The ARC: Preparing to Board

Learn how Georgia Southern is preparing collections for an automated retrieval system as part of an expansion / renovation project

Short-Term Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Dysphoria and Quality of Life in Transgender Individuals: A Prospective Controlled Study

Background: Gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), whilst considered the standard of care in clinical guidelines for the treatment of many transgender (trans) people is supported by low quality evidence. In this prospective longitudinal controlled study, we aimed to examine the effect of newly commencing GAHT on gender dysphoria and quality of life (QoL) over a 6 month period. Methods: Adult trans (including those with binary and/or non-binary identities) people newly commencing standard full-doses of masculinising (n = 42; 35 = trans masculine, 7 = non-binary) or feminising (n = 35; 33 = trans feminine, 2 = non-binary) GAHT and cisgender participants (n=53 male, n=50 female) were recruited to participate in this longitudinal prospective study. This analysis of gender dysphoria measured by the Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire and QoL measured by the RAND Short-Form 36 Health survey at baseline, 3 and 6 months after commencement of GAHT was a prespecified secondary outcome. Dysphoria and QoL over time in those starting GAHT compared to cisgender comparison group matched for their presumed sex at birth is reported as the mean difference (95% confidence interval) adjusted for age. Results: In trans people initiating masculinising GAHT, there was a decrease in gender dysphoria with adjusted mean difference -6.80 (-8.68, -4.91), p < 0.001, and a clinically significant improvement in emotional well-being [adjusted mean difference 7.48 (1.32, 13.64), p = 0.018] and social functioning [adjusted mean difference 12.50 (2.84, 22.15), p = 0.011] aspects of QoL over the first 6 months of treatment relative to the cisgender female comparison group. No significant differences were observed in other QoL domains. In trans people initiating feminising GAHT, there was a decrease in gender dysphoria [adjusted mean difference -4.22 (-6.21, -2.24), p < 0.001] but no differences in any aspects of QoL were observed. Conclusions: In the short-term, our findings support the benefit of initiating masculinising or feminising GAHT for gender dysphoria. Masculinising GAHT improves emotional wellbeing and social functioning within 6 months of treatment. Multidisciplinary input with speech pathology and surgery to support trans people seeking feminisation is likely needed. Further longitudinal studies controlled for other confounders (such as the presence of social supports) contributing to QoL are needed.Lucas Foster Skewis, Ingrid Bretherton, Shalem Y. Leemaqz, Jeffrey D. Zajac, and Ada S. Cheun

Quantifying Lipid Contents in Enveloped Virus Particles with Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Phosphatidylserine (PS) and monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1) are examples of two host-derived lipids in the membrane of enveloped virus particles that are known to contribute to virus attachment, uptake, and ultimately dissemination. A quantitative characterization of their contribution to the functionality of the virus requires information about their relative concentrations in the viral membrane. Here, a gold nanoparticle (NP) binding assay for probing relative PS and GM1 lipid concentrations in the outer leaflet of different HIV-1 and Ebola virus-like particles (VLPs) using sample sizes of less than 3 × 106 particles is introduced. The assay evaluates both scattering intensity and resonance wavelength, and determines relative NP densities through plasmon coupling as a measure for the target lipid concentrations in the NP-labeled VLP membrane. A correlation of the optical observables with absolute lipid contents is achieved by calibration of the plasmon coupling-based methodology with unilamellar liposomes of known PS or GM1 concentration. The performed studies reveal significant differences in the membrane of VLPs that assemble at different intracellular sites and pave the way to an optical quantification of lipid concentration in virus particles at physiological titers.NIH grants RO1CA138509 (B.M.R.), RO1A1064099 (S. G., and 1R56Al104393 (B.M.R. and S. G.; Ethan Edmonds support (CHE 1156666

Compact NMR relaxometry of human blood and blood components

Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry is a uniquely practical and versatile implementation of NMR technology. Because it does not depend on chemical shift resolution, it can be performed using low- field compact instruments deployed in atypical settings. Early relaxometry studies of human blood were focused on developing a diagnostic test for cancer. Those efforts were misplaced, as the measurements were not specific to cancer. However, important lessons were learned about the factors that drive the water longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation times. One key factor is the overall distribution of proteins and lipoproteins. Plasma water T2 can detect shifts in the blood proteome resulting from in- flammation, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. In whole blood, T2 is sensitive to hemoglobin content and oxygenation, although the latter can be suppressed by manipulating the static and applied magnet- ic fields. Current applications of compact NMR relaxometry include blood tests for candidiasis, hemostasis, malaria and insulin resistance

