Quality assurance testing of the ECLOX-M in detecting terrorism threats in Louisiana\u27s public drinking water systems

A quality assurance testing of the ECLOX-M™, a rapid water quality indicator used in potential terrorist attacks, was evaluated for its adequacy in nine regional Louisiana water systems. The ECLOX-M™ system uses enhanced chemiluminescence to measure toxicity in water by integration of a mixture of luminol (C8H7O3N3), and an oxidant in the presence of a catalyst enzyme - horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Water samples were tested for chemiluminescence, chlorine content, pH, and arsenic and/or nerve agent/pesticide contamination. In addition, three toxic industrial chemical standards were evaluated (mercury, a volatile liquid mixture, and a volatile gas mixture) and two nerve agent/pesticide standards (atrazine, and a regulated pesticide mixture). Additional tests included: three replicates of each contaminant at two concentration levels; three replicates of each regional water sample; and chemical standard spikes on each water sample. A metal mixture and a volatile organic compound (VOC) mixture were evaluated to determine the machine\u27s sensitivity to chemical mixtures. Lastly, two ECLOX-M™\u27s were tested simultaneously to determine their precision and accuracy. Testing revealed a significant difference in the inhibition % for the nine regional water samples. A one-way ANOVA and a student T-test revealed a significant difference in inhibition % between concentrations for all chemical standards tested. A trend was seen with chemicals and water samples in which the standard deviation for inhibition % increases as the toxicity of the sample decreases. An additive effect on inhibition % was hypothesized for the chemical mixtures. Instead an inhibitory effect was seen for the metal mixture, and a synergistic effect was seen for the VOC mixture. This suggests that the ECLOX-M™ is not capable of detecting components or interactions between components within a mixture. The simultaneous testing revealed no significant difference between the performances of the two machines. Lastly, there was a significant difference between the regional water sample pH levels, (p ≤ 0.01). It is suggested that water systems with complex water matrices consider using multiple testing methods, as ECLOX-M™ alone is not an accurate indicator of contamination. Detection of added contaminants is difficult to ascertain if clean water produces high light inhibition

A Restorative Resource: Dance-Based Non-Profits That Operate to Benefit Sex Trafficked Victims

The purpose of this study was to bring awareness to dance-based non-profits which operate for the purpose of being a restorative resource for victims of sex trafficking. The goal of the researcher was to answer these five essential questions: Q1 What is the structure of the program? Q2 What are the outreach strategies being used to bring in participants? Q3 What kind of curriculum is being used in the program? Q4 What are the benefits that dance-based non-profits provide for victims of sex trafficking? Q5 How are the benefits of these programs being measured? This research was significant because with more awareness and knowledge of these dance-based non-profits, more dance educators should be able to find innovative ways to provide resources for such hurting populations. Ultimately, this study could increase the understanding of dance-based programs available to sex trafficked victims in order to promote the future growth of such programs. Two dance-based non-profits agreed to take part in this study. The participants in this study were two dance teachers with varying roles within the organizations. For this reason, some essential questions could not be answered. This caused limitations within the study, but overall, both non-profits were able to provide valuable information regarding how their dance-based programs operate and what benefits sex trafficked victims received by participating in them since there are limited non-profits which currently work to provide dance-based programs for sex trafficking victims. This study aimed to promote the expansion of these types of dance-based programs, with the intent that survivors of sex trafficking will continue to find restorative resources by participating in them

Development of a best practices manual for the U.S. Department of Energy\u27s Wind for Schools Project

The Development of a Best Practices Manual for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind for Schools Project is an effort to provide the necessary research and data to make the completion of a Best Practices Manual possible. The Best Practices Manual will be used to help with the future development of Wind for Schools Projects nationally. The Wind for Schools Project was developed in 2005; currently 11 states are actively participating. As the Wind for Schools Project developed, various approaches and techniques were used to meet the goals of the program. A Best Practices Manual will serve as a repository of successful strategies and approaches employed by the program. The development of the Best Practices Manual focused on the research needed to understand the Wind for Schools Project; this included background on the U.S. Education System, a comprehensive study of the Wind for Schools Structure, a study of each 11 state programs, defining a best practice, the development and dispersion of a survey for the Wind for Schools Facilitators and Wind Application Center Directors, and a final outline for the Best Practices Manual. This effort is an attempt to pull together all the necessary research for the Best Practices Manual; which will in turn present generally-accepted, informally-standardized methods and techniques that have been developed to accomplish the three main goals of Wind for Schools

