Black Holes and Vacuum Cleaners: Using Metaphor, Relevance, and Inquiry in Labels for Space Images

This study extended research on the development of explanatory labels for astronomical images for the non-expert lay public. The research questions addressed how labels with leading questions/metaphors and relevance to everyday life affect comprehension of the intended message for deep space images, the desire to learn more, and the aesthetic appreciation of images. Participants were a convenience sample of 1,921 respondents solicited from a variety of websites and through social media who completed an online survey that used four high-resolution images as stimuli: Sagittarius A*, Solar Flare, Cassiopeia A, and the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101). Participants were randomly assigned initially to 1 of 3 label conditions: the standard label originally written for the image, a label with a leading question containing a metaphor related to the information for the image, or a label that contained a fact about the image relevant to everyday life. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 image and compared all labels for that image. Open-ended items at various points asked participants to pose questions to a hypothetical astronomer. Main findings were that the relevance condition was significantly more likely to increase wanting to learn more; the original label was most likely to increase overall appreciation; and, smart phone users were more likely to want to learn more and report increased levels of appreciation. Results are discussed in terms of the need to examine individual viewer characteristics and goals in creating different labels for different audiences.Comment: 50 pages, 7 tables, 2 figures, accepted by the journal "Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts

The 1998 floods in Bangladesh: disaster impacts, household coping strategies, and responses

This report combines a careful analysis of government policy and private foodgrain markets with a detailed survey of 757 households in rural Bangladesh in November and December 1998, about two months after the floodwaters receded. The report describes short- and medium-term government policy measures taken to encourage private trade, including an earlier trade liberalization that permitted private-sector imports of rice from India that stabilized private markets and largely offset the decline in production. The impact of the floods on household assets, employment, consumption, and nutritional outcomes is analyzed using the micro-level survey data. The study finds that flood-exposed households were, in general, able to avoid severe declines in food consumption and nutritional status through a combination of private-sector borrowing... and targeted government and NGO transfers.Food relief Bangladesh., Food supply Bangladesh., Disasters Asia., Households Bangladesh.,

Context, Curriculum, and Community Matter: Leadership Practices of Primary School Principals in the Otago Province of New Zealand

This research examined the leadership practices of rural primary school principals in the Otago province of New Zealand. Principals of large (\u3e150 students) and small (students) rural schools served as participants in an investigation to learn how their practice creates and maintains effective rural schools. The goals were to investigate the interrelationships of principal, curriculum, and community and effective leadership in their schools. A mixed methods approach included a survey completed by rural principals (n = 63), followed by observations and interviews. Key findings were that leadership practices varied across contexts of large rural and small rural schools; having a local curriculum was critical; and, communication and involvement with parents and the community were essential. The survey had good psychometric qualities; validation through future research use is needed. Results are discussed in terms of factors to consider for effective leadership in rural schools

Professional boundaries: Sharp objects and other injections of memoir and comedy

This research and the theatrical performance, THE PERFORMING NURSE, represent the two vocations of the researcher- the artist and the nurse. It addresses the question: How can the Nurse Artist emerge to express the self, and to gain a voice for nurses in a system that often demands compliance and silence? The research contributes to the field of Performing Medicine and points to potential applications within drama and theatre, the arts health sector and the nursing community that increase self- esteem and general well- being, thereby helping to create healthy and fulfilling workplaces

Role of neurotropism in HIV-1 gp120 induced oxidative stress and neurodegeneration

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2020An estimated 50% of individuals with long-term HIV infection are affected by the onset of progressive neurological and cognitive complications referred to as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). While the molecular mechanisms underlying pathology in HAND remain poorly understood, synaptodendritic damage has emerged as a hallmark of HIV infection of the CNS. This damage is likely mediated by a combination of indirect mechanisms involving the release of inflammatory mediators and viral proteins from infected glial cells, and direct effects mediated by the interaction of neurotoxic viral proteins with neuronal receptors. The neurotoxic HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 interacts with neuronal receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 to induce the coalescence of lipid raft domains into large, stable platforms-- a proposed mechanism for clustering components of receptor-activated signaling cascades. The interaction of proteins with lipid-raft localized receptors as a mechanism of regulating pathologic signaling has been observed in other neurodegenerative diseases, most notably in Alzheimer's disease, where amyloid- (Aß) oligomers interact with lipid raft-anchored cellular prion protein PrPC to activate a pathway leading to the formation of cofilin-actin rods-like inclusions (rods) in neuronal processes. Rods have been linked to synaptic dysfunction via sequestration of cofilin and the disruption of vesicular transport resulting from the occlusion of neurites in which they form. Given similarities in neuronal response to gp120 and Aß, we sought to assess the ability of gp120 to induce rods. Here, we report viral envelope protein gp120 induces the formation of cofilin-actin rods in E16 mouse hippocampal neurons via a signaling pathway common to oligomeric, soluble amyloid-ß and inflammatory cytokines. Our studies demonstrate gp120 binding to either chemokine co-receptor CCR5 or CXCR4 is capable of inducing rod formation and signaling through this pathway requires the NADPH oxidase-mediated formation of superoxide (O2-) and the expression of cellular prion protein (PrPC). These results link gp120-mediated oxidative stress formation to the generation rods in a previously undescribed mechanism of early synaptic dysfunction observed in HAND

