Ocular manifestations of chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by a tauopathy in the form of aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau throughout the CNS. Individuals suffering from CTE experience many different symptoms that result in dementia and severe cognitive decline along with a heightened occurrence of suicide. Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions or subconcussive blows, are responsible for the development of CTE. Therefore, individuals who participate in contact sports, such as football and hockey, are at a high risk of developing this disease. Currently, there is no method for detecting CTE during life and the diagnosis can only be made at autopsy. At present nothing is known about the eye pathology of CTE. But if a distinctive profile of ocular abnormalities could be identified, it would raise the possibility that CTE could be diagnosed during life by an eye exam. For this research, ten eyes of individuals suffering from varying stages of CTE were collected, dissected, and observed under a microscope to find pathology associated with CTE. The antibodies of interest are pTDP-43, p62, αβ crystallin, and CP13. Pathology was found in the retina, mostly in the ganglion cell layer, throughout the different stages of CTE with the most severe pathology occurring in the most severe cases. These results can serve as a foundation for continued CTE research in the eye and ultimately result in potential ophthalmological diagnostic tests in individuals suffering from CTE

A Praxis Redefined

“A Praxis Redefined” submitted to the English Department of Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of: Master of Arts in the field of English with a specialization, in English Teaching, exemplifies a portion of the substantial research and analysis that reflects theoretical conversations in reading, visual rhetoric, linguistics, grammar, and composition that most influence my practices as an English scholar and educator. Furthermore, the analytical narrative included in this portfolio shows how participation in a variety of challenging pedagogical conversations have changed me from a theoretical outlander to theoretical compromiser. All the essays included are substantially reviewed through peer, professor, first reader and second reader evaluation. After this revision process, I rewrote these essays to represent some of my best work as a scholar and educator of English

Your Own Space

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay\u27s first paragraph. Driving there along beautiful Highland Ave., you\u27d never know you\u27re on your way to the highest elevation in Rochester. The gentle sloping of the road and trees make it easy to forget how high you really are. That is only the beginning to the one-of-a- kind atmosphere you find at Cobb\u27s Hill.\u2

Learning Styles And The Online Classroom: Implications For Business Students

This paper discusses the importance of student learning styles within a Distance Learning (DL) classroom. The study examines the learning style preferences of online business students as measured by the Kolb Learning Style Inventory and determines if a significant difference in course grades and course completion rates exist between students when they are sorted by learning style preference. Subjects in the study were 344 online business students from a southeastern university in the United States. Examination of the quantitative data indicated a significant difference existed for Diverger Style Preference learners compared to the Assimilator, Accommodator and Converger learning styles.  They had a lower Mean Grade Point (GP) earned.  The study revealed approximately one out of five (20%) of the respondents had a Diverger Learning Style Preference. Respondents with this learning style preference appear to be somewhat less likely to be successful in a distance learning environment. A Chi Square calculation showed no significant difference existed among learning styles for those dropping a course although one group (Accomodators) had approximately twice the drop rate of the others. This paper and corresponding study offers university administrators who seek to maintain quality instruction evidence and suggestions for addressing 20 percent of their online population who may be at risk of not obtaining content mastery.  This includes implications for DL course design and pedagogy

Impact of simulated microgravity conditions on bacterial cell-cell communication utilizing Vibrio fischeri

For bacteria to thrive in stressful environments, they must communicate with one another through Quorum Sensing (QS), or chemical signals released to the environment. QS allows bacteria to sense the environment and regulate their cell number and behavior by adjusting their gene expression. This ability is made possible by the production of small chemical molecules called autoinducers (AI). The space environment is known for being a stressful place for bacteria due to space radiation and microgravity (µG). Past research in space has shown that bacteria become more virulent and resistant to antibiotics. By learning the functionality of AIs, new methods to control bacteria outbreaks can be achieved that block these chemical signals. This research project aims to improve the understanding of bacterial QS processes to describe what types of autoinducers are synthesized under simulated µG compared to earth gravity (g). This project will utilize a microgravity analog developed in the Space Microbiology Lab at ERAU. Detecting the AIs will be completed by using genetically modified bacteria, known as “biosensors”, which will luminesce if they find autoinducers produced by the model organism (Vibrio fischeri). Three types of autoinducers (responsible for virulence-related phenotypes) will be detected utilizing this method. To detect each AI, three genetically modified non-pathogenic bacterial strains were selected. The goal of this experiment will be to observe the florescence change of the biosensors between µG and g

Assessing bacterial quorum sensing through measuring bioluminescence with Vibrio fischeri exposed to simulated microgravity

Bacteria flourish in stressful environments when communicating with each other in a process known as Quorum Sensing. This process is accomplished by the production of small signaling molecules referred to as Autoinducers (AI). This communication allows the bacteria to alter their gene expression in an effort to regulate their cell number, behavior and sense the surrounding environment. The space environment provides stressful conditions for bacteria as they are exposed to radiation and microgravity (µG). Because of this, it could be possible that bacteria become more virulent and resistant to antibiotics. The purpose of this research was to expose Vibrio fischeri to simulated microgravity for its ability to produce AI and measure their quantity. The methods used include measurement of fluorescence via microbial biosensors (genetically modified microorganisms) that activate gene expression of markers once a specific autoinducer is detected, readings are recorded (using a microplate reader) and graphed. Results have demonstrated increased AI production and altered colony morphology under simulated microgravity