Policy Matters: Educating Congress on Peace and Security

Provides a guide to the inner workings of the U.S. Congress to aid organizations and individuals that are concerned with foreign policy matters and wish to initiate dialogue with Congress

The role of Arkadia2C and the BMP signalling pathway in motor neuron development

Motor neurons elongate axons over great distances during development, with some extending from the spinal cord to the distal limb, but little is known about extracellular signals that control this growth. The TGF-β superfamily includes two major classes of ligands: Nodallike and BMP. BMP signalling is essential for neuromuscular synaptic growth and plasticity in Drosophila; however, a similar role for the pathway in mammalian motor neurons has not been described. It has previously been shown that the E3-RING ubiquitin ligase Arkadia enhances signalling through the Nodal branch of TGF-β signalling. A second Arkadia locus was previously found to contain two isoforms; the C-terminal isoform (Arkadia2C) contains domains critical for Arkadia’s activity. This project addresses the in vivo function of Arkadia2C in mice. Arkadia2C was found to be expressed specifically in the nervous system throughout embryonic development and adulthood. In a neuronal context Arkadia2C enhances signalling through the Smad1/5/8 branch of the TGF-β pathway in a RING domain-dependent manner. Mice null for Arkadia2C display motor neuron disease-like symptoms including weak motor control and difficulties breathing and eating, leading to postnatal mortality in the majority of mice. A subset of Arkadia2C null embryonic innervation defects was analysed; the majority of the motor axons of the dorsal forelimb fail to form synapses with their target muscles while the phrenic nerve exhibits shorter terminal branches. Postnatally, a failure to maintain neuromuscular junctions was observed leading to atrophy of several muscles. Active BMP signalling was observed in the neurons that innervate the limb and diaphragm and genetic reduction of BMP signalling in asymptomatic Arkadia2C heterozygous mice caused the appearance of the same muscle innervation defects observed in the null individuals. Together, these findings suggest that Arkadia2C’s enhancement of the BMP signalling pathway is critical for the growth and connectivity of certain motor neurons

Corda na bretha: Cord of life

Through the creation of images of imaginary solar systems my thesis will explore the development of space through the processes of collograph and four-color intaglio-type inversion printmaking with painting. I am interested in the possibility of what we know and can touch, so I create my own visual universes for exploration. Kasimir Malevich influenced my personal exploration. Malevich created his own movement of Suprematism, which enabled him to construct images that had no reference at all to reality. Suprematism refers to the pure feeling in art over art\u27s objectivity. I began treating the surface of the imprinted paper by creating depth out of translucent and opaque levels of color. The visual imagery that I supply the viewer with is an intricate knotting of fluid shapes, much like Irish calligraphy and scroll work, in order to create a texture that depicts a solar system. Depicting the stars use to be considered a scientific and artistic endeavor. My thesis is my artistic interpretation of an unknown galaxy in which the viewer can immerse themselves in movement, depth, imagination and the Sublime. By using simple shapes in order to construct a fictitious environment, I am inviting the everyday viewer to contemplate my space. Deeply embossed collographs become landscape surfaces for painting. The choice of colors results in pulling some shapes forward and pushing others back to create atmospheric perspective. In doing so, I am able to create 3-demenional images on a 2-dementional surface. The technique of Four-Color Intaglio-Type inversion permits creating images from photographs of the collographic boards. Adobe Photoshop will enable manipulation of size, color and saturation levels of the images, which will draw attention to key areas from the original collographic plates. This replicates the way that a telescope with photographic capabilities would function in deep space. This dynamic artistic idea translates the high relief texture of Vincent Van Gogh\u27s paintings to printmaking. This idea was also inspired by the simple geometric forms and organic lines found in the paintings of Kasimir Malevich. My initial experiments suggest that the exploration of these techniques and media will be productive in the creation and expression of the solar systems I envision

Copyright, Fair Use, and Social Media Instruction for Undergraduates

Undergraduate students are increasingly expected to navigate the world of posting both original and reused content to social media. But how do students know what they should and shouldn’t share on social media? And how does this change depending on whether the student is using a personal account versus one made for school or for a job? An understanding of the ethics and legality of sharing copyrighted content is essential to the third frame, “Information Has Value,” of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Much of student use of copyrighted materials for coursework is covered by Educational Fair Use, but these protections do not cover work done for personal or commercial purposes, and may not cover student work that continues to exist outside of the academic environment. Library instruction at Loyola University New Orleans has recently included one-shot sessions on copyright and fair use for three different disciplines--music, music industry, and mass communication. This session will include a brief overview of current practice in copyright instruction for information literacy as well as tips, tools, and resources for librarians to successfully teach best practices for finding non-copyrighted materials and sharing copyrighted content via social media. Participants in this presentation will be able to 1) recognize the difference between copyright, fair use, and Creative Commons licenses; 2) develop (with confidence!) instruction sessions on copyright and fair use without formal legal training; and 3) modify social media and copyright instruction to meet the needs of different disciplines

Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With A Transtibial Amputation Using An Over-Ground Body Weight Support System: A Case Report

Background: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD): Narrowing of the vessels secondary to atherosclerotic plaque buildup, results in ischemia to extremities which can lead to intermittent claudication, decreased distal pulses, impaired healing. Lower Extremity Amputation: 54% of amputations in the USA are due to PAD, either alone or in conjunction with diabetes (Kalapatapau V. et al), transtibial and transfemoral most common, best outcomes with multidisciplinary approach. Body Weight Support (BWS) Systems: Commonly used in patients after stroke or incomplete spinal cord injury; methods: treadmill or over-ground, over-ground allows for assistive device training and varying terrains; parameters: high-intensity, high-repetition, task-specific; lack of research investigating BWS systems after lower extremity amputations. Purpose: The purpose of this case report was to provide a framework for the physical therapy management, including the use of a body weight support system, for a patient with a transtibial amputation in a skilled rehab setting.https://dune.une.edu/pt_studcrposter/1014/thumbnail.jp

Student Perspectives in a Recovery High School: How Students with Emotional Disability and Students with Other Health Impairment for ADHD Experience Success

The purpose of this bound, exploratory case study was to investigate how students with ED (Emotional Disorder) and students with OHI (Other Health Impairment) for ADHD experience success at a recovery high school (RHS). The five participants in this qualitative study, current RHS students and recent alumni, were asked to participate in a pre-interview activity followed by a semi-structured interview to gather the student voice and discover how students with ED and students with OHI for ADHD experience success within this specialized and seldom-studied educational environment. Through their pre-interview activities and their responses in semistructured interviews, it was evident that participants in this study felt that they achieved success while attending their recovery high school. This research provides important implications for helping students experience success in school. First, build and provide a positive school environment, and second, guide students to self-realization to assist them in making positive behavioral changes. Participant reflections in this research also made evident elements of their path to success: building positive relationships, gaining self-realizations, changing their behaviors, and realizing their purpose. This research displays how the RHS not only lead students to success but also helped them to flourish educationally and emotionally. Participant responses in this research also exhibited elements of Social Cognitive Theory’s (SCT’s) triadic reciprocal causation and how it impacts students and their achieving success at an RHS. Triadic reciprocal causation reflects the mutually influenced relationship among personal, behavioral, and environmental factors (Bandura, 1986). As evidenced by this research, if educational programs, such as RHSs and any others that service students in special education, provide an education that strongly considers and incorporates these factors of SCT to support students, then this population of students is more likely to experience success