Sexual Expression and Self-Confidence in Long-Distance Relationships

Little is known about the impact of distance on sexual expression and self-confidence in long-distance relationships, especially as mediated by technology. The purpose of the present study is to investigate how sexual expression and self-confidence vary in romantic relationships between those in long- versus short-distance relationships. Data from 327 participants—156 in long-distance relationships and 171 in short-distance relationships—were collected via Amazon MTurk. Results indicate that forms of technology-mediated sexual expression are widely used in long-distance relationships. Technology-mediated sexual expression is positively associated with sexual satisfaction in both long- and short-distance relationships; however, technology-mediated sexual expression was not statistically associated with self-confidence, and self-confidence was negatively predictive of self-uncertainty and partner uncertainty, and self-uncertainty and partner uncertainty was positively predictive of relational uncertainty. These results indicate that technology is an important tool that can be utilized for sexual expression in long-distance relationships, but the negative association of its use with self-confidence needs to be better understood

Case of Delayed Care in anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis

"Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDAr) presents a diagnostic challenge for clinicians due to its varying symptom presentation such as psychosis, abnormal behavior, and seizures. Given the presentation, and it only newly recognized as a diagnosis, anti-NMDAr is difficult to distinguish from other neuropsychiatric disorders, and delaying treatment leads to increased morbidity and mortality."--IntroductionMorgann Madill (School of Medicine, Saint Louis University)Includes bibliographical reference

Identification and Characterization of a Xylosylphosphotransferase of Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans is an environmental yeast and an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing a meningoencephalitis in human hosts. The organism produces an extensive polysaccharide capsule that is unique among pathogenic fungi and absolutely required for its virulence. Work in the Doering laboratory on the capsule and other glycoconjugates of C. neoformans has focused on the identification of glycosyltransferases, enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a sugar moiety from an active donor to a specific acceptor, creating a particular linkage. Previous work demonstrated that xylose residues, derived from the nucleotide sugar UDP-xylose, are necessary for cryptococcal virulence. An assay to detect xylosyltransferase activity was developed in the laboratory using a radiolabeled UDP-xylose donor, a dimannose acceptor, and protein fractions from C. neoformans as the source of enzymatic activity. Using this assay, several discrete xylosyltransferase activities have been detected, including one that depends on the presence of manganese cations as a cofactor. The identification and characterization of the protein responsible for this activity has been the focus of these dissertation studies. The product of the manganese-dependent xylosyltransferase activity was analyzed by mass spectrometry and NMR and found to be xylose-α-phosphate-6-mannose-α-1,3-mannose, indicating that the enzyme responsible is, unexpectedly, a xylosylphosphotransferase: Xpt1p). There are no reports in the literature of similar glycan structures, suggesting that Xpt1p is a novel enzyme capable of generating a unique sugar linkage. The locus encoding Xpt1p activity was identified based on limited homology to a known mammalian glycosylphosphotransferase and confirmed by activity studies of a deletion mutant. Xpt1p was subsequently shown to prefer the donor and acceptor molecules UDP-xylose and mannose, respectively. It was further found to play a role in the glycosylation of cellular proteins, in particular the synthesis of O-linked glycan structures, and has been suggested to exist in a multimeric protein complex. This thesis details these studies of Xpt1p and considers the future directions of this research. Altogether, this work has broadened our understanding of glycan synthesis in general and the synthesis of cryptococcal glycans in particular

Magnetic force microscopy studies of magnetic domain structure in LaCoO₃ and UMn₂Ge₂

textMagnetic force microscopy studies in varying temperature and applied external magnetic field of magnetic thin films of LaCoO₃ under strain and single crystal UMn₂Ge₂ have been performed. In the case of LaCoO₃ thin films the aim is an understanding of the response of the magnetic microstructure to different signs and degrees of strain and a further attempt to distinguish the effect of defects from strain-induced effects. In UMn₂Ge₂ the magnetic microstructure is imaged for the first time and signatures of a possible phase transition at 150 K and crystalline anisotropy are explored. The first portion of this dissertation focuses on the synthesis methods used to produce the samples investigated and the critical role of synthesis in producing high-quality samples. This is followed by a discussion of characterization techniques used to obtain local and global magnetic and structural characteristics, with particular emphasis on magnetic force microscopy including noise characteristics and a discussion of achieving a high force gradient sensitivity by optimizing the fiber-optic interferometer used for cantilever deflection detection. Design elements and features of the multi-mode variable-temperature atomic force microscope used to obtain magnetic force microscopy images are presented and results for LaCoO₃ and UMn₂Ge₂ are discussed.Physic

