First-Generation College Students & Campus Resources

The purpose of this research was to analyze how campus resources at Valparaiso University affect first-generation college students. Specifically, this study looked at the effect campus resources have on feelings of belonging on campus and academic success. First generation college students are defined as students whose parents have not obtained a four-year degree. This study used a questionnaire that was emailed to every known first-generation college student at Valparaiso University. This consisted of five sections: demographics, campus resource use, the campus community, academic preparedness, and experience. The use of campus resources section used a Likert scale to see how often students used different campus resources. The campus community and academic preparedness sections also used a Likert scale to see how much students related to questions such as, “I feel like I fit in at Valpo”. Finally, the experience section allowed for students to write in specific challenges they have faced on Valparaiso University\u27s campus. These results can help further develop the Persistence and Success Program (PSP), a first-generation college student program on campus

Massively parallel profiling and predictive modeling of the outcomes of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated double-strand break repair.

Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) plays an important role in double-strand break (DSB) repair of DNA. Recent studies have shown that the error patterns of NHEJ are strongly biased by sequence context, but these studies were based on relatively few templates. To investigate this more thoroughly, we systematically profiled ∼1.16 million independent mutational events resulting from CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage and NHEJ-mediated DSB repair of 6872 synthetic target sequences, introduced into a human cell line via lentiviral infection. We find that: (i) insertions are dominated by 1 bp events templated by sequence immediately upstream of the cleavage site, (ii) deletions are predominantly associated with microhomology and (iii) targets exhibit variable but reproducible diversity with respect to the number and relative frequency of the mutational outcomes to which they give rise. From these data, we trained a model that uses local sequence context to predict the distribution of mutational outcomes. Exploiting the bias of NHEJ outcomes towards microhomology mediated events, we demonstrate the programming of deletion patterns by introducing microhomology to specific locations in the vicinity of the DSB site. We anticipate that our results will inform investigations of DSB repair mechanisms as well as the design of CRISPR/Cas9 experiments for diverse applications including genome-wide screens, gene therapy, lineage tracing and molecular recording

A Review of the Effect of Management Practices on Campylobacter Prevalence in Poultry Farms.

Poultry is frequently associated with campylobacteriosis in humans, with Campylobacter jejuni being the most usual Campylobacter associated with disease in humans. Far-reaching research on Campylobacter was undertaken over the past two decades. This has resulted in interventions being put in place on farms and in processing plants. Despite these interventions, coupled with increased media coverage to educate the consumer on Campylobacter prevalence and campylobacteriosis, human health incidents are still high. Recent research is now shifting toward further understanding of the microorganisms to challenge interventions in place and to look at further and more relevant interventions for the reduction in human incidents. Farm practices play a key role in the control of colonization within poultry houses and among flocks. Prevalence at the farm level can be up to 100% and time of colonization may vary widely between flocks. Considerable research has been performed to understand how farm management and animal health practices can affect colonization on farms. This review will focus on farm practices to date as a baseline for future interventions as the microorganism becomes better understood. Further research is required to understand the chicken microbiome and factors influencing vertical transmission. The persistence of Campylobacter in animal and environmental reservoirs within and around farms requires further investigation to tailor farm practices toward preventing such reservoirs. IMPLICATIONS  This review gives an overview of farm practices and their effect on Campylobacter prevalence in poultry. Various elements of farm practices have been captured in this review

The effects of knee injury on skeletal muscle function, Na+, K+-ATPase content, and isoform abundance.

While training upregulates skeletal muscle Na+, K+‐ATPase (NKA), the effects of knee injury and associated disuse on muscle NKA remain unknown. This was therefore investigated in six healthy young adults with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, (KI; four females, two males; age 25.0 ± 4.9 years; injury duration 15 ± 17 weeks; mean ± SD) and seven age‐ and BMI‐matched asymptomatic controls (CON; five females, two males). Each participant underwent a vastus lateralis muscle biopsy, on both legs in KI and one leg in CON. Muscle was analyzed for muscle fiber type and cross‐sectional area (CSA), NKA content ([3H]ouabain binding), and α1–3 and β1–2 isoform abundance. Participants also completed physical activity and knee function questionnaires (KI only); and underwent quadriceps peak isometric strength, thigh CSA and postural sway assessments in both injured and noninjured legs. NKA content was 20.1% lower in the knee‐injured leg than the noninjured leg and 22.5% lower than CON. NKA α2 abundance was 63.0% lower in the knee‐injured leg than the noninjured leg, with no differences in other NKA isoforms. Isometric strength and thigh CSA were 21.7% and 7.1% lower in the injured leg than the noninjured leg, respectively. In KI, postural sway did not differ between legs, but for two‐legged standing was 43% higher than CON. Hence, muscle NKA content and α2 abundance were reduced in severe knee injury, which may contribute to impaired muscle function. Restoration of muscle NKA may be important in rehabilitation of muscle function after knee and other lower limb injury

Degree of Scaffolding: Learning Objective Metadata: A Prototype Leaning System Design for Integrating GIS into a Civil Engineering Curriculum

Digital media and networking offer great potential as tools for enhancing classroom learning environments, both local and distant. One concept and related technological tool that can facilitate the effective application and distribution of digital educational resources is learning objects in combination with the SCORM (sharable content objects reference model) compliance framework. Progressive scaffolding is a learning design approach for educational systems that provides flexible guidance to students. We are in the process of utilizing this approach within a SCORM framework in the form of a multi-level instructional design. The associated metadata required by SCORM will describe the degree of scaffolding. This paper will discuss progressive scaffolding as it relates to SCORM compliant learning objects, within the context of the design of an application for integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into the civil engineering curriculum at the University of Missouri - Rolla

