A programming comparison : the APRE vs. linear periodization in short term periods

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on October 24, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dissertation advisor: Dr. Alex WaigandtVita.Ph. D. University of Missouri-Columbia 2011."May 2011"This study compares the effectiveness of improving absolute strength and power for Linear Periodization and Autoregulatory Progressive Resistance Exercise (APRE) protocol in short term periods in Division One Football Bowl Subdivision athletes. The study examined changes in the Squat, Bench Press, Hang Clean, 225 Bench Press Repetitions test, and vertical jump converted to power using the Sayers equation. Also examined was the difference between somatotypes as to how they gained strength differently. The research identified the APRE as being significantly more effective at improving strength for the Squat, Bench Press, Hang Clean as well as power. There was no significant difference found between groups for the 225 repetitions test. There was no significant difference found between the different somatotype groups.Includes bibliographical reference

Evidence for the intense exchange of MazG in marine cyanophages by horizontal gene transfer

Background: S-PM2 is a phage capable of infecting strains of unicellular cyanobacteria belonging to the genus Synechococcus. S-PM2, like other myoviruses infecting marine cyanobacteria, encodes a number of bacterial-like genes. Amongst these genes is one encoding a MazG homologue that is hypothesized to be involved in the adaption of the infected host for production of progeny phage. Methodology/Principal Findings: This study focuses on establishing the occurrence of mazG homologues in other cyanophages isolated from different oceanic locations. Degenerate PCR primers were designed using the mazG gene of S-PM2. The mazG gene was found to be widely distributed and highly conserved among Synechococcus myoviruses and podoviruses from diverse oceanic provinces. Conclusions/Significance: This study provides evidence of a globally connected cyanophage gene pool, the cyanophage mazG gene having a small effective population size indicative of rapid lateral gene transfer despite being present in a substantial fraction of cyanophage. The Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus phage mazG genes do not cluster with the host mazG gene, suggesting that their primary hosts are not the source of the mazG gene

Optando por sair-se: Os pais que criam espaços de disputa para desafiar os testes padronizados

We explore how the opt-out movement has responded to the combination of a stringent federal policy with weak and often variable implementation among the states. Gaps between federal expectations and states’ understandings of just how to make NCLB’s demands a reality have created policy ambiguity. Parents who oppose standardized testing have recognized the resulting tensions and oversights in state education systems as a policy vacuum rife with opportunities for resistance. We examine how parents have exploited policy ambiguity through creating contested spaces—places of agency in stringent policy environments in which grassroots can question policy authority and take action. We conclude by considering whether these contested spaces are sustainable and whether the policy outcomes generated in contested spaces are reasonably equitable. Exploramos cómo el movimiento de opt-out (optando por salirse) ha respondido a la combinación de una política federal estricta con una débil y con frecuencia variable aplicación de esas políticas entre los Estados. Las brechas entre las expectativas federales y como los estados entienden cómo cumplir con las demandas de la ley NCLB han creado ambigüedad política. Los padres que se oponen a las pruebas estandarizadas han reconocido las tensiones resultantes y falta de atención de los sistemas educativos estatales como un vacío político plagado de oportunidades de resistencia. Examinamos cómo los padres han aprovechado la ambigüedad política a través de la creación de espacios de disputa-lugares de la agencia en entornos políticos restringidos en el que movimientos de base pueden cuestionar la autoridad política y tomar acción. Concluimos considerando si estos espacios de disputa son sostenibles y si los resultados de las políticas que se generan en espacios de disputas son razonablemente equitativas.Nós exploramos a forma como o movimento de optando por sair-se (opting out) respondeu à combinação de políticas federais estritas e fracas com frequência variável  implementação dessas políticas entre os estados. As lacunas entre as expectativas da lei federal NCLB e as respostas estaduais para atender às demandas criaram ambigüidade política. Os pais que se opõem a testes padronizados têm reconhecido as tensões resultantes e falta de atenção dos sistemas de ensino estaduais como um vácuo político cheio de oportunidades para a resistência. Nós examinamos como os pais tomaram a ambigüidade política através da criação de espaços de disputa/lugares para exercitar agência em ambientes políticos restritos em que os movimentos populares podem desafiar a autoridade política e tomar medidas. Conclui-se, verificando se estas áreas de litígio são sustentáveis e se os resultados das políticas geradas em espaços disputas são razoavelmente justa

Synthesis and Validation of Substrates for PRMT1 using Plate-Based Screening Assay

