INDOOR COARSE PARTICULATE MATTER: EVALUATING EXPOSURES AND HEALTH EFFECTS IN ASTHMATIC CHILDREN

The primary aim of the ARTIS study (Asthma Randomized Trial of Indoor Wood Smoke) is to improve the quality of life of asthmatic children living in wood stove homes by reducing in-home fine particulate matter (PM2.5). In the original project, characterizing exposure to the coarse fraction of particulate matter (consisting of particles \u3c10 μm and \u3e2.5 μm; PMc) was not proposed. The coarse fraction has been shown to elicit increased pulmonary inflammation compared to PM2.5. This may be due to biogenic constituents of PMc such as endotoxin, a component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. Scientific interest in the coarse fraction is on the rise due to its unique documented adverse health effects and potential for regulatory status. A novel filterbased sampler (coarse particle environmental monitor, CPEM) was used to characterize coarse fraction and airborne endotoxin concentrations in a subset of ARTIS homes. In 50 homes, only the presence of pets was associated with PMc concentrations. The frequency of wood stove use (loading/stoking) was not associated with either PMc or airborne endotoxin concentrations. Following 43 homes from pre- to post-intervention, homes that received an active filter intervention had a 27.4 μg/m3 greater reduction in PM2.5 relative to a placebo intervention with a treatment effect of ~90%. The placebo filters were unexpectedly efficient in significantly reducing PMc and airborne endotoxin concentrations. As a result, the active filter intervention showed no enhanced ability to reduce PMc and airborne endotoxin relative to the placebo intervention. These effects remained significant when the filter units were run at least 50% of the time. Finally, baseline health outcomes were investigated for association with PMc and airborne endotoxin concentrations in 38 asthmatic children living in the wood stove homes. As a whole we found a more general pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress response to increased endotoxin concentrations as opposed to the phenotypic allergic asthma response. We also found separate and unique health outcome associations with PMc and airborne endotoxin. Overall, these studies significantly advance our understanding of in-home exposures, health effects, and reduction efforts of asthma exacerbating agents in wood stove homes

Building Alliances: Collaboration between CAUSA and the Rural Organizing Project in Oregon

This ethnography examines the components that allow quality solidarity work to happen between organizations with leadership and constituencies that are primarily people of color and primarily white, respectively. CAUSA (an immigrant rights coalition) and the Rural Organizing Project (ROP) of Oregon have developed a working relationship over ten years that has contributed to numerous victories for immigrant and farm worker rights, as well as greater consciousness among white rural activists of what it means to provide support as anti-racist allies. Because Oregon has a relatively small population (three million), and progressive organizations tend to know each other, the relationship provides an opportunity to study how such organizations manage power and historical inequalities in a manner suited for success. Ethnographer Lynn Stephen has conducted in-depth interviews with organizational leaders and members as a way to explore the history and lessons learned from the collaborative work between the two organizations. Key findings include the importance of both in-depth and sustained dialogue around the key values of work, and staff training around the issues involved with connecting to the other organization. The organizations use these techniques to build common ground. Hence, collaborative capacity can be mobilized quickly to support each other's actions as needed

Sonic Hedgehog Therapy in a Mouse Model of Age-Associated Impairment of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a morphogen regulating muscle development during embryogenesis. We have shown that the Shh pathway is postnatally recapitulated after injury and during regeneration of the adult skeletal muscle and regulates angiogenesis and myogenesis after muscle injury. Here, we demonstrate that in 18-month-old mice, there is a significant impairment of the upregulation of the Shh pathway that physiologically occurs in the young skeletal muscle after injury. Such impairment is even more pronounced in 24-month-old mice. In old animals, intramuscular therapy with a plasmid encoding the human Shh gene increases the regenerative capacities of the injured muscle, in terms of Myf5-positive cells, regenerating myofibers, and fibrosis. At the molecular level, Shh treatment increases the upregulation of the prototypical growth factors, insulin-like growth factor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor. These data demonstrate that Shh increases regeneration after injury in the muscle of 24-month-old mice and suggest that the manipulation of the Shh pathway may be useful for the treatment of muscular diseases associated with aging

