From Orwell to Lowry: Why YA Was the Best Thing to Happen to Dystopia

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Languages and Literature of Bard Colleg

Characterization of COPD with biomarkers of inflammation and quantitative CT

BACKGROUND The aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of inflammation in the airways and in the systemic compartment in COPD compared to healthy subjects, and to investigate the relationship between inflammation and the clinical and radiological features of COPD.METHODS 182 COPD patients and 96 healthy control subjects were recruited. Post-bronchodilator spirometry, smoking history, body mass index (BMI), exacerbation frequency, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, MRC dyspnoea and chronic bronchitis scores, oxygen saturations, 6 minute walking distance and BODE index scores were recorded. Highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), total white cell count and neutrophils were measured in blood. Percentage (%) neutrophils, IL-lp, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in induced sputum. COPD patients had a quantitative CT scan on inspiration and expiration. Lung volume and density (pixel index -910 HU, pixel index -950 HU, and 15th percentile) were determined using in-house software.RESULTS Systemic inflammation was increased in COPD subjects compared to healthy controls: CRP (p<0.001), blood neutrophils (p<0.001). Pulmonary inflammation was also increased in COPD subjects compared to healthy controls: induced sputum % neutrophils (p=0.001), IL-6 (p=0.02) and IL-8 (p=0.01). Induced sputum IL-1J3 was not increased in COPD compared to controls. Blood neutrophils, CRP, sputum IL-6 and IL-8 were higher in COPD patients compared to healthy controls after adjusting for age, gender and smoking status. Induced sputum was not reliably attainable particularly in healthy control subjects (sample available for 65% of COPD subjects and 26% of healthy controls). In COPD subjects, blood neutrophils (p=0.03) and sputum % neutrophils (p=0.004) were independently related to FEVi after adjusting for age, gender, smoking status and inhaled corticosteroid use. Blood neutrophils and CRP correlated significantly with each other (r=0.408, p<0.001), but were not associated with any of the sputum markers of inflammation. Systemic inflammation was associated with SGRQ total score (neutrophils p=0.02, CRP p<0.001) and MRC dyspnoea score (neutrophils p=0.005, CRP p=0.003) after adjusting for FEVi and smoking status. Blood neutrophils (p=0.02) were associated with oxygen saturations < 93%. BODE index scores correlated with blood neutrophils, (p=0.005), CRP (p=0.03) and sputum IL-8 (p=0.02). After adjusting for potential confounding factors; exacerbation frequency and BMI were not associated with markers of blood or sputum inflammation. Quantitative CT lung volume and density (pixel index -910, pixel index -950 and 15th percentile) on inspiration and expiration were associated with postbronchodilator FEVi % predicted and FEVi/FVC ratio (p<0.001) but not with any of the markers of pulmonary or systemic inflammation. Expiratory CT parameters correlated better with lung function than inspiratory parameters. Lung volumes were inversely associated with BMI on inspiration (r=-0.225, p=0.015) and expiration (r=-0.296, p=0.001). BMI was associated with 15th percentile on inspiration (r=0.518, p<0.001) and expiration (r=0.534, p<0.001) and inversely with pixel index -910 and -950 (p<0.001). BMI was associated with lung density independent of airflow limitation (p=0.03). Lung volume and density were not associated with age, gender, current smoking status, smoking pack years, SGRQ scores, MRC dyspnoea or chronic bronchitis score, exacerbation frequency, oxygen saturations or BODE index.CONCLUSION Markers of inflammation in blood and sputum were increased in COPD compared to healthy controls. Blood and sputum % neutrophils were associated with airflow limitation, but not with lung density. Pulmonary and systemic inflammatory markers had different profiles according to different clinical features of COPD. Inflammatory markers and lung density may be useful in characterizing COPD patients in addition to airflow limitation alone

Coping strategies and adaptation mechanisms utilized by female Holocaust survivors from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp

The female experience during the Holocaust has largely been ignored as significantly different than that of male counterparts. This gender-specific research study investigates the unique, poignant voices of women\u27s coping strategies utilized during internment in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Focusing specifically on the video oral history testimonies of the complete collection of female survivors of Auschwitz, which were produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the study suggests that the predominate coping strategies used by females was affiliation with others as the means of survival. Through the utilization of clustering sheets, the data suggested that affiliation and assistance from others was essential in female survival and coping, coupled primarily with the utilization of emotion-focused coping strategies. Additionally, the study utilizes telephone interviews with the Holocaust survivors in the sample, three to five years after their testimonies were elicited as part of the permanent exhibits and research archives at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The findings from the interviews concur with the predominant utilization of affiliation as a coping mechanism for survival of massive traumatization during internment in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Measuring the Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Coaching with Nonverbal Immediacy on the Self-Efficacy of Undergraduate Students in STEM Courses

A quasi-experimental study explored whether the practice of cognitive behavioral coaching with an intentional focus on nonverbal immediacy has an impact on the self-efficacy of undergraduate students taking college-level STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses. A positive impact to self-efficacy for students who receive the coaching intervention was anticipated. The research took place at a public research university located in the Midwest. Subjects included students who were required to work with a success coach as a condition of their enrollment and/or financial aid eligibility. Information obtained included perception of nonverbal immediacy of the coaches and self-efficacy of the student, as determined by existing assessments called, Nonverbal Immediacy Scale – Observers and Self-Efficacy for Learning Form – Abridged version. Success coaches provided the coaching intervention to students through a prescribed protocol of at least four face-to-face meetings throughout the semester with regular contact via email and phone. Students participated in the coaching interventions as mentees. Students received support by coaches to supplement their academic pursuits. Paired t-Tests (see Table 7) did not confirm that there was a significant difference between the pre-assessment scores, and the post-assessment scores; therefore, the null hypotheses were not rejected

Interplay between nitric oxide and antimicrobial susceptibility in Escherichia coli

Due to the emergence of widespread antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens, a greater understanding of bacterial responses to current drugs is required. A recent study reports that aerobic respiration is required for correct function of bactericidal antibiotics. Intriguingly, human macrophages and neutrophils produce the respiratory inhibitor nitric oxide in response to bacterial infection, so it would seem that the host immune system is impairing the ability of antibiotics to work effectively. To test this hypothesis, Escherichia coli strains were exposed to GSNO, a nitric oxide donor, and were subsequently exposed to antibiotics. Increasing the concentration of NO resulted in a dose-dependent attenuation in antibiotic efficacy, which is consistent with our hypothesis. Previous work in the Shepherd lab has reported the respiratory oxidase cytochrome bd-I as being resistant to NO, so we hypothesised that expression of this respiratory complex would sensitise E. coli to antibiotics when grown in the presence of NO. Experiments with cytochrome bd-I knockout strains and a NO donor were performed to test this hypothesis. This work highlights discrepancies between minimal lethal concentrations in the presence and absence of NO, which has obvious implications for our understanding of antibiotic efficacy during infection

The interaction of affect and learning preference on ESL reading comprehension : a comparison of electronic and paper textbooks

Student learning preferences are key to successful SLA teaching and learning. Many SLA theorists (e.g., Tomlinson, 2011) support socio-cultural approaches in language acquisition, which encompasses student affect and preferences. The use of electronic textbooks (ebooks) can possibly increase student engagement through affect, and boost student reading comprehension through accessing student preference, such as utilizing the built-in dictionary as a strategy to build reading comprehension and manipulating the text features to optimally meet the learner’s visual preferences (Nation, 2013, Loucky, 2010). Two groups of 22 ESL university students each, from a variety of language backgrounds, performed a reading pre-test before being given a short reading passage. The control group received the reading passage in paper textbook format, and the experimental group received the reading passage in ebook format. After training in reading support strategies, both groups were given a reading comprehension test immediately after reading the passage and again one week later. Both groups were given a survey to examine students’ affect and preferences. The results of the study indicate that there was not a significant difference in reading comprehension between the groups. However, according to the surveys, students enjoyed ebooks once becoming familiar with them.Department of EnglishThesis (M.A.