Missing in Action: Job-Driven Educational Pathways for Unauthorized Youth and Adults

Policymakers in Washington, DC, and in the states have put forward proposals to make it easier for immigrants to fully contribute to the economy. Most federal immigration policy proposals -- whether administrative or congressional -- require immigrant applicants to attain credentials, thus facilitating their full economic integration. These educational requirements -- if supported by adequate policy infrastructure and investments -- increase the likelihood of positive economic outcomes for individual immigrants and our economy as a whole. It is well-documented that higher levels of education are associated with higher earnings and economic productivity. But some of these credential requirements have not lined up with what the labor market actually demands, and to date, no policy has included the investments or infrastructure needed to support job-driven educational pathways for unauthorized youth and adults. Reflecting on the DREAM Act, DAPA, and DACA today creates an opportunity to ensure that the current lack of access to job-driven educational pathways does not become a barrier to citizenship in the future when comprehensive immigration reform comes to pass

COPOLYMER HYDROGELS AS FULLY IMPLANTABLE OPTICAL BIOSENSORS: INVESTIGATING DESIGN PARADIGMS TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM PRECLINICAL FUNCTION

Many diagnostic tests for disease management and overall health monitoring provide only an instantaneous measurement of the patient’s state of health, leaving intermediate fluctuations in biochemistry levels undisclosed. Often, fluid samples are collected periodically and analyzed using ex vivo assays. Diabetes is a prime example of this enigma where knowledge of blood biochemistry fluctuation patterns in real time could allow patients to make more informed treatment and lifestyle decisions. In recent years, hydrogels have been investigated as fully implantable biosensors by functionalizing them with enzymes and long-lifetime phosphors. However, maintaining a proper balance between enzyme stability and substrate transport when implanted has prevented preclinical proof of concept using this enzyme/phosphor sensing platform. This work explores the effect of matrix chemistry on enzyme stability and substrate transport and demonstrates the first noninvasive glucose tracking in porcine models by measuring luminescence lifetime instead of intensity. The first aim of this work focuses on poly(HEMA-co-AAm) matrices, characterizing them as glucose sensors in vitro and in vivo. A copolymer hydrogel containing 75:25 HEMA:AAm responded to up to 167 mg/dL of glucose in vitro and tracked real-time porcine blood glucose levels two hours after implantation, the first-reported real-time glucose tracking measuring phosphorescence lifetime using a noninvasive interrogation method. The second aim of this work employs alternative monomers such as dimethylacrylamide, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, and a 3- [Tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate to investigate enzyme stability and optimize substrate transport. These studies revealed that gels containing dimethylacrylamide and N-vinyl pyrrolidone provide the most enzyme stability, preserving between 60 and 93% of the original apparent activity after one week of incubation, but matrix inhomogeneities from adding silicone monomers can decrease sensor dynamic range by 56%. Finally, hybrid inorganic-organic interpenetrating network hydrogels were developed to prevent silicone phase separation in the hydrogels. These materials increased oxygen transport by up to 256% in vitro compared to pHEMA-based oxygen sensors and responded to modulated inspired oxygen in porcine models over 72 days. Hybrid sensors made with tissue-integrating inverted colloidal crystal architectures revealed minimal fibrosis in vivo with loosely woven collagen surrounding the implants, demonstrating promise for these hybrid materials as long-term implantable biosensors

Recommendations for Incorporating Postsecondary and Workforce Data into Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems

Outlines the need for data systems to assess educational transitions, completions, and labor market outcomes of adult students and workers in postsecondary, adult education, and skill development programs in order to strengthen policies and programs

COPOLYMER HYDROGELS AS FULLY IMPLANTABLE OPTICAL BIOSENSORS: INVESTIGATING DESIGN PARADIGMS TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM PRECLINICAL FUNCTION

Many diagnostic tests for disease management and overall health monitoring provide only an instantaneous measurement of the patient’s state of health, leaving intermediate fluctuations in biochemistry levels undisclosed. Often, fluid samples are collected periodically and analyzed using ex vivo assays. Diabetes is a prime example of this enigma where knowledge of blood biochemistry fluctuation patterns in real time could allow patients to make more informed treatment and lifestyle decisions. In recent years, hydrogels have been investigated as fully implantable biosensors by functionalizing them with enzymes and long-lifetime phosphors. However, maintaining a proper balance between enzyme stability and substrate transport when implanted has prevented preclinical proof of concept using this enzyme/phosphor sensing platform. This work explores the effect of matrix chemistry on enzyme stability and substrate transport and demonstrates the first noninvasive glucose tracking in porcine models by measuring luminescence lifetime instead of intensity. The first aim of this work focuses on poly(HEMA-co-AAm) matrices, characterizing them as glucose sensors in vitro and in vivo. A copolymer hydrogel containing 75:25 HEMA:AAm responded to up to 167 mg/dL of glucose in vitro and tracked real-time porcine blood glucose levels two hours after implantation, the first-reported real-time glucose tracking measuring phosphorescence lifetime using a noninvasive interrogation method. The second aim of this work employs alternative monomers such as dimethylacrylamide, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, and a 3- [Tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate to investigate enzyme stability and optimize substrate transport. These studies revealed that gels containing dimethylacrylamide and N-vinyl pyrrolidone provide the most enzyme stability, preserving between 60 and 93% of the original apparent activity after one week of incubation, but matrix inhomogeneities from adding silicone monomers can decrease sensor dynamic range by 56%. Finally, hybrid inorganic-organic interpenetrating network hydrogels were developed to prevent silicone phase separation in the hydrogels. These materials increased oxygen transport by up to 256% in vitro compared to pHEMA-based oxygen sensors and responded to modulated inspired oxygen in porcine models over 72 days. Hybrid sensors made with tissue-integrating inverted colloidal crystal architectures revealed minimal fibrosis in vivo with loosely woven collagen surrounding the implants, demonstrating promise for these hybrid materials as long-term implantable biosensors

