Measurement of nitric oxide metabolites and protein nitration in healthy and inflammatory human tissues and bio-fluids

The central thesis of this project is that damage caused by reactive nitrogen species, e.g. 3-nitrotyrosine (Tyr-NO2), constitutes a marker of disease progression/severity. A new sensitive electrochemiluminescence ELISA was optimised and validated for Tyr-NO2 measurement, giving a lower limit of quantification of 0.04 nM BSA-NO2, intra- and inter-assay CVs of 6.5% and 11.3%, an average recovery of 106 ± 3% and average linearity 0.998 ± 0.001. Nitrative stress, carbonyl stress and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured before and after major elective surgery. CRP measurements confirmed the induction of an inflammatory response. Median serum Tyr-NO2 levels increased post-surgery to a median (inter-quartile range) value of 0.97 (0 – 1.7) fmol nitrated BSA (BSA-NO2) equivalents/mg protein compared with a pre-surgery level of 0.59 (0 – 1.3) fmol BSA-NO2 equivalents/mg protein (p<0.05). Oxidative damage was confirmed by serum protein carbonyl levels (p<0.05). In a second pre-/post- surgery study, patients who developed sepsis postoperatively had significantly higher serum Tyr-NO2 levels one day prior to diagnosis (median (IQR) 4.5 (1.65 – 8.21) fmol BSA-NO2 equivalents/mg protein) compared to patients without sepsis (1.2 (0.74 – 5.97) fmol BSA-NO2 equivalents/mg protein; p<0.05). Tyr-NO2 levels have not previously been measured before clinical diagnosis. However, Tyr-NO2 did not improve upon CRP as a diagnostic marker (area under the curve: Tyr-NO2 0.69 versus CRP 0.88). Nitrate (NO3¯) supplementation in healthy smokers was also studied. Plasma Tyr-NO2 levels were unaltered by supplementation or smoking status. Salivary nitration was unaffected by smoking and decreased with NO3¯ supplementation: the median (IQR) pre-supplementation was 0.67 (0.31-1.14) and post-supplementation was 0.43 (0.12-0.61) pmol BSA-NO2 equivalents/mg protein. Ozone-based chemiluminescence was utilised for nitrite (NO2¯) and NO3¯ measurement as indicators of ˙NO production. Plasma and salivary NO2¯ and NO3¯ concentrations increased significantly with NO3¯ supplementation (p<0.05). In contrast to published studies, brain frontal lobe Tyr-NO2 levels were not higher in dementia: the median (IQR) levels in dementia were 0.29 (0.19-0.57) and in non-dementia controls were 0.3 (0.22-0.55) pmol BSA-NO2 equivalents/mg protein. However, the median brain tissue NO2¯ concentration was significantly higher in the Alzheimer’s disease group (p<0.05). Western blotting revealed that nitration was predominantly in a few select proteins, with TOF-MS/MS analysis suggesting haemoglobin is one of these proteins. Measurement of nitrative stress using ozone-based chemiluminescence and an electrochemiluminescence-based-ELISA overcomes earlier methodological flaws, such as low sensitivity. Detection of total Tyr-NO2 in different inflammatory states indicates that its measurement could have potential as a marker of disease, but measurement of nitration in specific proteins may be more informative than total Tyr-NO2.The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and The University of Exeter Open Innovation Platfor

A Piece of Me:Annierose Seifert and the SLO CowParade

CowParade is an international art movement brought to sunny San Luis Obispo, California during the summer of 2016. CowParade SLO showcased 101 painted fiberglass cows. Each cow has a different sponsor and artist. This event was created to give back to local charities, attract tourism and notoriety to hosting communities, and give local artists the chance to be on a global stage. CowParade is an international event hosted in more than 70 cities around the globe including Paris, France, Perth, Australia, China and Brazil. The event began in 1999 with the first parade being hosted in Chicago, Illinois

Sustainable Flowers, Fall 2019

The Sustainable Flowers Initiative, led by Professor Suzanne Langlois of Arts & Sciences, aimed to shift the supply chain of floral arrangements on campus from depending upon resource-intensive, chemical-heavy international suppliers. Students developed a strategy for working collaboratively with campus event organizers, local floral suppliers, and WU Grounds & Maintenance to make floral arrangements more sustainable