Formulation and Optimization of Aliskiren Loaded Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Nanoparticles

Aliskiren is a non-peptide, orally active renin inhibitor with poor absorption and low bioavailability (~2.6%). In order to improve the current drug delivery system, a commercially available, biodegradable copolymer, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), was employed for a nanoparticle (NP) reformulation of aliskiren. An emulsion-diffusion-evaporation technique was implemented where aliskiren and PLGA were dissolved in dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, or ethyl acetate/acetone. To an aqueous phase containing 0.25% w/v didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DMAB) as stabilizer, the previously prepared organic phase was added drop-wise. Following sonication, NP diffusion was expedited with the addition of water, and the organic phase was evaporated to form a suspension. Centrifugation was performed at 10,000 rpm, and the supernatant was analyzed for drug entrapment efficiency via ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy as well as particle morphology with the use of a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Having the highest entrapment efficiency (82.68 ± 1.18 %), ethyl acetate was used as the organic solvent in further testing, such as examining the effects of variation in DMAB stabilizer concentration (0.10, 0.25, 0.50, or 1.00% w/v) and centrifugation speed (10,000 or 12,000 rpm). The optimum formulation was ascertained through observing certain NP characteristics, such as entrapment efficiency particle size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI). A NICOMP Particle Sizer was used to measure particle size, zeta potential, and PDI. The smallest NP size (67.27 ± 0.87 nm) was accomplished with 0.50% w/v DMAB concentration using a centrifugation speed of 12,000 rpm, while the highest zeta potential (18.73 ± 0.03 mV) was detected with the 1.00% w/v DMAB concentration and a 10,000 rpm centrifugation speed. Further, the best entrapment efficiency and PDI (82.68 ± 1.18 % and 0.15 ± 0.03, respectively) were accomplished with 0.25% w/v DMAB and centrifugation at 10,000 rpm. The most favorable formulation yielding the highest zeta potential (18.73 ± 0.03 mV) was observed when DMAB stabilizer was 1.00% w/v and centrifuged at 10,000 rpm. Particle size and entrapment efficiency for this formulation were 75.67 ± 0.89 nm and 71.62 ± 0.11 %, respectively

Looking and Desiring Machines: A Feminist Deleuzian Mapping of Bodies and Affect

Deleuzian thinking is having a significant impact on research practices in the Social Sciences not least because one of its key implications is the demand to break down the false divide between theory and practice. This book brings together international academics from a range of Social Science and Humanities disciplines to reflect on how Deleuze's philosophy is opening up and shaping methodologies and practices of empirical research

Characterization of \u3ci\u3eMEF2C\u3c/i\u3e-Related Disorders: Genotype, Phenotype, and Gene Pathway Dysregulation

MEF2C­-related disorders are characterized by intellectual disability, developmental delay, lack of speech, seizures, stereotypic movements, hypotonia, and brain abnormalities and are caused by pathogenic alterations involving the MEF2C gene. Despite published cases, MEF2C­-related disorders are difficult to recognize clinically. These studies sought to further characterize MEF2C­-related disorders by investigating the genotypes, phenotypes, and gene functions (or dysfunctions) associated with the disorder. Tremors have been reported in some patients with MEF2C­-related disorders, but the concept of tremors has been complicated by vague definitions and numerous categorization methods. We performed a concept analysis following the Walker and Avant method to clarify the concept and develop an operational definition of tremors. We concluded that tremors are a movement disorder characterized by shaking motions that are involuntary, oscillatory, rhythmic, non-painful, always present although vary in severity, and can be repressed by changing posture or going into a rest position. We then performed a systematic literature review to record the genotypes and comprehensive phenotype of MEF2C­-related disorders reported in the literature. Forty-three articles characterizing 117 patients met the inclusion criteria. Common features included intellectual disability, developmental delay, seizures, hypotonia, absent speech, inability to walk, stereotypic movements, and MRI abnormalities. Nonclassical findings included question mark ear, jugular pit, and a unique neuroendocrine finding. Next, we developed a survey based on validated instruments to gather developmental and clinical information from the parents of children with MEF2C-related disorders. Seventy-three parents completed the survey. Limited speech, seizures, bruxism, repetitive movements, and high pain tolerance were some of the prominent features identified from the survey data. Statistical analyses showed that patients with MEF2C variants were similarly affected as patients with deletions and females showed higher verbal abilities. This natural history study details phenotypic and developmental information of the largest single cohort reported to date. Lastly, we discussed current techniques used to investigate the mouse Mef2c gene expression and regulation in the brain. Previous unbiased RNA sequencing of whole cortex from Mef2c global heterozygous mice showed hundreds of dysregulated genes, particularly autism risk genes and microglial genes. The Cowan lab is currently performing single nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) to better understand the role of Mef2c in neurons and microglia. Techniques used include nuclei dissociation, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, library preparation and sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis of the snRNAseq data. Additional research techniques include perfusion fixation, brain extraction and slicing, and immunohistochemistry. These studies characterize the phenotype and document the severity of the disorder. The information reported will help providers diagnose and care for patients with MEF2C-related disorders. Additionally, the systematic review and survey data can be useful for further genotype-phenotype correlations, as baseline data for treatment trials, and to develop future studies

