Testing Alternative Models To Estimate Population Size

Estimating population occurs in many fields of study and professions. In order to accurately receive the closest estimate, it is important to know what model is the most accurate to use. After using the removal sampling method to test population size of the red flour beetle, we thought that a simple model can be used to estimate the population of beetles in a jar and that the best model would be the Moran-Zippin Model. “The principle of removal sampling is based upon the fact that a known number of animals are removed from a habitat with each sample, thus affecting subsequent catches” (Ballard). After conducting this research, we discovered that the Modified Moran-Zippin Model gave the most accurate estimate and had the lowest error rate compared to the regression and normal Moran-Zippin model. The results are important because the chosen model can be used to estimate population sizes for endangered animals and pest control

Hypoxic Stress in Athletes With Sickle Cell Trait

The purpose of this study was to examine various changes of blood measures in select athletes with sickle cell trait due (SCT) to exercise at different simulated altitudes (n=2). Previous studies have determined that athletes with sickle cell trait have complications in diminished oxygen environments, along with the potential for a lower oxygen carrying capacity with exertion. The study used a Hypoxico Altitude Training System in order to alter the oxygenated environment, and the subjects were evaluated at 2,470, 5,000 and 8,370 feet elevations. Arterial oxygen saturations were measured with pulse oximetry. The study demonstrated that these athletes with sickle cell trait had arterial oxygen saturation percentages consistent with those of a hypoxic nature throughout an exercise bout

To Disclose or Not to Disclose? Self-Disclosure of Mental Health in the Workplace

When making the decision to disclose a mental illness, individuals may be met with a number of factors that impact disclosure. This study examines the relationship between self-stigma, psychological safety, social support and self-disclosure of mental illness in the workplace. The present study surveyed 756 participants and found a positive relationship between stigma and self-disclosure as well as a positive relationship between social support and self-disclosure. For work outcomes, there was a negative relationship between both job satisfaction and productivity in relation to self-disclosure. This study potentiates the antecedents and consequences of self-disclosure of mental illness and how it impacts employees and the workplace overall

Comparing Sea Otter Prey Consumption to Epibenthic Prey Availability around Mariculture in Various Weather Conditions

To determine if oyster farms influence sea otter foraging, I compared environmental parameters to prey in three oyster farms. I also looked at whether sea otters used oyster farms as opportunistic foraging areas during poor weather conditions and compared the abundance of consumed fouling organisms in farm and non-farm areas

Youth Sport Spectating among Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes to family life and youth sports activities around the globe. In efforts to promote continuity and youth participation in sports, and in lieu of risks for spreading the virus at competitions and games, the youth sport environment adapted to meet emerging health and safety protocols. The cancellation of youth sports and shifts to virtual spectating (i.e., watching children play sports online) were often enacted to protect families, yet little is known about how these changes physically, socially, and psychologically impacted parents and the family system. In response, we conducted a mixed-methods study to explore the lived experiences of parents of youth sport participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. This novel and exploratory research discovered several shifts in the physical environment of youth sport, including challenges with technology and limitations in the number of spectators at youth sporting events. Findings also revealed an array of psychosocial experiences among parents including feelings of grief, frustration, and sadness due to restrictions and sport cancellations, as well as fewer child-parent interactions and a diminished connection to sport in response to virtual spectating. We developed a conceptual model of how shifts in the youth sport environment influenced parent spectators. Our findings have important implications for practice and inform future areas of research regarding youth sports and the family system. Keywords: parent spectators; youth sports; COVID-19 pandemic; family system

Youth Sport Spectating among Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes to family life and youth sports activities around the globe. In efforts to promote continuity and youth participation in sports, and in lieu of risks for spreading the virus at competitions and games, the youth sport environment adapted to meet emerging health and safety protocols. The cancellation of youth sports and shifts to virtual spectating (i.e., watching children play sports online) were often enacted to protect families, yet little is known about how these changes physically, socially, and psychologically impacted parents and the family system. In response, we conducted a mixed-methods study to explore the lived experiences of parents of youth sport participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. This novel and exploratory research discovered several shifts in the physical environment of youth sport, including challenges with technology and limitations in the number of spectators at youth sporting events. Findings also revealed an array of psychosocial experiences among parents including feelings of grief, frustration, and sadness due to restrictions and sport cancellations, as well as fewer child-parent interactions and a diminished connection to sport in response to virtual spectating. We developed a conceptual model of how shifts in the youth sport environment influenced parent spectators. Our findings have important implications for practice and inform future areas of research regarding youth sports and the family system. Keywords: parent spectators; youth sports; COVID-19 pandemic; family system