Demographics of Etmopterus lucifer (Lucifer dogfish)

This study provides the first comprehensive description of the demographics of lucifer dogfish (Etmopterus lucifer) from the Chatham Rise, New Zealand during January 2012. Lucifer dogfish is a non-QMS species commonly taken as bycatch in New Zealand deepwater trawl fisheries, where it has low commercial value and is usually discarded. Sexual maturity of females was determined by assessing the condition of the ovary and uterus, and the width of the uterus and oviducal gland. Male maturity was assessed by determining clasper and testes condition, inner clasper length, testes length, and testes weight. A sample of lucifer dogfish was aged by counting growth bands on the internal section of the dorsal fin spine (n = 97), assuming annual deposition of bands. Intra- and inter-reader bias in age estimates was estimated, but count precision was high within (CV = 12.71 %) and between reader age estimates (11.98 %). A number of growth models were fitted to the length-at-age data, including the traditional and modified Von Bertalanffy growth formula (VBGF) and four cases of the Schnute growth model. Selection of the best growth model was based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The fourth case of the Schnute growth model best represented growth. Lucifer dogfish had an estimated age and length at maturity of 10.4 years and 34.0 cm respectively for males, and 13.0 years and 41.0 cm for females. The oldest observed fish were 17 and 14 years for males and females respectively. The total mortality estimates were in the range of 0.14 to 0.35 yr ⁻¹. Lucifer dogfish fed primarily upon mesopelagic fishes, with Hector’s lanternfish (Lampanyctodes hectoris) identified as being the most common prey. Lucifer dogfish had late maturity relative to its longevity. Although sampling of the population was likely to be incomplete, and biases in age estimates may have occurred, these observed life history characteristics indicate that productivity will be low, and as a consequence, the precautionary approach should be applied, as the potential impact of commercial fishing on this species is high

Anti-Asian Bullying and Harassment: Symptoms of racism in K-12 schools during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges for K-12 students. However, these challenges have not been experienced equally across student groups. There has been a significant increase in mainstream media coverage of anti-Asian racism, but very little attention has been given to Asian American youth, who are not immune from incidents of bullying and harassment in our K-12 schools. This brief discusses how Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)1 students face unique challenges associated with bullying and harassment because of their racial and ethnic identity. We examine the historical context of bullying and harassment of Asian Americans and how that persists as anti-Asian racism today. Finally, we propose policy solutions to create a more positive learning environment and address racist attitudes towards this specific community. Notably, we propose that K-12 leaders disaggregate data by ethnic subgroup, collect more comprehensive data on school bullying, harassment, and victimization disaggregated by AAPI ethnic subgroups, and invest in culturally sustaining mental health resources and curriculum

A Racial Reckoning: Anti-Asian racism and exclusion in higher education

The Atlanta massacre on March 16, 2021, spurred a series of solidarity statements with the broader Asian and Asian American1 community from higher education institutions across the nation. While many colleges and universities have expressed their grief and support with the larger Asian and Asian American community, the same institutions have yet to reflect and reckon with their own history of exclusion, which has omitted Asian and Asian American students from larger conversations of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The purposes of this brief are to name the forms of anti-Asian racism that already exist in higher education institutions and to propose a series of recommendations to address the foreseeable forms of overt and covert anti-Asian violence that may occur when students return to campuses in fall 2021 and beyond. We recommend that institutions of higher education: create effectual task forces to think strategically about racism and xenophobia towards Asian and Asian American students; increase funding for ethnic studies, specifically, Asian American Studies Departments, Programs, and Centers; and collect and report disaggregated data on diverse subgroups of Asian and Asian American students

