Role of IL-33 in inflammation and disease

Interleukin (IL)-33 is a new member of the IL-1 superfamily of cytokines that is expressed by mainly stromal cells, such as epithelial and endothelial cells, and its expression is upregulated following pro-inflammatory stimulation. IL-33 can function both as a traditional cytokine and as a nuclear factor regulating gene transcription. It is thought to function as an 'alarmin' released following cell necrosis to alerting the immune system to tissue damage or stress. It mediates its biological effects via interaction with the receptors ST2 (IL-1RL1) and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP), both of which are widely expressed, particularly by innate immune cells and T helper 2 (Th2) cells. IL-33 strongly induces Th2 cytokine production from these cells and can promote the pathogenesis of Th2-related disease such as asthma, atopic dermatitis and anaphylaxis. However, IL-33 has shown various protective effects in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiac remodeling. Thus, the effects of IL-33 are either pro-or anti-inflammatory depending on the disease and the model. In this review the role of IL-33 in the inflammation of several disease pathologies will be discussed, with particular emphasis on recent advances

Automobile Prices, Gasoline Prices, and Consumer Demand for Fuel Economy

The relationship between gasoline prices and the demand for vehicle fuel efficiency is important for environmental policy but poorly understood in the academic literature. We provide empirical evidence that automobile manufacturers price as if consumers respond to gasoline prices. We derive a reduced-form regression equation from theoretical micro-foundations and estimate the equation with nearly 300,000 vehicle-week-region observations over the period 2003-2006. We find that vehicle prices generally decline in the gasoline price. The decline is larger for inefficient vehicles, and the prices of particularly efficient vehicles actually rise. Structural estimation that ignores these effects underestimates consumer preferences for fuel efficiency.Automobiles, Gasoline, Consumer Preference, Demand, Fuel Efficiency

Making Reading Fun: Using Reader’s Theater to Increase Interest, Fluency, and Comprehension in Reluctant Readers

Students with reading difficulties don\u27t enjoy reading, especially aloud in front of others. What can improve their interest in reading? Based on current trends demonstrating best practice, the use of Readers Theater may spark this interest for reluctant readers. This is the focus of our study. We are using a pre-test/post-test format with a class of 16 second graders to determine whether students enjoy reading content area material more when it is presented as a play. Each student is individually informally assessed by reading a passage and interviewed with questions exploring how they feel about reading before and after this experience. Every student in the class is tested, but the focus is on the results of the reluctant readers. The students are given parts in a story in which they practice and perform for each other; repeatedly reading stories as they are practiced for performance has been shown to increase fluency. This is especially important for students with reading difficulties and we predict that these students will want to read this material more because they are having fun. We also feel that increased fluency correlates with increased comprehension of the material. This will support their learning in all subject areas

NEW SECONDARY MATHEMATICS TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE IN A NEW TEACHER INDUCTION PROGRAM IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN TENNESSEE

New teachers felt unprepared as they entered their first year of teaching and were leaving the teaching field at a high rate every school year. Tennessee, like many other states, had a critical shortage of secondary mathematics teachers. Secondary mathematics has been considered a high-needs subject area. New teacher induction programs were developed to help support new teachers and aid in their retention; however, the state of Tennessee did not have a requirement for mentoring or induction support for new teachers. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore new secondary mathematics teachers’ perceptions of their experiences in a new teacher induction program in a school district in Tennessee, Ellie County Schools. I utilized document analysis and an online questionnaire to collect data from thirteen full-time secondary mathematics teachers with five or fewer years of experience who participated in Ellie County Schools’ new teacher induction program completed the questionnaire. New teachers and any veteran teachers within their first three years of joining the district were strongly encouraged by the school and district leaders to participate in Ellie County Schools’ new teacher induction program, but teachers were not required to participate. I found new secondary mathematics teachers believed their teaching practice benefited from Ellie County Schools’ new teacher induction program which consisted of the following components: mentoring, observations, collaboration with colleagues, and professional development. Furthermore, new secondary mathematics teachers wanted a mentor teacher who functioned as a teaching partner, someone they could plan with and learn from daily

What is a Christian Teacher to Do with Louise Rosenblatt’s Transactional Theory of Reading?

In this theoretical analysis, the authors explore the question, What is a Christian teacher educator to do with Louise Rosenblatt’s transactional theory of reading? They begin by outlining the primary components of Rosenblatt’s transactional theory, focusing on reading as a transaction and the efferent and aesthetic stances. Next, they discuss who they are as teacher educators and former students, how their faith backgrounds intersect with Rosenblatt’s work, and the approach they took to address areas of tension that they and other Christian educators have experienced with Rosenblatt’s theory. Finally, they conclude by discussing implications of Rosenblatt’s work for reading scripture, identifying both the strengths and limitations of her theory, along with strategies for inviting students to discuss this issue at faith-based institutions

Redneckaissance: Honey Boo Boo, Tumblr, and the Stereotype of Poor White Trash

Tumblr is an understudied social media site with a young, progressive, and queer user base of content creators. This study examines Tumblr posts about Here Comes Honey Boo Boo to understand the nature of Tumblr and the way a convergent culture that includes non-viewers negotiates a television show dependent on stereotypes. Discourses around authenticity, LGBTQ issues, and body acceptance resist the negative white trash connotations of the show, but this resistance is embedded in stereotypes around race, class, gender, sexuality, and geography. The result is a continuum in which users negotiate what the show means in how they use that show to communicate about other issues based on which axes of power they resist and uphold. This analysis gives insight into how online culture serves to reflect hegemonies without necessarily undermining them, how Tumblr memes serve to define the values of the site, and how an individual television show is co-opted into the online language of memes