2014 Field Excavations at the Little Creek Community Nacogdoches County

In the summer of 2014 (June 2-July 3), SFA Archaeological Field School (ANT 440) was led by Dr. Leslie G. Cecil and had 13 students and three volunteers. The site selected was the Little Creek Community (41NA378) that was decimated by the floods of 1974. The site is approximately six acres it is under the Nacogdoches Banita Creek Park and Dog Park in Nacogdoches, TX. in area of which only 51 meters2 were excavated. Brian Bray approved the selection of the site and gave approval for excavations. The location of the community was based on the ethnographic map created by Abercrombie (2013) and Cecil conducted a ground penetrating radar survey before field school began. Due to the high frequency of potential artifacts everywhere, two locations were selected for clearing excavations: 1) the AME Church and 2) the Davis house. Excavations and artifacts found indicated the occupational date of the site (1900s1970s), the edge of the Church, and the area at the Davis house where they burned trash. Artifacts are curated at the SFA Anthropology and Archaeology laboratory. Future research at the site would be recommended should the City of Nacogdoches build any other structures there

Resolving Commingling, Restoring Identity: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Ethical Study of Individuals from a Human Skeletal Teaching Collection

In Fall 2022, human skeletal remains were discovered in the Department of Biology’s Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory. No documentation about the acquisition or curation history was found. With no current protocols for repatriating individuals in university skeletal teaching collections, an interdisciplinary research team analyzed the skeletal remains to resolve to commingle and identify the people. Using standardized methods in forensic anthropology, we estimated the minimum number of individuals represented through taphonomic, demographic, paleopathological, and morphological variables and variation. Results indicated, minimally, 36 to 56 individuals represented by 250 bones. Of these individuals, 12 were estimated as probable female, 16 as probable male, 3 as intermediate, and 5 as indeterminate adults. All bones were associated with adult individuals, and estimated ages ranged from 20 to 50 years. Average stature estimates were below globally-reported average heights, and dentoalveolar conditions suggested poor oral health for at least five of the individuals. Cranial measurements from five individuals were consistent with variations recorded in modern and historical African and Asian populations. Taphonomic findings of postmortem bone processing (e.g., bleaching, articulation, and hardware features) identify these individuals as non-consenting bodies of the global (Carolina Biological Company) and local (anatomy departments and medical schools) bone trade. Their acquisition and postmortem treatment highlights a long history of objectification, exploitation, and dehumanization. In this skeletal analysis, we have endeavored to restore aspects of these individuals’ identities by reassociating bones to individuals and presenting the biological variation embodied in these remains

2014 Field Excavations at the Little Creek Community Nacogdoches County

In the summer of 2014 (June 2-July 3), SFA Archaeological Field School (ANT 440) was led by Dr. Leslie G. Cecil and had 13 students and three volunteers. The site selected was the Little Creek Community (41NA378) that was decimated by the floods of 1974. The site is approximately six acres it is under the Nacogdoches Banita Creek Park and Dog Park in Nacogdoches, TX. in area of which only 51 meters2 were excavated. Brian Bray approved the selection of the site and gave approval for excavations. The location of the community was based on the ethnographic map created by Abercrombie (2013) and Cecil conducted a ground penetrating radar survey before field school began. Due to the high frequency of potential artifacts everywhere, two locations were selected for clearing excavations: 1) the AME Church and 2) the Davis house. Excavations and artifacts found indicated the occupational date of the site (1900s1970s), the edge of the Church, and the area at the Davis house where they burned trash. Artifacts are curated at the SFA Anthropology and Archaeology laboratory. Future research at the site would be recommended should the City of Nacogdoches build any other structures there