The teacher of righteousness in the Dead Sea Scrolls

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/1985/thumbnail.jp

Multi-Disciplinary Capstone Project on Self-Replicating 3-D Printer

This paper explores the dynamics of a multi-semester multi-disciplinary team approach applied within a traditional senior capstone project that involves strong design and manufacturing components. In addition, the logistics of running a successful senior project will be discussed along with the associated problems of organization within a multi-program environment. The key drivers and motivators behind this paper are, most importantly, that multi-disciplinary teams are very common in industry and that our industrial advisory boards for Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) suggested that we do more multi-disciplinary projects. Furthermore, this multi-disciplinary team approach will satisfy the proposed ABET/ETAC outcomes for 2016. The Proposed Revisions to the Program Criteria for Mechanical Engineering Technology and Similarly Named Programs ABET/ETAC outcomes say “The capstone experience, ideally multidisciplinary in nature, must be project based and include formal design, implementation and test processes.” (emphasis added) Faculty searched for a technology that would allow both EET and MET students to contribute equally to the success of the project, and decided upon additive manufacturing. Students have been exposed extensively through formal course material covering 3D printing technology and would be familiar with the operation of 3D printers in general. Therefore, it was reasoned a familiarity with the project goal of designing and constructing a self-replicating 3D printer would give students more confidence in tackling the difficult task of managing an extended project over both the design and manufacture phases, and mastering effective communicate across disciplines. The student team organization mirrors current industry standard operating procedures. First, the team is multidisciplinary, including EET students with programing and circuits skills and MET students with CAD, design, mechanical analysis skills. All students must demonstrate project process skills, utilizing current design for six-sigma procedures. The students learn a standard set of tools to manage the project, as well as synthesize those tools with their discipline specific knowledge. Because of the program curriculum plans, the EET students are involved in the project for two semesters. The MET students have a one semester project course; this enables one group of MET students to design the mechanical system, document their work, and pass it on to a second team for implementation. This was considered a positive based on what is typical in industry, where engineering groups are constantly interfacing. Results include observations of group member dynamics, quality of work, timeliness, budget management, and communication across disciplines. Rubrics to document student achievement of outcomes are used

Healthcare Providers and Parents of Patients in the NICU: What Are the Barriers and Facilitators to Mobile Device Cleaning?

Patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at an increased risk of acquiring a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) due to multiple procedures, invasive lines, co-morbidities, and the care involved with a critically ill patient. A mobile cell phone used by a healthcare worker or parent of a patient can become contaminated and increase the risk of spreading harmful organisms which can cause infection. Pathogen transmission from healthcare worker or visitor to a patient happens when hands or other inanimate objects become contaminated with microorganisms and subsequently come in direct contact with the patient. Many hospitals lack specific guidelines that address mobile devices carried in the hands and pockets of healthcare workers and parents who venture into a NICU room. This study used a mixed-methods approach to understand possible barriers and facilitators to mobile device disinfection for healthcare workers and parents of patients in the NICU. The goal was to identify environmental and behavioral interventions that help healthcare workers and parents of NICU patients increase phone disinfection practices. Lessons learned from this study show that there is a need for a mobile device disinfection program in all hospital NICUs. The plan for change will guide the UNC Health system to implement a safe mobile device disinfection policy and protocol for use in all NICU settings to help prevent HAIs in patients.Doctor of Public Healt

Enhancement of intracellular γ-tocopherol levels in cytokine-stimulated C3H 10T1/2 fibroblasts: relation to NO synthesis, isoprostane formation, and tocopherol oxidation

Stimulation of C3H 10T1/2 murine fibroblasts with interferon-gamma(IFN) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species leading to DNA damage, lipid oxidation, and tocopherol oxidation. The tocopherols possess unique chemical and biological properties that suggest they have important roles related to intracellular defense against radical-mediated damage.Despite increased levels of reactive oxidants and decreased media tocopherol, cellular levels of gamma-tocopherol, but not alpha-tocopherol, were observed to increase significantly when cells were treated with IFN/LPS. Inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by a specific inhibitor of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) increased both intracellular alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol concentrations, but did not significantly alter the reduction in media tocopherol levels caused by IFN/LPS treatment. Both exposure to exogenous NO and cellular synthesis of NO in cell culture increased media levels of 8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha, a marker of oxidative lipid damage, whereas inhibition of endogenous NO synthesis reduced media 8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha formation to control levels.Elevated intracellular levels of gamma-tocopherol in response to the cellular inflammatory state may indicate that it serves a unique role in minimizing cellular damage resulting from endogenous NO synthesis. Results of the current study suggest that NO is an important mediator of damage within the cell, as well as in the oxidation of both alpha- and gamma-tocopherols. The paradoxical increase in cellular tocopherol associated with the induction of NO synthesis may indicate either enhanced cellular transport/decreased export for tocopherols or recruitment of free tocopherol from tocopherol storage molecules