PRMT (Protein Arginine Methyltransferase) is a mammalian enzyme that catalyzes methylation of arginine residues in a polypeptide chain. PRMT is categorized as 3 different types. The methylation can occur as asymmetric dimethylation (ADMA, PRMT 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8), symmetric dimethylation (SDMA, PRMT 7, 5 and 9) or monomethylation (MMA, PRMT 7), Type I, II and III respectively. PRMT1 generates ADMA on arginine residues of the Histone H4 N-terminal tail, which can lead to transcription of cancer-related genes. Alternatively, PRMT5 can modify the same arginine residue to produce SDMA, which represses the development of those same cancer-related genes. A better understanding of the substrate specificity of these enzymes can assist in the development of novel isozyme-specific pharmaceuticals.1 To identify these differences, we synthesized a 96-well plate of peptides based on the Histone H4 N-terminal tail, screened them against PRMT1 using a screening method previously developed in the Knuckley lab.2 This medium-throughput screen identified 7 “hit” peptide sequences and consensus sequences based on the “hit” peptides were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Each of these consensus sequences varied at the N-terminus, while retaining the more distal positive charges of H4-16 peptide. The peptides were validated using a MTase-GloTM Methyltransferase Assay to determine if they were indeed substrates for PRMT1. The kinetic values indicate their efficiency as PRMT1 substrates and further investigations are being conducted to identify the differences in the substrate specificity regarding PRMT4 and PRMT5. These continued efforts will help us gain a better understanding of the role PRMT isozymes play in the onset of cancer, while assisting in the design of novel pharmaceuticals to battle this disease

Investigating the Substrate Specificity of PRMT1 using a Plate Based Screening Method

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up the rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy and converting substrate (reactant) to product more expeditiously. Enzymes have a high degree of specificity and will only catalyze selective reactions by targeting particular substrates. In mammals, there exists a family of 11 enzymes, PRMT’s (Protein Arginine Methyl transferase), that target protein arginine for post translational methylation on the guanidino nitrogen of the residue. They occur naturally as Type I, II and III and can administer asymmetric di-methylation (ADMA), symmetric dimethylation (SDMA) and monomethylation, respectively. The focal point of this project is to determine the substrate specificity of PRMT1 (Type I), PRMT 4, (Type I) and PRMT5 (Type II) on arginine residues in histone tails. Histones are eukaryotic proteins. The “tails” of the histones (polypeptide chains) are projected out from the protein and are often targets of various post translational modifications (PTM’s). Overexpression of PRMT 1 and PRMT 4 results in increased enzyme activity leading to ADMA on the histones arginine’s. This modification recruit’s transcription factors to the histone tails and induces the transcription of cancerous genes (colon, breast, prostate cancer, etc.). Meanwhile, PRMT 5 is repressive of these developments by leading to SDMA on the arginine, which blocks the enzyme activity and recruitment of these same transcription factors.  By synthesizing the histone H4 tail in this experiment and varying different regions using high-throughput libraries, a screening of PRMT1, 4 and 5 can be completed

Localization and extinction of bacterial populations under inhomogeneous growth conditions

The transition from localized to systemic spreading of bacteria, viruses and other agents is a fundamental problem that spans medicine, ecology, biology and agriculture science. We have conducted experiments and simulations in a simple one-dimensional system to determine the spreading of bacterial populations that occurs for an inhomogeneous environment under the influence of external convection. Our system consists of a long channel with growth inhibited by uniform UV illumination except in a small ``oasis'', which is shielded from the UV light. To mimic blood flow or other flow past a localized infection, the oasis is moved with a constant velocity through the UV-illuminated ``desert''. The experiments are modeled with a convective reaction-diffusion equation. In both the experiment and model, localized or extinct populations are found to develop, depending on conditions, from an initially localized population. The model also yields states where the population grows everywhere. Further, the model reveals that the transitions between localized, extended, and extinct states are continuous and non-hysteretic. However, it does not capture the oscillations of the localized population that are observed in the experiment.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

NEPC Review: Use of Personalized Learning Platforms in One Pandemic-Era Microschool: A Case Study (Center on Reinventing Public Education, June 2022) and “The Most Professionally Satisfied I’ve Been.” How Could the Best Aspects of Learning Pod Staffing Be Scaled Up? (Center on Reinventing Public Education, June 2022)

Families across the U.S. experimented during the COVID-19 pandemic with new educational models in response to school closures. This review examines the Center on Reinventing Public Education&rsquo;s two recent reports on two related strategies that exemplify such experimentation: microschools and learning pods. The first report analyzes engagement patterns and success rates of a digital platform used at one microschool in Nevada. The second report praises learning pods&rsquo; staffing features and argues that these approaches might be adopted in traditional schools. Both reports paint the new strategies in positive light, but both have methodological and analytical shortcomings that limit their utility for policymakers.&nbsp;</p

