Identifying the Role of Vasopressin and Oxytocin in the Microbiota-Gut-Brain-Behavior Axis

The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that form a bidirectional communication pathway with the brain, called the gut-brain axis. In addition to their roles in mediating host metabolism and digestion, a wealth of research is identifying roles for the gut microbiota in neural development and function, immune modulation, and behavioral expression. Many neural targets of gut-brain axis signaling have been identified, but little attention has been paid to vasopressin and oxytocin. Vasopressin and oxytocin are neuropeptides that are targets of immune signaling and are implicated in the control of anxiety-like, depressive-like, and social behaviors, making them likely mediators in the communication between the gut and the brain. As the immune system is a main signaling pathway in the gut-brain axis, it is possible that vasopressin and oxytocin would be affected through immune system activation to result in behavioral alterations seen in microbiota dysbiosis. To test these predictions, we used pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory microbiota manipulation mouse models to identify the roles of vasopressin and oxytocin in the gut-brain axis. First, we demonstrated that microbiota is needed for proper vasopressin and oxytocin system development by using a germ-free mouse model. Second, we explored the impacts that chronic intestinal inflammation has on behavior and neuropeptide expression in Toll-like receptor 5 knockout (T5KO) mice. Third, we investigated whether the behavioral phenotype in T5KO mice is microbiota dependent. Collectively, these experiments provide support to the hypothesis that microbiota alter the vasopressin and oxytocin systems through an immune-mediated pathway to alter the behavior of both mouse models. They also support the use of T5KO mice in investigating the interplay between chronic, low-grade inflammation and psychiatric disorders. Future experiments are needed to uncover the exact mechanisms underlying the microbiota-gut-brain-behavior axis and understanding this axis will provide a basis for developing microbiota-based therapeutics to treat CNS disorders

Meissen Porcelain: Precision, Presentation, and Preservation. How Artistic and Technological Significance Influence Conservation Protocol

invention of Meissen porcelain and how these factors impact certain restoration and conservation protocol. The diversity and range of objects produced at the Meissen studio paired with the artistic genius of their design repositioned European ceramics as a superior craft form among its pottery-producing competitors. The ware\u27s enthusiastic reception amongst upper-class European society established the pieces as being highly-valued and prompted their widespread recognition. What resulted was an efflorescence of creativity, artistic and technical accomplishments, and an original aesthetic quality that initiated a new conceptual reframing of how ceramic media could be presented. Throughout the past three centuries, Meissen porcelain has continued to be coveted, collected, and exhibited. As a result, the work requires the aid of conservation science in order to preserve its cultural and material integrity.;For a body of work so steeped in precision, presentation, and material science, certain attributes that are crucial to Meissen porcelain\u27s identity must be taken into account prior to the assembly of an appropriate conservation protocol. By considering these factors, conservators, museum professionals, and historians are able to devise more informed and appropriate decisions involving the direction of a conservation route for an individual object. For the purposes of this argument, three case studies are observed: ceramic riveting, material substitution and/or object replacement, and a condition assessment of the Furstenzug mural in Dresden, Germany. All three situations present some of the most visually-intrusive and structurally-jeopardizing tactics pertaining to conservation methodologies. The historical, artistic, and technological attributes of Meissen porcelain are assessed in an attempt to devise proper treatment plans for all three case studies.;The purpose of this paper is not to discredit or undermine alternative porcelain media and the restorations applied to their framework. Instead, its objective is to bring an individuality to Meissen porcelain and the restorative processes applied in its conservation. This, in turn, contributes to and expands upon preexisting conservation methodologies involving the restoration of porcelain media. The main goal is to educate and inform art historians, museum professionals, and conservators alike about the particularities of specific clay media and the significance of their individual attributes within ceramic art

Language Development Among Preschool Age Children Born Prematurely

Premature birth has been shown to be associated with various deficits in neuropsychological functioning during early childhood; however, few studies have attempted to understand the variables that contribute to variability in performance among children born prematurely. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationships between specific perinatal factors and language and cognitive outcome measures in a group of preschool-aged children born prematurely (N=47). As predicted, there were significant relationships between sex and specific outcome measures, with boys performing more poorly than girls; however, contrary to hypotheses, significant relationships failed to be found between outcome measures and both gestational age and intrauterine growth rate. The overall implications of these findings for the development of preschool-aged children born prematurely are discussed

Constructing Depth through Jane: Contemporary Interactions between Austen and Interiority

The world is saturated with Jane Austen. She is in the movies, in bookstores, and in college courses. For years “lowbrow” and “highbrow” readers have fought over the “proper” way to read her work. Ian Watt, a popular literary critic, argued that Austen’s value resides in her use of interiority. For years, interiority was held as the measure of a novel’s worth or depth. Deidre Lynch exposed this interiority Watt spoke of as a cultural taste—one which Austen and Watt emerged from and helped to create. In this project, I look at two contemporary manifestations of Austen—one that is considered more “lowbrow” and one that is considered more academic or “highbrow.” In the first, I look at the many Austen fanfictions and movie adaptations that have been made. These include sequels and retellings of Austen’s novels. My focus is on both the content of these fanfictions and the marketing strategies used to introduce them to the public. In the second chapter, I look at a new branch of literary theory referred to as cognitive science theory. Through examining how cognitive science theorists interact and dissect Austen, it becomes clear that they are operating along the same canon of interiority that Watt helped to solidify. My project takes off from Lynch’s argument that interiority is an ideological formation that emerged out of a cultural taste for depth. Through fanfiction and cognitive science theory, I show that her argument about Watt and Austen is still relevant when applied to today’s interactions with Austen. Furthermore, I show that the definition of depth changes based on the group hoping to invoke it