Evaluation of the provision of crossmatch compatible platelets for haematology patients who have acquired non-immune refractoriness

Platelet demand is unpredictable and will relate to case mix, programmes of treatment requiring intensive platelet support and health service activity. Other relevant factors include the impact of clinical practice guidelines which have the potential when implemented to reduce the increase in demand or supress the clinical application of platelet component transfusion (Morris, K. 2018). Although platelet transfusions are vital to the ongoing management of patients with haematological malignancies, many patients become refractory to platelet transfusion. Refractoriness is defined as having a poor response (immediate or 24-hour increment post platelet transfusion of <10 x 109/L) to random donor platelets on two or more occasions. Refractoriness can be due to either immune or non-immune mechanisms. Most platelet refractory cases are thought to be non-immune with the minority due to anti-platelet antibodies and thus immune. This project was performed to see if platelet increments could be improved by providing crossmatch compatible platelets for haematology patients with non-immune platelet refractoriness in addition, to provide more information on the possible effect of complement on platelet activation and destruction. P-selectin and complement markers C1q, C3 and C3dg were compared in patient’s pre and post transfusion and in apheresis and whole blood derived platelet donations to identify any association with poor platelet increments. The results showed that the provision of crossmatch compatible platelets did not improve platelet increments. Comparison of the two platelet manufacture methods showed that apheresis platelets had higher levels of P-selectin and complement components C1q and C3 on them. However, this did not account for the poor increments or incompatible crossmatches

Fostering Agentic Engagement: Working toward Empowerment and Equity through Pedagogical Partnership

An established body of research details the faculty role in promoting student engagement. Newer scholarship on agentic engagement foregrounds student-initiated engagement in classroom learning. Our SoTL project explored how participating in student-faculty pedagogical partnerships supported two undergraduate students in expanding agentic engagement to encompass student empowerment and equity both within and beyond the classroom. We draw on the students’ autoethnographic accounts of three interrelated experiences: (1) joining a pedagogical partnership program as pedagogical consultants and developing confidence in, capacity for, and commitment to supporting student and faculty learning; (2) carrying that confidence, capacity, and commitment into the courses in which those students were enrolled to enact agentic engagement in their own and in support of others’ learning; and (3) expanding the agentic engagement they developed in the first two instances beyond classroom learning. This study has implications for classroom instruction, faculty professional development, and student advising and retention

Prospectus, August 26, 2009

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2009/1020/thumbnail.jp

MyD88 in lung resident cells governs airway inflammatory and pulmonary function responses to organic dust treatment.

Inhalation of organic dusts within agriculture environments contributes to the development and/or severity of airway diseases, including asthma and chronic bronchitis. MyD88 KO (knockout) mice are nearly completely protected against the inflammatory and bronchoconstriction effects induced by acute organic dust extract (ODE) treatments. However, the contribution of MyD88 in lung epithelial cell responses remains unclear. In the present study, we first addressed whether ODE-induced changes in epithelial cell responses were MyD88-dependent by quantitating ciliary beat frequency and cell migration following wounding by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. We demonstrate that the normative ciliary beat slowing response to ODE is delayed in MyD88 KO tracheal epithelial cells as compared to wild type (WT) control. Similarly, the normative ODE-induced slowing of cell migration in response to wound repair was aberrant in MyD88 KO cells. Next, we created MyD88 bone marrow chimera mice to investigate the relative contribution of MyD88-dependent signaling in lung resident (predominately epithelial cells) versus hematopoietic cells. Importantly, we demonstrate that ODE-induced airway hyperresponsiveness is MyD88-dependent in lung resident cells, whereas MyD88 action in hematopoietic cells is mainly responsible for ODE-induced TNF-α release. MyD88 signaling in lung resident and hematopoietic cells are necessary for ODE-induced IL-6 and neutrophil chemoattractant (CXCL1 and CXCL2) release and neutrophil influx. Collectively, these findings underscore an important role for MyD88 in lung resident cells for regulating ciliary motility, wound repair and inflammatory responses to ODE, and moreover, show that airway hyperresponsiveness appears uncoupled from airway inflammatory consequences to organic dust challenge in terms of MyD88 involvement