Athletes as community; athletes in community: covid-19, sporting mega- events and athlete health protection

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from BMJ Publishing Group via the DOI in this recor

A exploração de escolha da escola e as consequências para a segregação racial de alunos em escolas charter transferências Pennsylvania

Using individual-level student data from Pennsylvania, this study explores the extent to which charter school racial composition may be an important factor in students’ self-segregative school choices. Findings indicate that, holding distance and enrollment constant, Black and Latino students are strongly averse to moving to charter schools with higher percentages of White students. Conversely, White students are more likely to enroll in such charter schools. As the percentage and number of students transferring into charter schools increases, self-segregative school choices raise critical questions regarding educational equity, and the effects of educational reform and school choice policies on the fostering of racially diverse educational environments.El uso de datos de los estudiantes a nivel individual de Pennsylvania, este estudio explora la medida en la composición racial escuela autónoma que puede ser un factor importante en la selección de escuelas auto-segregadora de los alumnos. Los resultados indican ue, la celebración de la distancia y la inscripción constante, los estudiantes latinos y negros son fuertemente reacios a trasladarse a las escuelas autónomas con mayor porcentaje de estudiantes blancos. Por el contrario, los estudiantes blancos son más propensos a inscribirse en este tipo de escuelas autónomas. Como el porcentaje y el número de estudiantes que se transfieren al charter escuelas aumenta, opciones de escuelas auto-segregadora plantean cuestiones críticas con respecto a la equidad educativa, y los efectos de las políticas de reforma y de elección de escuelas de educación sobre el fomento de diversas razas entornos educativos.A utilização de dados de estudantes a nível individual da Pensilvânia, este estudo explora a extensão a composição racial escola charter pode ser um fator importante na seleção de escolas os alunos auto-segregação. Os resultados indicam ue, mantendo constante a distância e inscrição, os estudantes latinos e negros são fortemente relutantes em mudar-se para as escolas charter com o maior percentual de alunos brancos. Por outro lado, os alunos brancos são mais propensos a se inscrever neste tipo de escolas charter. Como a percentagem eo número de alunos que transferir para as escolas charter aumenta, a escolha da escola de auto-segregação levantar questões críticas sobre a equidade educacional, e os efeitos das políticas de reforma e escolha da escola de promoção de educação racialmente diversos ambientes educacionais.

M–M Bond-Stretching Energy Landscapes for M_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (M = Rh, Ir; dimen = 1,8-Diisocyanomenthane) Complexes

Isomers of Ir_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (dimen = 1,8-diisocyanomenthane) exhibit different Ir–Ir bond distances in a 2:1 MTHF/EtCN solution (MTHF = 2-methyltetrahydrofuran). Variable-temperature absorption data suggest that the isomer with the shorter Ir–Ir distance is favored at room temperature [K = ~8; ΔH° = −0.8 kcal/mol; ΔS° = 1.44 cal mol^(–1) K^(–1)]. We report calculations that shed light on M_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (M = Rh, Ir) structural differences: (1) metal–metal interaction favors short distances; (2) ligand deformational-strain energy favors long distances; (3) out-of-plane (A_(2u)) distortion promotes twisting of the ligand backbone at short metal–metal separations. Calculated potential-energy surfaces reveal a double minimum for Ir_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (4.1 Å Ir–Ir with 0° twist angle and ~3.6 Å Ir–Ir with ±12° twist angle) but not for the rhodium analogue (4.5 Å Rh–Rh with no twisting). Because both the ligand strain and A_(2u) distortional energy are virtually identical for the two complexes, the strength of the metal–metal interaction is the determining factor. On the basis of the magnitude of this interaction, we obtain the following results: (1) a single-minimum (along the Ir–Ir coordinate), harmonic potential-energy surface for the triplet electronic excited state of Ir_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (R_(e,Ir–Ir) = 2.87 Å; F_(Ir–Ir) = 0.99 mdyn Å^(–1)); (2) a single-minimum, anharmonic surface for the ground state of Rh_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (R_(e,Rh–Rh) = 3.23 Å; F_(Rh–Rh) = 0.09 mdyn Å^(–1)); (3) a double-minimum (along the Ir–Ir coordinate) surface for the ground state of Ir_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (R_(e,Ir–Ir) = 3.23 Å; F_(Ir–Ir) = 0.16 mdyn Å^(–1))