Leukocyte Responsiveness to Exercise in HCMV+ Individuals

Introduction: Emerging research suggests that the lymphocyte immune response during exercise is amplified in individuals who are positive for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV+). However, the responses of monocytes and neutrophils in HCMV+ individuals are unknown. HCMV, a type of herpes virus, infects 50% or more of the adult population in the United States. This virus can become a cause for concern in individuals who have a compromised immune system, which has been shown to occur after high-intensity exercise. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize the lymphocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil responses to exercise in HCMV+ individuals. Methods: Participants were male (n = 7) and female (n = 9), between the ages of 18 and 44 (26.38 + 8.94) years old. Participants were either positive (HCMV+) or negative (HCMV-) for HCMV. Participants visited the Exercise Physiology laboratory on three separate occasions: (1) HCMV screening, (2) 100% VO2max test, (3) 80% VO2max run for 20 minutes. Four blood samples were taken during the third visit: (1) Pre-exercise, (2) Post-exercise, (3) 30 minutes post-exercise, and (4) 60 minutes post-exercise. 2 (virus status) x 4 (sampling condition) mixed-model factorial ANOVA procedures with repeated measures on sampling condition were performed on absolute and relative circulating lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. Results: No interactions of absolute or relative values for HCMV status and time were found for any of the three leukocyte subsets. Significant main effects for time for both absolute (neutrophils: p \u3c .001; monocytes: p \u3c .001; lymphocytes: p \u3c .001) and relative (neutrophils: p \u3c .001; monocytes: p \u3c .001; lymphocytes: p \u3c .001) values were seen for all leukocyte subsets regardless of virus status. Significant differences for absolute and relative values were seen between sampling conditions for all leukocyte subsets. Discussion: The effects of high-intensity exercise on circulating monocyte and neutrophil volumes in the post-exercise period were the main findings of this study. We report for the first time that HCMV status does not affect circulating neutrophil responses to high-intensity exercise, though exercise-induced neutrocytosis (a significant increase in neutrophil volume) is seen during the post-exercise and 60 minutes post-exercise sampling conditions, regardless of HCMV status. There is no HCMV effect on circulating monocyte responses to exercise, though exercise-induced monocytosis was seen during the post-exercise sampling condition regardless of HCMV status

The Common Defense: Challenging State Authority and the Citizen Army Through the Privatization of Force

Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-53).The national army represents the strength of a nation and, ideally, its monopoly on force allows the state to respond to emergencies by deploying loyal and well-organized citizen soldiers. This thesis explores the exponential growth of the U.S. private military and security industry to reveal how commodified force is tainting the uniformed military???s global mission. The dilution of the professional military is displacing volunteer troops with corporate fighters, thus seemingly undermining the state???s authority to exact order. In this thesis, I argue that privatized force inhibits the American state???s ability to demonstrate moral governance and secure certain strategic advantages that are necessary to maintain the global stature of the United States. I will provide a detailed synopsis as to what constitutes privatized force and account for the repercussions associated with its use abroad, particularly the United State???s waning influence in an increasingly dangerous world. KEYWORDS: Private military contractors, national army, citizen soldiers, private security companies, United States, conscription, Iraq, Afghanistan, terrorism, mercenaries, state authority, privatized force, legitimacy, force monopol

The perfect priest: an examination of Leviticus 21:17-23

Leviticus 21:17-23 is a text that discriminates against priests who have one of the twelve blemishes listed, approaching the text with the intent to redeem the text for modern application. An exploration in the role of priests in the ancient Near East will show how the priests were human representations of the deity and many cultures and religions had physical restrictions for the priests similar to Lev 21:17-23. Examining the language of Lev 21:17-23 will show that the restrictions were not merely symbolic but intended to stop blemished priests from approaching the altar. However, they were not statements about the value of the blemished priest nor were they a call for further discrimination. The final chapter surveys other early Jewish literature dealing with restrictions in cultic activity. It will show that the restrictions of Lev 21:17-23 are intended to deter the stare of the people and keep the focus of worship on YHWH

Translation and Validation of an Online Suite of Assessments in American Sign Language

Abstract This article reports on a National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP; Federal Grant # 90DP0067). The project is being conducted by investigators in the Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Issues (SARDI) Program in the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University (WSU), in collaboration with nationally recognized experts on Deaf culture and substance abuse/mental health. The goal of this DRRP is to develop and test an online suite of instruments in American Sign Language (ASL), validated for deaf consumers, assessing substance use, mental health, and occupational interests. The translation process used to validate these assessments in ASL is discussed along with the current project status

Intricate targeting of immunoglobulin somatic hypermutation maximizes the efficiency of affinity maturation

It is believed that immunoglobulin-variable region gene (IgV) somatic hypermutation (SHM) is initiated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) upon deamination of cytidine to deoxyuracil. Patch-excision repair of these lesions involving error prone DNA polymerases such as polη causes mutations at all base positions. If not repaired, the deaminated nucleotides on the coding and noncoding strands result in C-to-T and G-to-A exchanges, respectively. Herein it is reported that IgV gene evolution has been considerably influenced by the need to accommodate extensive C deaminations and the resulting accumulation of C-to-T and G-to-A exchanges. Although seemingly counterintuitive, the precise placement of C and G nucleotides causes most C-to-T and G-to-A mutations to be silent or conservative. We hypothesize that without intricate positioning of C and G nucleotides the efficiency of affinity maturation would be significantly reduced due to a dominance of replacements caused by C and G transition mutations. The complexity of these evolved biases in codon use are compounded by the precise concomitant hotspot/coldspot targeting of AID activity and Polη errors to maximize SHM in the CDRs and minimize mutations in the FWRs