AGIR EDUCACIONAL DO TUTOR DA EAD

Tutors&acute; role in Distance Education is investigated by analyzing and identifying representations built on their work and expressed in their discourses in half-structured interviews (BULEA, 2010). The theoretical and methodological framework is based on Social-Discursive Interactionism (SDI) within its most didactic pathway (BRONCKART, 2003; 2005), Social Interactionism (SI) (BAKHTIN, 1993; 2003). Current paper comprises (a) a synthesis of theoretical and methodological guidelines on the theoretical framework of SDI and on the procedures of human action represented in texts for the construction of a broader perception on tutors&acute; educational work; (b) theoretical guidelines for a research interview to foreground the better use of such a tool; (c) tutors&acute; discourse. Data produced in a public university in the state of Paran&aacute;, Brazil, are given in the Methodology section. They comprise half-structured interviews with tutors of the Language &amp; Literature Distance Education course. Results of tutors&acute; deposition evidence the relevance of the tutor in distance education modality in Brazil. &nbsp;Neste  artigo, objetivamos contribuir para uma reflexão acerca do papel do tutor da Educação a Distância (EaD) no exercício de sua função mediante a análise e a identificação das representações construídas sobre o seu trabalho em seus próprios discursos, gerados mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas (BULEA, 2010). O quadro teórico-metodológico tem por base o Interacionismo Sociodiscursivo (ISD) em sua vertente mais didática (BRONCKART, 2003; 2005; DOLZ, NOVERRAZ e SCHENEUWLY, 2004; SCHNEUWLY, 2000; 2001; 2004; 2005) e o Interacionismo Social (IS) (BAKHTIN, 1980; 1993; 2003). Neste trabalho, apresento: (a) uma síntese dos aportes teórico-metodológicos, em que discorro acerca do quadro teórico do ISD e dos procedimentos de análise do agir humano representado em textos, b) aportes teóricos da entrevista de pesquisa para melhor fundamentar o uso desse instrumento; c) os discursos dos tutores. Na metodologia, exponho os dados gerados em uma IES pública do interior paranaense, constituídos por entrevistas semiestruturadas junto aos tutores do curso de Letras a Distância. Os resultados das análises dos depoimentos dos tutores permitiram a constatação da relevância desse profissional na modalidade de ensino a distância em nosso país

The Early Piano Music of Richard Wagner

The purpose of this study is to educate a wider audience about Richard Wagner’s early piano music, specifically the Sonata in B-flat Major, the Fantasia in F-Sharp Minor, and the Grand Sonata in A Major. The study seeks to make these three, largescale piano works more accessible for study, and to draw attention and spark interest in the piano compositions of Richard Wagner. The study consists of six chapters, a bibliography, and two appendices. The first chapter includes an explanation of why this study is needed, a brief biography of Richard Wagner, related literature, methodology, and limitations of the study. Chapter two contains information on the influences and musical language of Richard Wagner. Chapter three consists of a stylistic analysis of the Sonata in B-flat Major. Chapter four consists of a stylistic analysis of the Fantasia in F-sharp Minor. Chapter five consists of a stylistic analysis of the Grand Sonata in A Major. Chapter six consists of a conclusion. Appendix A provides a brief summary of all 13 of Wagner’s piano pieces. Appendix B provides translations of the German text found in the body of the document

(Re)conceptualizing Protests: Activism, Resistance, and AANAPISIs

Though protests on college campuses have captured public attention, far less consideration has been paid to Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). The Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) population has historically served on the front lines of the Asian American Movement during the Civil Rights Movement influencing the educational experiences of APIA students. While literature documents student activism from APIA students, they are portrayed as an apolitical group. The purpose of this article is to (re)conceptualize the term protest to capture the historical and contemporary forms of activism by researchers, policy makers, community organizers, and students throughout a decade that pushed a legislation forward to create the federal designation for AANAPISIs. We argue that the term protest is limiting in research. Instead, the term activism should be used in order to encapsulate the ways APIAs have been engaged socially and politically. Additionally, there exists a gap in educational literature discussing how the spatial politics of domination and resistance manifests in representational spaces—in this case institutional structures like AANAPISIs. Influenced by spatial politics and spatial theory we put forth a conceptual argument that the representational existence of AANAPISIs is a site of resistance that needs to be better understood, especially in the era of Trump where anti-immigration and racist rhetoric is ever-present, because of the ways APIAs continue to be racialized and (re)positioned in United States racial discourse and research