Resurrecting Olympus

The objective of this creative project was to reintroduce Greek mythology to the public, adapting the ancient tales to appeal to an ever-evolving world. In order to do the myths justice, it was important to examine adaptations and interpretations over the centuries to determine the philosophical trajectory of mythology. My studies unearthed a diverse portfolio of academic perspectives ranging from the likes of the more formal philosopher Thomas Bullfinch of the 1900s, to the modern, comedy-infused commentator Stephen Fry. Each voice revealed something new to consider. Synthesizing these varying positions into a holistic narrative, I set out to pen a collection of tales of my own with the expressed purpose of revitalizing interest in mythology outside of academia. This thesis is only the beginning of my mission to reimagine the Greek pantheon as beloved figures of fantasy literature to appeal to 21st Century readers

Examining the Errors and Self-Corrections on the Stroop Test

The purpose of this study was to collect normative data for a computer-assisted version of the Comalli Stroop Test, a commonly used neuropsychological measure. Additionally, the study was aimed at investigating the self-corrected errors on the Stroop Test, which have not previously been accounted for on the traditional test versions. Participants included one hundred and seventy two individuals from Cleveland State University and the community. Participants were administered computer-assisted versions of the Comalli Stroop Test and Trail Making Test. Participants were also asked to rate their agreement to four statements on a 5-level Likert scale to assess self-perceptions of testing. Errors, self-corrected errors, and time of completion for both tasks were recorded. Answers to the Self-Monitoring Scale were scored and recorded. The results of this study show that age and education both affected the quantity and location of errors and self-corrected errors on the Stroop Test. The Trail Making Test, which was used to validate the errors on the Stroop Test, showed a similar pattern of location of errors to the Stroop Test. Errors were frequently made in the middle to later portions of these tests, whereas self-corrections were made in the earlier portions. This pattern is partially due to participants\u27 limited cognitive and attention resources as the tests progress. The results of this study suggest that self-corrections are measuring a separate construct than errors on the Stroop Test. The ability to self-correct on the Stroop Test is a sign of mental health, flexibility, and ability to self-monitor. Utilizing the self-corrected errors on the Stroop Test gives test administrators an additional tool in detecting control, and higher mental processes. Also, the results demonstrate that errors are measuring a separate construct than time of completion. The traditional approach to neuropsychological testing examines the total number of errors and time of completion for the entire task, rather than examining the criti

Analyzing Songs Used for Lyric Analysis With Mental Health Consumers Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) Software

Lyric analysis is one of the most commonly used music therapy interventions with the mental health population, yet there is a gap in the research literature regarding song selection. The primary purpose of this study was to determine distinguishing linguistic characteristics of song lyrics most commonly used for lyric analysis with mental health consumers, as measured by LIWC2015 software. A secondary purpose was to provide an updated song list resource for music therapists and music therapy students working with the mental health population. The researcher emailed a survey to 6,757 board-certified music therapists, 316 of whom completed the survey. Respondents contributed 700 different songs that they deemed most effective for lyric analysis with mental health consumers. The researcher used the LIWC2015 software to analyze the 48 songs that were listed by five or more music therapists. Song lyrics contained linguistic indicators of self-focused attention, present-focused attention, poor social relationships, and high cognitive processing. Lyrics were written in an informal, personal, and authentic style. Some lyrics were more emotionally positive, while others were more emotionally negative. While results must be interpreted with caution, it may be helpful to consider linguistic elements when choosing songs for lyric analysis with mental health consumers

Positive deviance, contraceptive self-efficacy and social desirability in sexually active adolescent females : a mixed methods approach.

Unintended pregnancy is an issue that impacts women of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses. It also impacts the child that results and the society in which they live. In the United States, adolescents experience unintended pregnancy more than adolescents in other countries. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the factors that contribute to successful contraceptive use among adolescent females (ages 13-18) seeking reproductive health services at a local family planning clinic. The theoretical framework of contraceptive self-efficacy (CSE) was used to frame this understanding. The exploration was conducted in three ways: a critical review of the literature on contraceptive self-efficacy; an examination of contraceptive self-efficacy in adolescent females seeking reproductive health care services at a local family planning clinic; and a qualitative exploration of adolescent girls who had consistently used birth control for at least one year without the experience of an unintended pregnancy (positive deviants). The critical review of the literature demonstrated that additional research on CSE as a predictor of contraceptive use has the potential to improve contraceptive use among adolescent girls. The Contraceptive Self-Efficacy Scale (CSS) has not been used comprehensively in the past, and further research using the CSS is needed to explore the variance in contraceptive use left unexplained. In the next manuscript, the CSE of adolescent females seeking reproductive health services at a local family planning clinic was evaluated along with the psychometric properties of the CSS. This study showed that CSE is impacted by demographic and medical variables, and is minimally influenced by social desirability. Factor analysis of the CSS suggested additional research is needed to explore the appropriateness of using a shortened version of the CSS. In the final manuscript, the characteristics of positive deviants seeking reproductive health care at a local family planning clinic were examined to determine how they navigate external influences to become successful contraceptive users. Study results revealed that positive deviants have consistent characteristics that assist them in being successful contraceptive users. These characteristics need further exploration. The findings of this dissertation support previous research that has identified the importance of CSE as a variable influencing birth control use. Contraceptive self-efficacy is influenced by demographic and medical variables and the use of the CSS is recommended for future studies of CSE. Additionally, positive deviants in the reproductive health realm have consistent characteristics that, if developed and taught to adolescent girls, may increase their contraceptive use. Interventions aimed at improving CSE among adolescent females and teaching characteristics such as assertiveness, responsibility, and career planning may improve contraceptive use, thus decreasing the unintended pregnancy rates among adolescent and adult females alike