A Freirean Service Learning Model

My specific teaching practice consists of a Freirean Service Learning Model I successfully developed and implemented in WMST 488: Bodies, Sex, and Health in Fall, 2018. Inspired by the pioneering model of Our Bodies, Ourselves, I first created and taught the course in 2008 to empower students to become advocates for their own health and that of loved ones. Over time, the curricular approach shifted from an individual to an institutional one that focused on health care policy and activism at the local, national and global levels. Given the evolution of my discipline, I also redesigned the curriculum to reflect an intersectional approach to all bodies on the sex/gender continuum. In 2018, I received a COLA service learning grant to create an integrated service learning course for the Nevada Minority Health and Equity Coalition (NMHEC; URL: http://nmhec.org), our service learning community partner in Fall, 2018.https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/btp_expo/1110/thumbnail.jp

Drosophila Cappuccino alleles provide insight into formin mechanism and role in oogenesis.

During Drosophila development, the formin actin nucleator Cappuccino (Capu) helps build a cytoplasmic actin mesh throughout the oocyte. Loss of Capu leads to female sterility, presumably because polarity determinants fail to localize properly in the absence of the mesh. To gain deeper insight into how Capu builds this actin mesh, we systematically characterized seven capu alleles, which have missense mutations in Capu's formin homology 2 (FH2) domain. We report that all seven alleles have deleterious effects on fly fertility and the actin mesh in vivo but have strikingly different effects on Capu's biochemical activity in vitro. Using a combination of bulk and single- filament actin-assembly assays, we find that the alleles differentially affect Capu's ability to nucleate and processively elongate actin filaments. We also identify a unique "loop" in the lasso region of Capu's FH2 domain. Removing this loop enhances Capu's nucleation, elongation, and F-actin-bundling activities in vitro. Together our results on the loop and the seven missense mutations provides mechanistic insight into formin function in general and Capu's role in the Drosophila oocyte in particular

Paired and altruistic kidney donation in the UK: algorithms and experimentation

We study the computational problem of identifying optimal sets of kidney exchanges in the UK. We show how to expand an integer programming-based formulation [1, 19] in order to model the criteria that constitute the UK definition of optimality. The software arising from this work has been used by the National Health Service Blood and Transplant to find optimal sets of kidney exchanges for their National Living Donor Kidney Sharing Schemes since July 2008.We report on the characteristics of the solutions that have been obtained in matching runs of the scheme since this time. We then present empirical results arising from the real datasets that stem from these matching runs, with the aim of establishing the extent to which the particular optimality criteria that are present in the UK influence the structure of the solutions that are ultimately computed. A key observation is that allowing 4-way exchanges would be likely to lead to a significant number of additional transplants

Improving Management of Mineral Bone Disease in Dialysis Patients with End Stage Renal Disease

Dialysis patients suffer from a far greater mortality rate than the general population, making health promotion and management essential to prevent hospitalizations and complications. Mineral bone disease (MBD) remains a major complication for many of these patients. Maintaining strict dietary goals is necessary in preventing this complication, as well as decreasing morbidity and mortality for those on dialysis. This project aimed to provide education related to mineral bone disease and dietary guidelines that aid in prevention, to increase patient knowledge and allow them to make better dietary choices. All patients were provided with in person education, given a booklet containing the information and dietary choices, and given a pocket guide with better food options and foods to limit. Participants in the study were requested to complete a 6-question questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale to assess their choices and knowledge regarding foods that aid in prevention of MBD both before and after the education. There was statistically significant increase in the patient reported knowledge of mineral bone disease and a decrease in patient reported attempts to eat healthy using a 2-sample t-test. The staff at the clinics were happy with the education packets and planned to continue using the resources provided

I Used To Call Her Baby

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/5292/thumbnail.jp

Inadequacy of the concentrates commonly used in swine feeding

Publication authorized September 18, 1940.Includes bibliographical references (page 20)

Supplementary values of various feedstuffs in brood sow rations

Publication authorized September 19, 1941.Includes bibliographical references (pages 34-35)

The Administrative Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Nevada School Districts: A Pooled Time Series Analysis, 1996-2004

Objective: To examine the administrative prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in all seventeen school districts in Nevada during the period of 1996 to 2004. Methods: Normalized administrative prevalence rates (per 1,000 children ages 6-17) for ASD, Mental Retardation (MR), Learning Disability (LD), and Speech and Language Impairment (SLI) were calculated. Covariates for board certified pediatricians per 1,000 students, Federal special education funding per student, and other measures of school resources were employed. Models were estimated with pooled Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression with panel corrected standard errors. A separate analysis compared pooled OLS results to results from Latent Growth Curve models (LCGM) Results: The average administrative prevalence of ASD in Nevada school districts increased from .56 per 1,000 in 1996 to 2.37 per 1,000 in 2004. The upward trajectory of ASD prevalence during the time series was not associated with declines in MR, LD or SLI prevalence. Federal funds distributed partly for detection of disabilities was associated with ASD prevalence (