiDAR produced robust allometric models for volume estimation and provided for empirical assessment of structural changes across decay classes. These findings highlight the resistant nature of managed pines to extreme drought mortality and the vulnerability of oaks to die-off in future extreme droughts. Future work should strive to identify the physiological mechanisms driving drought mortality and specific silvicultural targets for mitigating extreme drought mortality. Biomass and carbon that transitions to the standing dead wood pool following mortality becomes downed dead wood very rapidly in east Texas. Tools developed herein for predicting fall rates and quantifying standing dead wood via LiDAR will help to refine future understanding of carbon dynamics, wildfire risk, and habitat management