Characterization of host-pathogen interactions in two model pathogens: Francisella tularensis and simian virus SV40

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2012We sought to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction. The bacterium Francisella tularensis and simian virus SV40 represent two ideal model systems. Francisella tularensis is a facultative intracellular bacterium known to dampen the host immune response to infection. The Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI) encodes a cluster of 19 genes essential for full virulence and the observed change in immune response. We investigated the role of two FPI encoded proteins, PdpC and PdpD, on immune response. While both proteins affect a change, the effect of PdpD is more pronounced, and appears to play a role in modulation of host immune responses. SV40 is a DNA polyoma virus that targets GM1 receptors for entry into cells. The GM I receptor is localized to cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains, termed lipid rafts. Disruption of lipid rafts using the cholesterol chelator methyl-P-cyclodextrin prevents SV40 entry into cells. We investigated whether natural product alternatives would similarly disrupt lipid raft integrity and prevent viral entry. The triterpenoid ursolic acid, present in many plants, has been shown to possess antimicrobial properties and was used to treat cells prior to infection with SV40. We found ursolic acid to have no effect on the viral infectivity of SV40

Obstacle Avoidance in Collective Robotic Search Using Particle Swarm Optimization

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) has been demonstrated to be a useful technique in target search applications such as Collective Robotic Search (CRS). A group of unmanned mobile robots are able to locate a specified target in a high risk environment with extreme efficiency when driven by an optimized PSO algorithm. This paper presents an algorithm for obstacle avoidance with the PSO approach applied to navigate robots in collective search applications. Obstacles represented by basic geometric shapes to simulate perilous ground terrain are introduced to the search area. Results are presented to show that PSO algorithm based CRS is able to locate targets avoiding hazardous pathways

Literacy Assessment New Zealand Style

It\u27s mostly performance based. It assesses students in teams as well as individually. What\u27s more, students like it

Forever-Fit Summer Camp: The Impact of a 6-Week Summer Healthy Lifestyle Day Camp on Anthropometric, Cardiovascular, and Physical Fitness Measures in Youth With Obesity

Pediatric obesity is a public health concern with lifestyle intervention as the first-line treatment. Forever-Fit Summer Camp (FFSC) is a 6-week summer day program offering physical activity, nutrition education, and well-balanced meals to youth at low cost. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of this program that does not emphasize weight loss rather emphasizes healthy behaviors on body mass index, cardiovascular and physical fitness. Methods: The inclusion criteria were adolescents between 8 and 12 years and body mass index (BMI) ≥85th percentile. The data were collected at baseline and week 6 (wk-6) and was analyzed for 2013-2018 using paired-sample t tests. Results: The participants' (N = 179) average age was 10.6 ± 1.6 years with a majority of females (71%) and black race/ethnicity (70%). At wk-6, BMI and waist circumference decreased by 0.8 ± 0.7 kg/m2 and 1.0 ± 1.3 in, respectively. Resting heart rate, diastolic and systolic blood pressure decreased by 8.5 ± 11.0 bpm, 6.3 ± 8.8 mmHg, and 6.4 ± 10.1 mmHg, respectively. The number of pushups, curl-ups, and chair squats were higher by 5.8 ± 7.5, 6.7 ± 9.1, and 7.7 ± 8.5, respectively. Conclusion: The FFSC is efficacious for improving BMI, cardiovascular, and physical fitness in the short term. The effect of similar episodic efforts that implement healthy lifestyle modifications throughout the school year should be investigated