Next-Generation Sequencing in Equine Genomics

Next-generation sequencing of both DNA and RNA represents a second revolution in equine genetics following publication of the equine genome sequence. Technological advancements have resulted in a wide selection of next-generation sequencing platforms capable of completing small targeted experiments or resequencing complete genomes. DNA and RNA sequencing have applications in clinical and research environments. Standards for the validation and sharing of next-generation sequencing data are critical for the widespread application of the technology and applications discussed herein. As researchers and clinicians develop a better understanding of how genetic variation and phenotypic variation are linked, next-generation sequencing could help pave the way to personalized and precision management of horses

Douglas-fir seedling quality in biochar-amended peat substrates

Artificial forest regeneration using nursery produced growing stock is commonplace in the Pacific Northwest. High quality seedlings are needed for outplanting success, which depends on a seedling’s ability to establish new roots and overcome stress. Containerized seedling stock is typically grown in artificial growing media.  Peat, a popular component of growing media, is a non-renewable resource.  Biochar has similar physical attributes to peat, which makes it a potential alternative.  In our study, we grew Douglas-fir seedlings in containers with biochar-amended peat-based growing media to determine if biochar could improve seedling quality. Douglas-fir seeds were sown in March 2016 and seedlings were grown under standard light and temperature conditions at an operational forest nursery for nine months. After nine months, seedling quality was assessed for height, diameter, cold hardiness, and root growth potential. Using biochar did not improve Douglas-fir seedling quality, except for slightly increasing cold hardiness and root growth potential for equivalently sized seedlings. Seedlings grown without biochar had increased height and diameter compared to seedlings with biochar and they had higher root growth potential (all dependent on fertilizer rates). Douglas-fir seedling quality might be improved with biochar amendment if negative growth impacts of soil reaction can be overcome

Health Behaviors Predicting Risk of Obesity in US Adults: What Does a Healthy Lifestyle Look Like?

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the association between lifestyle factors and body weight in a nationally representative sample of US adults and to evaluate the association between a novel “Healthy Habits Composite Score (HHCS)” and risk of obesity. Methods This cross-sectional study included data from 4870 adults who participated in the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The HHCS was developed based on 4 factors: diet, physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep, all of which were measured during the NHANES. A “healthy lifestyle” was defined as meeting ≥3 of the 4 established criteria. Data analysis was conducted using SAS 9.4 and procedures to account for the complex survey design. All models were adjusted for age, sex, race, household income, and education. Results Adults with obesity had significantly lower dietary quality (48.8 ± 0.6 vs. 53.2 ± 0.9) and reported significantly more sedentary time (∼1 h more; 356.3 ± 7.0 vs. 301.4 ± 8.3 min) than lean adults, both p \u3c 0.001. Achieving a healthy lifestyle based on the HHCS was associated with nearly double the odds of having a healthy body weight (OR 1.9, p \u3c 0.001). Conclusions Following a lifestyle focused on healthy habits (diet quality, physical activity, limited sedentary time, and sleep) was strongly associated with a decreased risk of obesity: an individual who achieved three or more healthy habits had nearly twice the odds of having a healthy body weight. Therefore, comprehensive interventions that address and promote a wide range of healthy habits may be most effective for lowering obesity risk

The Midlands LGBT Needs Assessment Community Report

Health disparities research seeks to understand specific health-related needs and outcomes for groups of people, particularly minority groups. In 2011, the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) released a report commissioned by the National Institutes of Health entitled The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People: Building a Foundation for Understanding. For the first time, research on the health and well-being of LGBT persons has been prioritized by research funders at the highest levels