Cell model of DJ-1-associated Parkinson’s Disease

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of motor function resulting from dopaminergic neuronal death in the substantia nigra pars compacta leading to subsequent decreased striatal dopamine levels. The majority of PD cases are diagnosed as sporadic in nature, however 10% - 15% of patients show a positive family history of the disease. While many genes have been found to be implicated in the familial form of PD, early-onset autosomal recessive PD has been associated with mutations in PARK7, a gene which codes for the protein DJ-1. While there are many proposed roles of DJ-1 across numerous systems, the function of DJ-1 in relation to the development and progression of PD remains largely unclear. A first step towards determining this function is the creation of biologically relevant cell models of PD. The goal of this work was to design a representative cell model of DJ-1-associated PD in order to further study DJ-1 with the intention of elucidating its relevant function in relation of PD pathogenesis

Madison Wittenburg Honors Portfolio

Madison Wittenburg\u27s honors portfolio captured in May 2019

Quantifying the shifted baseline in breeding bird communities for Native American tribes relocated to Oklahoma

Ecosystem services are often recognized for their importance in productivity (e.g., Nitrogen fixation) or biosphere support (Oxygen production from photosynthesis). Cultural ecosystem services (e.g., biodiversity appreciation) are no less important to human well-being but are undervalued when incremental losses go unrecognized by subsequent generations. This phenomenon referred to as generational amnesia or more commonly a shifted baseline of biodiversity understanding. The baseline serves as a control for what is considered normal in that ecosystem and what changes are measured against. Shifted baselines are especially damaging in cultures for which a connection to Nature is emphasized as a point of identity. In the United States, the forced relocation of Native Americans to Oklahoma Territory in the 19th and 20th centuries represents an extreme shifted baseline that severed important biodiversity connections in a single generation. The main purpose of this study was to quantify shifted baselines of breeding bird biodiversity for multiple Native American tribes now based in Oklahoma. The data used for this project was collected through eBird, a volunteer-based citizen science database, from fifteen different tribes who currently have jurisdictions in Oklahoma. Additionally, data from geographic regions where these tribes are originally from prior to their relocation to Oklahoma was also collected. We used beta diversity to quantify estimates of bird community difference and loss between ancestral and Oklahoma lands. Results showed eleven of the fifteen tribes experienced a community dissimilarity over 50% between their ancestral lands and Oklahoma areas. This means these tribes experienced a change in over half of the bird communities, ancestral baseline species, they encountered upon relocation to Oklahoma. This not only shows a significant shift in bird communities experienced by the tribes, but could also provide insight to other drastic shifting baselines these tribes had to endure upon their forced removal from their ancestral lands.Robert E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement ProgramNational Institute of Food and Agriculture (U.S.)Natural Resource Ecology and Managemen

Investing in the Social Work Profession Benefits the Health and Well-Being of Us All

Social workers are the backbone of Minnesota\u27s human services and mental health system. Social workers worked diligently to assist people in receiving health care, connecting to community resources, and overcoming grief and loss throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Social workers are a versatile workforce serving Minnesotans in every sector of our society: hospitals, mental health centers, schools, social service agencies, community centers, and politics and advocacy. Minnesota has an aging social work workforce that must be replenished. However the high cost of getting a social work degree, especially in relationships to pay, is a hinderance to people entering and staying in the field. The time to invest in the social work profession is NOW

Banned Books Awareness

The first week of October each year is known as Banned Books Week. It is a time to bring awareness to the impact of banned books and to look at what has changed since the year prior. The American Library Association has reported that 2,571 individual titles were challenged in the year 2022, which is a 38% increase in challenges from 2021. The largest group of challengers are parents, followed by patrons and political parties. The two most targeted locations for banning books are public and school libraries. In the United States, Texas was the state with the highest number of challenged titles for the year 2022. From January 1 to August 31 of 2023, the American Library Association has seen a 20% increase in challenges when compared to the same reporting period from 2022. The increase is also seen in the running total of challenged titles. From the initial reporting period, 3,923 titles have been challenged this year. In 2022, the total for the entire year was only 2,571 titles. Texas is still the state with the highest number of challenged books this year

Raising Cultural Awareness in Undergraduate Students through an Online Pen Pal Program

International written communication networks, such as pen pal programs, help spread cultural awareness by connecting people from around the world. Competent intercultural communication is the foundation for strong global partnerships. It encourages diversity, increases academic achievement, and gives individuals a competitive edge in the global workforce. This study examines changes in the cultural awareness of 50 U.S. undergraduate participants enrolled in an intercultural communication course at a northwestern university after they exchange private, online pen pal letters with 50 international partners from across the globe. The U.S. participants were divided into Group A (test-group) and Group B (control-group) and then a pretest was administered to both groups to assess their cultural awareness before the letter exchange began. The Group A exchange was conducted over a two-week period, after which the U.S. participants were re-tested. The Group B began their exchange after the second test. The results of the tests were analyzed to determine whether the pen pal program increased cultural awareness in the U.S. undergraduate participants. Although no statistical increase was found, a lot of information and data was collected that future researchers and educators can use to develop their own programs

Impact of time between diagnosis to treatment in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection

There is a paucity of data describing the effect of time interval between diagnosis and surgery for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection. We describe our 8-year experience and investigate the impact of time interval between symptom onset, diagnosis and surgery on outcomes. Retrospective single-center study utilizing our Society of Thoracic Surgeons registry and patient records. Subjects were grouped by time interval between radiographic diagnosis and surgical treatment: Group A (0–4 h), Group B (4.1–8 h), Group C (8.1–12 h), and Group D (12.1 + h). Data were analyzed to identify factors associated with mortality and outcomes. 164 patients were included. Overall mortality was 21.3%. Group C had the greatest intervals between symptom onset to diagnosis to surgery, and also the highest mortality (66.7%). Preoperative tamponade, cardiac arrest, malperfusion, elevated creatinine, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and blood transfusions were associated with increased mortality, while distance of referring hospital was not. Time intervals between symptom onset, diagnosis and surgery have a significant effect on mortality. Surgery performed 8–12 h after diagnosis carries the highest mortality, which may be exacerbated by longer interval since symptom onset. Time-dependent effects should be considered when determining optimal strategy especially if inter-facility transfer is necessary