The Effects of Exercise Training on Cachexia in Mice Bearing the Colon-26 Carcinoma

Colon cancer is third the most prevalent cancer in the United States in both men and women. However, it is also a largely preventable disease, as colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is increased by environmental factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity. Furthermore, CRC patients are highly susceptible to significant muscle wasting. Cachexia is classified as a multifactorial metabolic syndrome associated with impairments in immune function, fatigue, and overall weakness, that lead to increased morbidity and mortality. To date, multiple studies have shown that both aerobic and resistance training, individually, are highly effective in their ability to attenuate the deleterious effects of cachexia. However, little research has focused on the inclusion of a program that combines both modes of exercise, which may be more clinically relevant. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of multiple modes of exercise training on markers of cachexia to determine if treadmill training (TM), resistance training (RT), or a combination of the two (TM+RT) can effectively attenuate cachexia. A secondary purpose was to examine the involvement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the muscle wasting process and to determine if exercise training would reduce markers of systemic inflammation. Six-week old male Balb/c mice were randomly selected to sedentary (SED; n = 24) or exercise (EX; n = 36) groups. Mice in the EX group were further randomized to either a treadmill training (TM; n = 12), resistance training (RT; n = 12), or a combination (TM+RT; n = 12) group. At 11 weeks of age, half of the SED animals and all EX animals were inoculated with C26 cells; all EX mice continued their respective exercise protocols. Animals were sacrificed at 14 weeks of age. Cachexia was assessed via body mass, gastrocnemius mass and CSA, forelimb grip strength, and systemic inflammation. Colon-26 carcinoma induced cachexia in SED+Tumor mice, as evident by significant decreases in body mass, gastrocnemius mass and CSA, declines in muscle function, and increases in systemic inflammation markers. Exercise, specifically RT, was able to provide significant improvements in all examined markers of cachexia, with the exception of relative body mass. Significant improvements also existed in TM+Tumor and TM+RT+Tumor in regard to gastrocnemius CSA and muscle function when compared to SED+Tumor. These data suggest that exercise training, regardless of mode are able to provide significant benefit to cachectic mice and this may be due, in part, to decreases in systemic inflammation

Neocolonial Discourse in the Peace Corps: Problematic Implications for Intercultural Relationship-Building

The Peace Corps is a United States government agency that provides assistance to developing countries by sending American volunteers to work in sectors of agriculture, education, health, and community development for two years. While many would call this type of service honorable, it is crucial to recognize the agency’s origins in neocolonialism and Western superiority. These deeply-rooted ideologies created structural inequities within the Peace Corps that continue to negatively affect the intercultural relationships they hold dear, despite changes in recent years to promote better cultural understanding, sensitivity, and integration. This article examines Peace Corps’ rhetoric, service model, and organizational structure through applications of development theory, Edward Said’s “Orientalism”, Michael Latham’s theory of “positional superiority”, and Jenna Hanchey’s “postcolonial self-reflexivity” to determine whether or not the Peace Corps agency can remedy these inequities and promote sustainable change in the future. The findings herein provide worthy contributions to the fields of international development, intercultural communication, and postcolonial studies

Spatial+: a novel approach to spatial confounding

In spatial regression models, collinearity between covariates and spatial effects can lead to significant bias in effect estimates. This problem, known as spatial confounding, is encountered modelling forestry data to assess the effect of temperature on tree health. Reliable inference is difficult as results depend on whether or not spatial effects are included in the model. The mechanism behind spatial confounding is poorly understood and methods for dealing with it are limited. We propose a novel approach, spatial+, in which collinearity is reduced by replacing the covariates in the spatial model by their residuals after spatial dependence has been regressed away. Using a thin plate spline model formulation, we recognise spatial confounding as a smoothing-induced bias identified by Rice (1986), and through asymptotic analysis of the effect estimates, we show that spatial+ avoids the bias problems of the spatial model. This is also demonstrated in a simulation study. Spatial+ is straight-forward to implement using existing software and, as the response variable is the same as that of the spatial model, standard model selection criteria can be used for comparisons. A major advantage of the method is also that it extends to models with non-Gaussian response distributions. Finally, while our results are derived in a thin plate spline setting, the spatial+ methodology transfers easily to other spatial model formulations

Working Better Together: Library, Publisher, and Vendor Perspectives

Amidst more and more publisher content, research tools, and library systems, interoperability—how things work together (for instance, a link resolver and a discovery service, or a data service and a discovery service)—has tremendous implications for workflows for librarians and, ultimately, researchers. With a focus on discoverability, representatives from the library, vendor, and publisher sectors describe their perspectives on cross-sector collaborations and opportunities with a common aim of proactively continuing to refine/improve the researcher experience. Moderated by Mary Somerville from the University of Colorado, Denver, this presentation highlighted perspectives from all three sectors including Maria Collins from North Carolina State University Libraries presenting the library perspective, Nicole Pelsinsky from Serials Solutions presenting from the vendor perspective, and Aaron Wood from Alexander Street Press with the publisher perspective