Perspective on Freedom

What is Freedom? The answer to this question depends on who you ask. People\u27s perspectives on freedom depend on one\u27s experiences, culture, and environment. Along with differences in perspectives of liberty between locations, there are differing understandings within the continents studied. Some comparisons drawn explore the effect of occupation, class, gender, and color on one\u27s freedom. Explore what freedom means to those individuals in the interactive map we created using Prezi. Travel the world and see how your idea about freedom differs from those of different experiences, culture, and environment.https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/freedom-movement-fall-2017/1002/thumbnail.jp

Making the Pieces Fit: A Plan for Ensuring a Prosperous Illinois

The prosperity of Illinois' families, communities and economy are inextricably linked. When families prosper, Illinois' tax base expands, public dependence declines, and local communities are stable and thrive. Illinois has a history of prosperity and a high standard of living. But we are facing challenges. Many working adults are not able to access jobs with family-supporting wages because they lack the education and skills training needed to advance. At the same time, many employers are finding it increasingly difficult to find the skilled employees they need. Both trends have a direct and negative impact on our economy and our communities. As we try to address these challenges as a state, we do so with extremely limited resources. More than ever, we must invest wisely, in ways that will yield the greatest returns. This requires a thorough analysis of how we distribute our resources, the policies that affect how they are used, and the outcomes for Illinois. To this end, the Women Employed Institute and the Chicago Jobs Council offer this report, which assesses how Illinois' workforce and economic development policies serve the needs of our families and the state as a whole. In this analysis we highlight Illinois' strengths as well as opportunities to better leverage our workforce and economic development dollars

Characterization of Lactate Sensors Based on Lactate Oxidase and Palladium Benzoporphyrin Immobilized in Hydrogels

An optical biosensor for lactate detection is described. By encapsulating enzyme-phosphor sensing molecules within permeable hydrogel materials, lactate-sensitive emission lifetimes were achieved. The relative amount of monomer was varied to compare three homo- and co-polymer materials: poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) and two copolymers of pHEMA and poly(acrylamide) (pAam). Diffusion analysis demonstrated the ability to control lactate transport by varying the hydrogel composition, while having a minimal effect on oxygen diffusion. Sensors displayed the desired dose-variable response to lactate challenges, highlighting the tunable, diffusion-controlled nature of the sensing platform. Short-term repeated exposure tests revealed enhanced stability for sensors comprising hydrogels with acrylamide additives; after an initial “break-in” period, signal retention was 100% for 15 repeated cycles. Finally, because this study describes the modification of a previously developed glucose sensor for lactate analysis, it demonstrates the potential for mix-and-match enzyme-phosphor-hydrogel sensing for use in future multi-analyte sensors

Ergogenic Effects of β-Alanine and Carnosine: Proposed Future Research to Quantify Their Efficacy

β-alanine is an amino acid that, when combined with histidine, forms the dipeptide carnosine within skeletal muscle. Carnosine and β-alanine each have multiple purposes within the human body; this review focuses on their roles as ergogenic aids to exercise performance and suggests how to best quantify the former’s merits as a buffer. Carnosine normally makes a small contribution to a cell’s total buffer capacity; yet β-alanine supplementation raises intracellular carnosine concentrations that in turn improve a muscle’s ability to buffer protons. Numerous studies assessed the impact of oral β-alanine intake on muscle carnosine levels and exercise performance. β-alanine may best act as an ergogenic aid when metabolic acidosis is the primary factor for compromised exercise performance. Blood lactate kinetics, whereby the concentration of the metabolite is measured as it enters and leaves the vasculature over time, affords the best opportunity to assess the merits of β-alanine supplementation’s ergogenic effect. Optimal β-alanine dosages have not been determined for persons of different ages, genders and nutritional/health conditions. Doses as high as 6.4 g day<sup>−1</sup>, for ten weeks have been administered to healthy subjects. Paraesthesia is to date the only side effect from oral β-alanine ingestion. The severity and duration of paraesthesia episodes are dose-dependent. It may be unwise for persons with a history of paraesthesia to ingest β-alanine. As for any supplement, caution should be exercised with β-alanine supplementation

Individual Quality of Life in Chronic Kidney Disease: Influence of Age and Dialysis Modality

Background and objectives: Novel individualized quality-of-life (IQOL) measures permit patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to nominate unique areas of their lives that contribute to their well-being. This study assessed for differences in domains nominated by patients with CKD. We also examined the strength of association between (1) multidimensional health-related quality-of-life measures and IQOL and (2) psychosocial factors and IQOL