Motor Skills Among Preschool-Aged Children Born Prematurely

It has been documented that children who are born prematurely are at risk of experiencing motor skills deficits early in life; however, little is known about the relationships between early perinatal risk factors and later motor abilities. The current investigation attempted to gain better understanding regarding the influence of gestational age and sex on early motor development among a cohort of preschool-aged children born prior to 34 weeks gestation (N = 104). Additionally, relationships between motor performance and other abilities, namely cognitive and language, were examined. As hypothesized, degree of gestational immaturity was significantly associated with poorer performance on specific motor tasks. Additionally, a female advantage was found on select fine and gross motor tasks. Examination of associations between performances in different neuropsychological domains revealed that motor performance contributed to explained variance in cognitive and language outcome, above and beyond the variance accounted for by perinatal sociodemographic and medical risk factors. The implications of these findings are discussed

Nurse Practitioner Home-Based Care

The United States is currently faced with the challenge of how and where to care for its aging population. Nurse practitioner (NP) home-based care is a potential solution to meet this challenge. Current research indicates that care provision by advanced practice nurses reduces cost, decreases length of stay and readmission to hospitals, and improves patient quality of life. The purpose of this research was to examine the state of the science regarding home-based geriatric care by NPs and to determine the current status and potential expansion of NPs in home-based care for elderly patients. Advanced practice nurses are able to fill the provider gap for aged patients. The future of healthcare in the US is linked to the willingness of this workforce to provide appropriate care in the most expedient setting. Finding innovative ways to address the needs of this population is important to relieving some of the burdens associated with fragmented healthcare for older adults and curtailing the growing financial burden of inpatient care for the nation\u27s elders

An electrical probe of the phonon mean-free path spectrum

Most studies of the mean-free path accumulation function (MFPAF) rely on optical techniques to probe heat transfer at length scales on the order of the phonon mean-free path. In this paper, we propose and implement a purely electrical probe of the MFPAF that relies on photo-lithographically defined heater-thermometer separation to set the length scale. An important advantage of the proposed technique is its insensitivity to the thermal interfacial impedance and its compatibility with a large array of temperature-controlled chambers that lack optical ports. Detailed analysis of the experimental data based on the enhanced Fourier law (EFL) demonstrates that heat-carrying phonons in gallium arsenide have a much wider mean-free path spectrum than originally thought

5 - Sustainability of an Established CURE Curriculum at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions

Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) are laboratory curriculum designed to expand the inclusivity of research opportunities for undergraduate students. CUREs provide the experience and benefits of scientific research, and those benefits and experiences at an earlier point in students’ education. These qualities mean CUREs can be of great value to primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), but faculty at these institutions who wish to design and/or implement a CURE can face major barriers including lack of time and resources. We provided professional development and ongoing support for the implementation of an established CURE at two PUIs. The CURE was taught by four faculty members, allowing us to study the faculty experience when implementing an established CURE with support provided from resources outside of their institution. We interviewed the faculty prior to PD, and after one semester of CURE implementation to understand the instructors’ experiences and motivations. Interviews are being analyzed using qualitative research techniques to answer the following research questions. (1)What factors influence faculty to sustain an established CURE once implemented? (2)What motivates the decision to sustain the CURE? (3)What support resources does the instructor anticipate will be needed to do so? (4)What support resources were actually used by the instructor? Preliminary analysis of interviews shows that student outcomes and faculty impact were major motivations for CURE sustainability, as well as the degree to which an established CURE curriculum can be adapted to a particular institution. Instructors are relatively accurate at perceiving what barriers and support needs exist at their institutions and which may affect future sustainability of the CURE

Der internationale Handel mit Agrarprodukten : umweltökonomische Aspekte des Bananenhandels

Zwischen Januar 1995 und Dezember 1996 wurde im Forschungsbereich Umwelt-, Ressourcenökonomik, Logistik des ZEW an einem Forschungsprojekt über den internationalen Agrarhandel gearbeitet. Im Mittelpunkt der Arbeit standen die Zusammenhänge zwischen Handel und Entwicklung und deren Rolle innerhalb von Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien

Detection of Medium-Sized Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons via Fluorescence Energy Transfer

Reported herein is the use of proximity-induced non-covalent energy transfer for the detection of medium-sized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This energy transfer occurs within the cavity of γ-cyclodextrin in various aqueous environments, including human plasma and coconut water. Highly efficient energy transfer was observed, and the efficiency of the energy transfer is independent of the concentration of γ-cyclodextrin used, demonstrating the importance of hydrophobic binding in facilitating such energy transfer. Low limits of detection were also observed for many of the PAHs investigated, which is promising for the development of fluorescence-based detection schemes