Stakeholder Knowledge and Perceptions of Free-roaming Equids and Their Management at a Western U.S. Land-Grant University

The horse (Equus ferus caballus), originally native to North America, became extinct on the continent approximately 10,000 years ago. Horses that migrated from North America to Eurasia across the Bering Strait continued to evolve and were domesticated along with burros (E. asinus). Both species were then transported to the Americas where they were intentionally released or escaped into the wild, forming feral herds. The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (WFRHBA) provided federal oversight and protection for feral horses and burros (hereafter, free-roaming equids) that inhabited designated areas on public lands in the western United States. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimated in 2019 that \u3e90,000 free-roaming equids inhabited 29 million ha on 177 designated herd management areas (HMAs). This population estimate exceeds the designated appropriate management level (AML) of 26,785. To provide BLM managers with insights regarding stakeholder knowledge and perceptions about the management of free-roaming equids in a western U.S. state where HMAs exceed AML, in 2020 we surveyed faculty, staff, and students at the state land-grant university (i.e., Utah State University [USU]). We hypothesized that, because the WFRHBA was passed in 1971, older respondents and those with natural resources education would be more informed and supportive of active free-roaming equid management, such as herd reduction. We received 959 responses (response rate of 12.5%) to our survey (i.e., 14% faculty, 14% staff, and 72% students). Most respondents (60%) were unaware of the WFRHBA, and \u3e50% were unaware that free-roaming equids were protected. Over 45% of our respondents were unsure of HMA AML status or population growth rates. Furthermore, most respondents (65%) did not know that free-roaming equids are ecologically considered feral. Older respondents and those with rural backgrounds and natural resources education were more informed. Our results highlight the need for improved outreach and communication efforts regarding the issues and consequences of free-roaming equid management approaches

“HE TELLS YOU YOUR WORK IS TO GIVE BIRTH”: REPRODUCTIVE COERCION AND COVERT USE OF CONTRACEPTION AMONG FEMALE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN NAIROBI, KENYA

Background: Women’s reproductive autonomy is limited by reproductive coercion (RC), or interference in contraceptive and reproductive decisions via direct intervention, threats, or pressure. Women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) may be at higher risk of RC, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where little is known about RC behaviors and impact. Methods: Utilizing the existing infrastructure from myPlan Kenya, this research examined RC among reproductive age women experiencing IPV through analysis of quantitative baseline data (n=352) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted at three-month follow-up among women indicating RC experience (n=30). Aim 1 assessed the transferability of the US-developed RC Scale and explored RC experiences. Aim 2 examined quantitative correlates and explored qualitative contributors of RC. Aim 3 described the relationship between RC and covert use of contraception and explored IPV survivors’ use of reproductive safety strategies. Results: In the past three months, 82% of IPV survivors experienced any RC and 3.8 types on average. Aim 1 results indicated transferability of the RC Scale to a population of IPV survivors in Nairobi’s informal settlements; items factored into pregnancy coercion and condom manipulation sub-scales. Convergence matrixes corroborated transferability via congruous display of RC summary score and qualitative experience. Aim 2 results highlighted the importance of couple roles and communication in childbearing decisions, with findings indicating that healthier couple communication may be protective against RC. Partner’s distrust of contraception and fear that women would seek other partners were described as contributors to RC in IDIs. Aim 3 findings indicated increased relative risk of covert use and decreased relative risk of overt use, compared to non-use, for women experiencing RC. IDIs demonstrated the cyclic nature of RC and covert use, with women often facing multiple types of RC and attempting to use several contraceptive methods covertly. Conclusions: Results highlight the severity of RC for women experiencing IPV in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Violence and family planning providers must be aware of coercive partner behaviors that prohibit contraceptive uptake and continuation. Use of reproductive safety strategies, namely covert use of contraception, can help maximize women’s reproductive preferences considering RC experience

From Seed to Fruit: A Posthuman Journey From Stage to Page

This thesis uses Cybernetic Fruit: A Posthuman Fairytale (a show directed by Shauna MacDonald and Nico Wood) to explore notions of posthumanism. The thesis of this project is that every being possesses beingness (one could say, a soul), be it raccoon, raspberry, or rock; that nothing is perfect or ever can be, for perfection and imperfection (like order and disorder) are human constructions spun from human vantage points and seen with a human-level of resolution; that collaboration fosters propagation of a posthuman discourse and compassionate behavior; and finally, that staging philosophical inquiry, in the flesh and for the community, is a potent methodology for germinating new theoretical fruit