Water in the Diet of the Great Basin Pocket Mouse

The Great Basin pocket mouse (Perognathus parvus) is an inhabitant of arid regions that can obtain all its water needs from food sources (mainly seeds) instead of from drinking water. I tested the hypothesis that the Great Basin pocket mouse prefers seeds with higher water content. I compared preferences of a captive pocket mouse for different seed types with varying water content as well as dried seeds versus pre-moistened seeds. Six different dried seed types were tested in two groups of similar sized seeds: Millet, Milo, Flax (Group 1, small seeds); and Sunflower, Wheat, and Cracked Corn (Group 2, large seeds). Each group was offered to the pocket mouse twice a day for two weeks. Among the smaller dry seeds, the pocket mouse preferred millet over milo, and did not select any flaxseed. Among the larger seeds, the pocket mouse preferred wheat, which was the seed type with the highest water content. In a second experiment, a control (dry) seed mixture (equal parts of all six seed types) and an experimentally moistened group (same seed mixture) were offered to the pocket mouse. The pocket mouse preferred dried seeds over pre-moistened seeds. These results suggest that the pocket mouse prefers dried seeds over rehydrated seeds. The dry seeds preferred by the mouse had 8 to 12 percent water (by weight), and may have provided some water through metabolic breakdown of lipids

Plasmon coupling based single-molecule biosensors

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityPLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you.The understanding of many important biological systems requires tools that allow for dynamic nanoscale distance monitoring and single-molecule resolution. Proteins binding to nucleic acids and cell surface receptor oligomerization are examples of biopolymer interactions that occur at length scales below the diffraction limit of -are not very bright. Therefore, the development of alternative tools with improved spacial and temporal resolution for the application to single molecule biology studies is highly desirable. One such tool is based on the plasmon coupling of discrete pairs of noble metal nanoparticles (plasmon rulers). The signal from plasmon rulers is based on scattering, so they are photophysically stable and are significantly brighter than fluorescent dye molecules. The plasmons of nearby nanoparticles couple in a distance dependant manner. As particles approach each other within one diameter's length, their scattering signal increases and the wavelength of the scattered light red-shifts exponentially with decreasing interparticle distance. As a first application to RNA, plasmon rulers were applied to study the modulation of RNA-enzyme interactions by spermidine, a polycation. This study showed that spermidine induces the transient stabilization of secondary structures within RNA, as evidenced by discrete subpopulations of cleavage times in the presence of the single-strand specific enzyme, RNase A. The optical response of RNA tethered plasmon rulers results in polarization of the scattered light along the long dimer axis. Analysis of changes in polarization in both the time and frequency scale allowed for the characterization of dimer motion (implying states of the RNA tether). Plasmon rulers are also attractive tools for applying to the study of receptor clustering on the surface of live cells. To enable these studies a novel method for the preparation of stable, antibody functionalized silver nanoparticles based on gel matrix confinement was developed.2031-01-0

A Comparison of Imagery Relaxation and an Educational Treatment Modality for Dysmenorrhea

This study is a comparison of four treatments involving education and imagery relaxation for the amelioration of dysmenorrhea. Treatment was presented to 76 subjects by videotape during a one-hour session. A six month follow-up was performed using one of the original instruments, the Symptom Severity Scale (Cox & Meyer, 1978) and a questionnaire designed for the study. Analysis of the test instruments indicated a significant treatment effect for the educational group. The second most effective treatment was a combined treatment utilizing imagery relaxation and education, although this group did not produce significant results. The no-treatment control group was more effective in diminishing symptoms than the fourth group, imagery relaxation alone. The lack of effectiveness of the imagery relaxation treatment was hypothesized to be due to lack of reinforcement of the technique. The educational treatment modality offered the individual an opportunity to learn about many different etiological facets of dysmenorrhea, including biological, learning, and cognitive factors. The presentation also introduced the individual to several different treatment modalities in order to provide an armamentarium of effective methods for diminishing or eliminating dysmenorrhea. These results suggest that there is a need for education about dysmenorrhea before menarche, in order to prepare, prevent, treat, and cope with this syndrome