Predator recognition and anti-predator behavior in juvenile Asian carp

Predation is a determining factor influencing the strength and success of a year class in many prey fishes. Chemical, social, and similar predator cues may all inform an individual of a possible impending predatory threat. Bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix) widespread invasive fishes, and can be vulnerable to predation during their first year. Because they now overlap the niches of many native prey species, they may shoal with these species and learn about predation while doing so. Additionally, generalizing predators that have similar characteristics (e.g. odors or body morphometry) may increase the survival of an individual. The objective of this study was to evaluate how juvenile bighead and silver carp respond to threatening situations, as well as how adaptive and plastic are these responses. To achieve these objectives, I performed three separate studies that aimed to define the alarm response of these fishes, assess how group composition may influence the alarm response, and determine if the response could be generalized when exposed to taxonomically similar predators. Bighead and silver carp responded to conspecific alarm cues and both species reduced their activity, however bighead carp did so in much tighter schools than silver carp. In same-species groups of bighead carp, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) odor induced similar behavioral changes, provided at least one experienced individual was present. However, when naïve bighead carp were paired with experienced golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas), they matched their behavior to that of the golden shiner. Groups of silver carp conditioned to recognize largemouth bass odor only showed behavioral changes when exposed to the same predator odor, and were unable to generalize the odor of largemouth bass to recognize smallmouth (M. dolomieu) odor. These three studies indicate that there is some degree of flexibility in the response of bighead and silver carp exposed to different threatening situations, however more tests are needed to identify how the different responses may impact the relative success of these invaders as they approach novel environments

Essays in Corporate Governance

Corporate governance examines the mechanisms through which managers and directors are incentivized to act in the best interests of shareholders. The three essays of this dissertation focus on internal and external control mechanisms in the CEO and director labor markets and their effectiveness in aligning the interests of mangers, directors and shareholders. The first essay examines the influence of industry shocks and peer firms on board monitoring decisions. Recent evidence documents that industry factors influence CEO turnover decisions, despite agency theory's proposition that boards should filter out industry shocks when evaluating CEO performance. Consistent with industry dynamics affecting board monitoring decisions, I document that industries exhibit CEO turnover waves. During these periods of abnormally high turnover, executives face a heightened threat of discipline as boards increase turnover-performance sensitivity. This increased scrutiny inside waves represents a meaningful managerial incentive that curbs value-destroying behavior of CEOs. Overall, this essay documents the existence of CEO turnover waves, which motivate boards to monitor management differently and have real effects on CEO behavior and shareholder wealth. The second essay examines the shareholder wealth effects associated with a required venue for shareholder litigation. In response to the increased threat of shareholder litigation filed in multiple states, firms have adopted exclusive forum provisions which limit lawsuits to a single venue of the board's choice. It is unclear whether these provisions impose increased costs on shareholders' ability to discipline managers and directors or provide benefits to shareholders by eliminating multi-forum and duplicative lawsuits. I use the Delaware Chancery Court's announcement upholding the adoption of these provisions as a natural experiment to evaluate their wealth implications. Overall, this essay suggests that exclusive forum provisions create value for shareholders by specifying a required venue for corporate litigation. The final essay, with David Becher and Ralph Walkling, examines the stability and composition of acquirer boards around mergers and the director characteristics associated with selection for the post-merger board. Our results indicate that the post-merger board changes substantially and variation is significantly different from both non-merger years and non-merging firms. Adjustments reflect firms upgrading skills associated with executive and merger experience and bargaining between targets and acquirers, rather than agency motives. Conversely, director selection at non-merging firms is driven by general skills and diversity. Our analyses provide insight into the dynamic nature of board structure and characteristics valued in the director labor market.Ph.D., Business Administration -- Drexel University, 201

Quantification of groundwater discharge to San Ysidro Creek discharge using continuous 222Rn measurements during a storm

This study utilizes high temporal resolution 222Rn activity data to create a chemical hydrograph in order to better quantify the influx of groundwater, soil water, and rain water into a stream during precipitation events. Three tests were conducted during separate storm events within the area of Montecito, CA along San Ysidro Creek throughout the 2016 and 2017 Water Years. These tests analyzed 222Rn activities, δ18O and δ2H ratios and silica concentrations with the goal of testing whether 222Rn activities measured through the use of the RAD7 system would provide similar hydrograph data to the other two methods. 222Rn activities showed trends in a higher temporal resolution than the other methods used despite low activities caused by rapid diffusion of 222Rn gas from the stream into the atmosphere. 222Rn data, dissolved silica data, and stable isotope data all showed steady increases in groundwater during the first test (Mar. 5, 2016). No distinguishable trends were noticed in the second test (Apr. 10, 2016). Strong trends were shared between the 222Rn data, dissolved silica data, and stable isotope data during the third test (Mar. 21, 2017) which was conducted with higher resolution discharge data for a significantly longer duration. This shows a positive correlation between the 222Rn data and the other tracers used in this study. Results suggest that with additional testing restrictions: information regarding the definition of end members within the stream or a more stable study site which is a location of groundwater influx, 222Rn activities would work as a viable proxy for pre-event water during a storm. 222Rn would then provide a more cost effective and less time-consuming means of creating storm chemical hydrographs without having to collect, transport, and analyze multiple water samples