Clinical Characteristics, Racial Inequities, and Outcomes in Patients with Breast Cancer and COVID-19: A COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available for patients with breast cancer (BC) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially among underrepresented racial/ethnic populations. METHODS: This is a COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) registry-based retrospective cohort study of females with active or history of BC and laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection diagnosed between March 2020 and June 2021 in the US. Primary outcome was COVID-19 severity measured on a five-level ordinal scale, including none of the following complications, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and all-cause mortality. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression model identified characteristics associated with COVID-19 severity. RESULTS: 1383 female patient records with BC and COVID-19 were included in the analysis, the median age was 61 years, and median follow-up was 90 days. Multivariable analysis revealed higher odds of COVID-19 severity for older age (aOR per decade, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.32-1.67]); Black patients (aOR 1.74; 95 CI 1.24-2.45), Asian Americans and Pacific Islander patients (aOR 3.40; 95 CI 1.70-6.79) and Other (aOR 2.97; 95 CI 1.71-5.17) racial/ethnic groups; worse ECOG performance status (ECOG PS ≥2: aOR, 7.78 [95% CI, 4.83-12.5]); pre-existing cardiovascular (aOR, 2.26 [95% CI, 1.63-3.15])/pulmonary comorbidities (aOR, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.20-2.29]); diabetes mellitus (aOR, 2.25 [95% CI, 1.66-3.04]); and active and progressing cancer (aOR, 12.5 [95% CI, 6.89-22.6]). Hispanic ethnicity, timing, and type of anti-cancer therapy modalities were not significantly associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes. The total all-cause mortality and hospitalization rate for the entire cohort was 9% and 37%, respectively however, it varied according to the BC disease status. CONCLUSIONS: Using one of the largest registries on cancer and COVID-19, we identified patient and BC-related factors associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, underrepresented racial/ethnic patients experienced worse outcomes compared to non-Hispanic White patients. FUNDING: This study was partly supported by National Cancer Institute grant number P30 CA068485 to Tianyi Sun, Sanjay Mishra, Benjamin French, Jeremy L Warner; P30-CA046592 to Christopher R Friese; P30 CA023100 for Rana R McKay; P30-CA054174 for Pankil K Shah and Dimpy P Shah; KL2 TR002646 for Pankil Shah and the American Cancer Society and Hope Foundation for Cancer Research (MRSG-16-152-01-CCE) and P30-CA054174 for Dimpy P Shah. REDCap is developed and supported by Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research grant support (UL1 TR000445 from NCATS/NIH). The funding sources had no role in the writing of the manuscript or the decision to submit it for publication. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: CCC19 registry is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04354701

Community Healthcare Stakeholders on Risk Factor Description for Eating Disorder Prevention for Jewish Orthodox Adolescent Females

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how community healthcare stakeholders living in the Midwest region described how they think religion and environment might influence eating disorder risk factors in Jewish orthodox adolescent females. The two research questions asked how community healthcare stakeholders describe how they think religion and environment might influence eating disorder risk factors in Jewish orthodox adolescent females. The sample comprised 14 healthcare stakeholders experienced working with Jewish orthodox females. Thematic analysis of data from open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews revealed nine core themes: adolescent religious experiences; real or perceived mixed Jewish orthodox religious messages; food in Jewish orthodox practice; religious stigma in Jewish orthodox practice; the role of homogeneity expectations; family dynamics and relationships; real or perceived mixed Jewish orthodox environmental messages; stigma in the Jewish orthodox environment; and pressures experienced by Jewish orthodox adolescent females. The findings extended Cognitive Behavioral Theory by adding context to how emotions Jewish orthodox adolescent females develop regarding eating disorder risk factor creation are created. The Stakeholder Concept was informed through the use of community healthcare stakeholders in the Jewish orthodox community. Findings suggest that there is benefit in creating more targeted prevention programs. Additional research should explore other geographical locations and the influence of the strong expectations of homogeneity

Spatial Dynamics and Productivity of a Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery Following Large Scale Disturbance and Management Change

The Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery has experienced significant management changes and disturbance in recent years, including transitioning two major fisheries from a traditional open access system into a limited entry individual fishing quota (IFQ) system in 2007 and 2010. Also in 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWH) released an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf (~206 million U.S. gallons), and is still the largest U.S. environmental disaster to date. Emergency fishing closures initiated shortly after the oil spill began were successful in keeping tainted seafood from reaching markets. However, effects of DWH closures on fisher decision making, fishery productivity, and distribution of fishing effort all remain poorly understood. Understanding the range and magnitude of fishers’ responses to perturbations — including regulatory change and human-induced environmental disasters — is critical for designing effective management and disaster response policies that can meet biological, ecological, economic, social, and sustainability objectives. This work characterized the spatial and temporal patterns of productivity and fishing effort for the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) commercial reef fish fishery. Patterns of productivity and effort distribution were used to examine the response of fishers to management change and large-scale disturbance, namely the DWH fishing closures. Fisheries-dependent logbook trip reports were used to quantify revenue and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) patterns from 2000-2014. Novel to fisheries work in the GoM, complementary vessel monitoring systems (VMS) satellite tracking data were used to quantify high-resolution spatial distribution patterns over time, relative to the DWH fishing closures. A general linear modeling (GLM) approach was also used to examine which variables may have contributed to resilience of fishers after DWH closures. Results suggested that this fishery was largely resilient to the DWH fishing closures in 2010, although exact outcomes varied by region. Overall fleet-level productivity steadily increased over time, but regional patterns were based on major species in catch. Productivity in the western GoM was consistently highest over time, and trips in the west and central GoM were dominated by Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and Vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens). Trips in the east were dominated by Red grouper (Epinephelus morio) and Gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis). Shifts in spatial distribution to new productive fishing grounds or reduced competition via fewer vessels or trips may explain the increases in productivity observed over the study period. Consolidation in the fleet was apparent, with fewer individual vessels and fewer total trips over time. However, the rate of vessel drop out after DWH (5%) was far below the annual background attrition rate of ~14-20%. Relative productivity patterns inside vs. outside the boundaries of fishing closures did not change over time, and there were even some increases in productivity observed during and after DWH in the eastern GoM. Yet, vessels that dropped out after DWH were concentrated in the north-central and eastern GoM. Distribution of fishing grounds before and after DWH were highly similar, and there were increases in effort along the outer West Florida Shelf. Variability in revenue and CPUE, CPUE magnitude, and magnitude of grouper landings were significant predictors of dropping out of the fishery in the GLMs. Synergies with the Red snapper or Grouper-Tilefish IFQs may have “primed” the fishery for resilience by eliminating inconsistent or marginal fishers before the oil spill, and may further explain some of the spatially varying patterns of productivity and attrition after 2010. Resilience was likely also enhanced by the more than $2 billion in emergency compensation payments made to captains, crew, and vessel owners for lost fishing income and assistance with oil remediation efforts. This work stands to make a significant contribution to our understanding of how the DWH oil spill impacted fisheries and communities in the GoM. The results add to a growing body of literature suggesting that the acute population- and ecosystem-level impacts of the DWH oil spill were not as strong or severe as initially anticipated. This work also stands to make contributions to the broader understanding of how this fishery has performed in the wake of recent management change and major environmental disturbance

Integrative Narrative Therapy in Counseling: Experiencing Strengthened Spiritual Resiliency: A Phenomenological Study

The following DMIN action research project is a phenomenological study that evaluates the correlation between integrative Narrative Therapy approaches in non-clinical counseling and the cultivation of spiritual resilience among suffering Christians. Phenomenological data were generated from three case study subjects, who volitionally participated in interviews, questionnaires, and three, one-hour integrative Narrative Therapy intervention counseling sessions facilitated by the researcher. Each intervention session introduced the participants to specific Narrative Therapy exercises to which they had not been exposed before. All case study participants have experienced previous counseling that did not include Narrative Therapy approaches and were evaluated as ineffective by the counselee. Providing that spiritual resilience is a major component of Posttraumatic Growth, the results of this study are designed to edify, encourage, educate, and expand God’s kingdom. The positive correlations of Narrative Therapy and spiritual resilience found in this study can add value to the Positive Psychology and pastoral community care programs at Oak Hills Family Center, Southbrook Christian Church, and beyond

Spatial Dynamics and Productivity of a Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Fishery Following Large Scale Disturbance and Management Change

The Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery has experienced significant management changes and disturbance in recent years, including transitioning two major fisheries from a traditional open access system into a limited entry individual fishing quota (IFQ) system in 2007 and 2010. Also in 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWH) released an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf (~206 million U.S. gallons), and is still the largest U.S. environmental disaster to date. Emergency fishing closures initiated shortly after the oil spill began were successful in keeping tainted seafood from reaching markets. However, effects of DWH closures on fisher decision making, fishery productivity, and distribution of fishing effort all remain poorly understood. Understanding the range and magnitude of fishers’ responses to perturbations — including regulatory change and human-induced environmental disasters — is critical for designing effective management and disaster response policies that can meet biological, ecological, economic, social, and sustainability objectives. This work characterized the spatial and temporal patterns of productivity and fishing effort for the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) commercial reef fish fishery. Patterns of productivity and effort distribution were used to examine the response of fishers to management change and large-scale disturbance, namely the DWH fishing closures. Fisheries-dependent logbook trip reports were used to quantify revenue and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) patterns from 2000-2014. Novel to fisheries work in the GoM, complementary vessel monitoring systems (VMS) satellite tracking data were used to quantify high-resolution spatial distribution patterns over time, relative to the DWH fishing closures. A general linear modeling (GLM) approach was also used to examine which variables may have contributed to resilience of fishers after DWH closures. Results suggested that this fishery was largely resilient to the DWH fishing closures in 2010, although exact outcomes varied by region. Overall fleet-level productivity steadily increased over time, but regional patterns were based on major species in catch. Productivity in the western GoM was consistently highest over time, and trips in the west and central GoM were dominated by Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and Vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens). Trips in the east were dominated by Red grouper (Epinephelus morio) and Gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis). Shifts in spatial distribution to new productive fishing grounds or reduced competition via fewer vessels or trips may explain the increases in productivity observed over the study period. Consolidation in the fleet was apparent, with fewer individual vessels and fewer total trips over time. However, the rate of vessel drop out after DWH (5%) was far below the annual background attrition rate of ~14-20%. Relative productivity patterns inside vs. outside the boundaries of fishing closures did not change over time, and there were even some increases in productivity observed during and after DWH in the eastern GoM. Yet, vessels that dropped out after DWH were concentrated in the north-central and eastern GoM. Distribution of fishing grounds before and after DWH were highly similar, and there were increases in effort along the outer West Florida Shelf. Variability in revenue and CPUE, CPUE magnitude, and magnitude of grouper landings were significant predictors of dropping out of the fishery in the GLMs. Synergies with the Red snapper or Grouper-Tilefish IFQs may have “primed” the fishery for resilience by eliminating inconsistent or marginal fishers before the oil spill, and may further explain some of the spatially varying patterns of productivity and attrition after 2010. Resilience was likely also enhanced by the more than $2 billion in emergency compensation payments made to captains, crew, and vessel owners for lost fishing income and assistance with oil remediation efforts. This work stands to make a significant contribution to our understanding of how the DWH oil spill impacted fisheries and communities in the GoM. The results add to a growing body of literature suggesting that the acute population- and ecosystem-level impacts of the DWH oil spill were not as strong or severe as initially anticipated. This work also stands to make contributions to the broader understanding of how this fishery has performed in the wake of recent management change and major environmental disturbance

Interactions between Seals and Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture in Maine

Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor) predation has been cited as a major cause of mortality, injury, and escapement at Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) marine aquaculture sites in the State of Maine. Escapements of farm-raised Atlantic salmon are of particular concern due to the potential for breeding and competition with the endangered wild Atlantic salmon. I documented the nature and frequency of seal predation at finfish aquaculture facilities in Maine and whether the severity of seal predation was related to the proximity of farms from one another and nearby harbor seal haul-outs. Managers at operational M s h aquaculture facilities in Maine were surveyed annually from 2001 - 2003 and asked specifically about farm management techniques, husbandry practices, predator deterrence methods employed, and predation. Aerial surveys documenting harbor seal haul-outs along the Maine coast were conducted concurrently. Empirical estimates from generalized linear models, using a negative binomial distribution for the random component, suggest the importance of maximizing the distance between farms and neighboring harbor seal haul-outs and minimizing the number of surrounding harbor seal haul-outs when attempting to deter seal predation at marine salmon farms in Maine. This study further highlighted the ineffectiveness of Acoustic Harassment Devices (AHDs) and the need for Where investigation into the effectiveness of different pen types and predator nets at deterring seal predation

Audit committee member contextual experiences and financial reporting outcomes

textContextual experience with the practical application of accounting standards is important for independent audit committee members to effectively monitor managers’ financial reporting estimates and the audits of those estimates. Basic knowledge of accounting standards can be acquired by reading public documents and some degree of information regarding firm-specific application of standards can be obtained from public disclosures. However, real-world, contextual experience may best be obtained through performing or monitoring the reporting tasks themselves. This dissertation investigates how a firm’s (focal firm) financial reporting monitoring activities are affected by its audit committee members’ contextual experiences gained through connections, either as managers or audit committee members, with other firms (links or interlocks). I specifically estimate whether contextual experience with significant judgments and estimates, measured as interlocks with firms that likely performed extensive impairment analyses in the prior year (distressed firms), affects the likelihood of focal firm decisions to write off goodwill after controlling for economic indicators of impairment, managerial incentives to misreport, and ability of managers to exercise discretion. I find that the likelihood of write-off is significantly greater for firms with links to distressed firms than firms without links, consistent with audit committee contextual experience influencing financial reporting outcomes. The distressed firm interlock effect is significantly greater when the contextual experience at the linked firm is in the performance of estimates as a manager in contrast to the monitoring of estimates as an audit committee member. However, in a subset of large firms with ExecuComp data, I find that the overall probability of write-off is decreasing across quartiles of managerial incentives to misreport and received interlocks are only marginally significant in the second quartile, indicating that contextual experience may not be an effective monitoring mechanism when managerial incentives to misreport are high. Combined results suggest that contextual experiences obtained through audit committee network associations do affect focal firm financial reporting outcomes and are most influential when the contextual experience is as a manager, rather than a monitor. However, such monitoring mechanisms appear to be primarily imitative and may not be effective deterrents against managerial misreporting at large firms when managerial equity-based incentives are strong.Accountin