Inflammatory markers in a 2-year soy intervention among premenopausal women

Epidemiologic evidence supports a role of soy foods in breast cancer etiology. Because chronic inflammation appears to be a critical component in carcinogenesis, we examined the potential anti-inflammatory effects of soy foods.The original 2-year dietary intervention randomized 220 premenopausal women of whom 183 women (90 in the intervention group and 93 in the control group) were included in the current investigation; 40% were of Asian ancestry. The intervention group consumed two daily soy servings containing 50 mg of isoflavones (aglycone equivalents), whereas the controls maintained their regular diet. Five serum samples obtained at month 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 were analyzed for interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, and adiponectin by ELISA. For statistical analysis, mixed models were applied to incorporate the repeated measurements.Results:The levels of all analytes were lower in Asian than Caucasian women. Overweight women had significantly higher levels of CRP, IL-6, and leptin and lower levels of adiponectin than normal weight women. We did not observe a significant effect of soy foods on the four markers, but leptin increased in the control and not in the intervention group (p = 0.20 for group-time effect); this difference was significant for Asian (p = 0.01) and obese women (p = 0.005).During this 2-year intervention, soy foods did not modify serum levels of CRP, IL-6, leptin, and adiponectin in premenopausal women although leptin levels remained stable among women in the intervention group who were obese or of Asian ancestry. Further studies with diverse markers of inflammation are necessary to clarify the specific effect of soy on immune responses

Effects of amino acids and glucose on mesangial cell aminopeptidase a and angiotensin receptors

Effects of amino acids and glucose on mesangial cell aminopeptidase a and angiotensin receptors.BackgroundHigh protein diets and diabetes increase renal renin angiotensin system (RAS) activity, which is associated with glomerular injury. Aminopeptidase A (APA) is a cell surface metalloprotease that degrades angiotensin II (AII) in the mesangium. Mesangial cells (MC) also possess receptors for AII; the type 1 (AT1 receptor) promotes proliferation and fibrosis, while the type 2 (AT2 receptor) opposes these effects. We evaluated whether amino acids and glucose alter expression of APA, AT1 receptor and AT2 receptor in a manner that further augments RAS activity.MethodsConfluent rat MC were grown in serum-free media for 48 hours prior to exposing to experimental conditions: control (C), high amino acids (HA, mixed amino acid solution added to raise concentrations 5- to 6-fold over C), high glucose (HG 30, mM glucose). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess mRNA for APA, AT1 receptor, AT2 receptor, and β-actin. Values are expressed relative to βbgr; actin.ResultsBoth HA and HG reduced APA mRNA (HG 1.13 ± 0.19, HA 1.12 ± 0.16 versus C 1.27 ± 0.16 P < 0.05, N = 8). HA increased AT1 receptor mRNA (HA 2.11 ± 0.43 versus C 1.14 ± 0.28 P < 0.05, N = 8). HG increased AT2 receptor mRNA (HG 1.31 ± 0.43 versus C 0.82 ± 0.33 P < 0.05, N = 6).ConclusionsA reduction of APA, in response to high levels of amino acids or glucose, could contribute to increased AII as a result of decreased degradation in MC. The effect of amino acids to increase AT1 receptor expression may further enhance adverse hemodynamic and pro-fibrotic actions of AII. Conversely, glucose increased AT2 receptor expression, which could modulate responses mediated by the AT1 receptor

Leptin, adiponectin, and obesity among Caucasian and Asian women.

Ethnic differences in adipose tissue distribution may contribute to different chronic disease risks across ethnic groups, and adipokines may mediate the risk. In a cross-sectional study, we examined ethnic differences in adipokines and inflammatory markers as related to body mass index (BMI) among 183 premenopausal women with Caucasian and Asian ancestry. General linear models were used to estimate adjusted mean levels of leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Asian women had significantly lower serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, and CRP than Caucasian participants (P≤.01) across all levels of BMI. Among overweight and obese women, Asians showed a stronger association of CRP with leptin (β=1.34 versus β=0.64) and with adiponectin (β=-0.95 versus β=-0.75) than Caucasians. Compared to Caucasians of similar BMI, Asians may experience a higher chronic disease risk due to lower levels of adiponectin despite their lower levels of leptin

Associations between obesity and serum lipid-soluble micronutrients among premenopausal women.

Elucidating potential pathways that micronutrients may reduce/promote chronic disease may contribute to our understanding of the underlying etiology of disease and their utility as markers of risk. In the current study, we examined associations of serum lipid-soluble micronutrients with body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized that obesity may differentially influence serum micronutrient levels, thereby affecting risk for chronic disease incidence and mortality. Baseline serum samples from 180 premenopausal women from a nutritional trial were analyzed for leptin, C-reactive protein, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, carotenoids, and tocopherols. Participants were stratified into normal-weight (18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9), and obese (>or=30) subgroups by BMI (in kilograms per square meter). Differences in serum biomarkers among BMI subgroups were adjusted for Asian ethnicity and smoking status. As expected, obese individuals had significantly higher serum levels of leptin and C-reactive protein (Ps < .05) compared with normal-weight women. gamma-Tocopherol levels were significantly higher in obese individuals (P < .05), whereas alpha-tocopherol levels did not differ among BMI subgroups. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and carotenoids (except lycopene) were significantly lower in obese than in normal-weight women (Ps < .05). The associations between BMI and carotenoids were independent of dietary intake. The obesity-associated reduction for total provitamin A carotenoids (45%) was approximately 3-fold greater than that observed for non-provitamin A carotenoids (16%). Our results indicate potential influences of obesity on serum levels of lipid-soluble micronutrients and suggest that metabolism of provitamin A carotenoids may contribute to the differences observed