Design and Development of Liquid Drug Reservoirs for Microneedle Delivery of Poorly Soluble Drug Molecules

The poor aqueous solubility of existing and emerging drugs is a major issue faced by the pharmaceutical industry. Water-miscible organic solvents, termed co-solvents, can be used to enhance the solubility of poorly soluble substances. Typically, drugs with poor aqueous solubility and Log P > 3 are not amenable to delivery across the skin. This study investigated the use of co-solvents as reservoirs to be used in combination with hydrogel-forming microneedles to enhance the transdermal delivery of hydrophobic compounds, namely Nile red, olanzapine and atorvastatin. A custom-made Franz cell apparatus was fabricated to test the suitability of a liquid drug reservoir in combination with polymeric microneedles. A co-solvency approach to reservoir formulation proved effective, with 83.30% ± 9.38% of Nile red dye, dissolved in 1 mL poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG 400), permeating neonatal porcine skin over 24 h. PEG 400 and propylene glycol were found to be suitable reservoir media for olanzapine and atorvastatin, with approximately 50% of each drug delivered after 24 h. This work provides crucial proof-of-concept evidence that the manipulation of microneedle reservoir properties is an effective method to facilitate microneedle-mediated delivery of hydrophobic compounds

Salbutamol effects on systemic potassium dynamics during and following intense continuous and intermittent exercise

Purpose: Salbutamol inhalation is permissible by WADA in athletic competition for asthma management and affects potassium regulation, which is vital for muscle function. Salbutamol effects on arterial potassium concentration ([K+]a) during and after high-intensity continuous exercise (HIcont) and intermittent exercise comprising repeated, brief sprints (HIint), and on performance during HIint are unknown and were investigated. Methods: Seven recreationally active men participated in a double-blind, randomised, cross-over design, inhaling 1000 µg salbutamol or placebo. Participants cycled continuously for 5 min at 40 % V ˙ O2peak and 60 % V ˙ O2peak, then HIcont (90 s at 130 % V ˙ O2peak), 20 min recovery, and then HIint (3 sets, 5 × 4 s sprints), with 30 min recovery. Results: Plasma [K+]a increased throughout exercise and subsequently declined below baseline (P < 0.001). Plasma [K+]a was greater during HIcont than HIint (P < 0.001, HIcont 5.94 ± 0.65 vs HIint set 1, 4.71 ± 0.40 mM); the change in [K+]a from baseline (Δ[K+]a) was 2.6-fold greater during HIcont than HIint (P < 0.001). The Δ[K+] throughout the trial was less with salbutamol than placebo (P < 0.001, treatment main effect, 0.03 ± 0.67 vs 0.22 ± 0.69 mM, respectively); and remained less after correction for fluid shifts (P < 0.001). The Δ[K+] during HIcont was less after salbutamol (P < 0.05), but not during HIint. Blood lactate, plasma pH, and the work output during HIint did not differ between trials. Conclusions: Inhaled salbutamol modulated the [K+]a rise across the trial, comprising intense continuous and intermittent exercise and recovery, lowering Δ[K+] during HIcont. The limited [K+]a changes during HIint suggest that salbutamol is unlikely to influence systemic [K+] during periods of intense effort in intermittent sports

PL - 039 Heat Shock Proteins in human single skeletal muscle fibres resist age associated alterations and differentially respond to high-intensity exercise training

Objective Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are ubiquitously expressed proteins that help preserve cellular homeostasis. Within mammalian skeletal muscle three of the better characterised HSPs are HSP72, HSP27 and αB-crystallin. Among other roles, these three HSPs are involved in regulation of muscle mass and function and may be of importance in ageing. HSP’s are fibre-type dependent in rat skeletal muscle and thus examining these proteins in humans should be completed on the single fibre level, particularly in ageing where maladaptations primarily occur in Type II fibres. High-Intensity Training (HIT) is a commonly used method to improve muscle health and function in the elderly, but HSP adaptability to training has not yet been investigated. &nbsp; Methods This study examined isolated single muscle fibre segments collected from freeze-dried vastus lateralis muscle samples from young (25 /- 3 year old) and older (70 /- 4 year old) healthy individuals. &nbsp;A further sample was collected from the older individuals following 12 weeks of HIT, where they performed 4 x 4 min @ ~90-95% of peak heart rate (HR), with 4 min active recovery at 50-60% peak HR Results Basal expression of HSP’s in skeletal muscle: HSP70 tended to be higher in Type I fibres compared to Type II in young adults (p=0.08) and was higher in Type I compared to Type II fibres of older adults (p=0.03). HSP27 abundance was higher in Type I fibres compared to Type II in young adults (p=0.01) and tended to be higher in Type I compared to Type II fibres in older adults (p=0.07). The abundance of αβ-crystallin was more abundant in Type I fibres compared to Type II in both young and older adults (p&lt;0.05). &nbsp;Preliminary data revealed that the abundance of pABCser59 and pHSP2782 displayed no fibre-type specific abundances in either young or older adults. Age effects on HSP’s: There was no difference in the abundance of HSP70, HSP27, ABC or pHSP2782 between young and older adults in either Type I or Type II fibres. There was an increase in the abundance of pABCser59 in Type I fibres in older adults compared to Type I fibres of young adults (p=0.03), with no difference in Type II fibres. Effects of HIT on HSP’s: &nbsp;HIT in the older individuals increased the abundance of HSP70 in Type I fibres (p&lt;0.01) but not Type II. HIT tended to decrease the abundance of HSP27 in Type I fibres (0.92±0.66, p=0.06) and tended to increase the abundance of αβ-crystallin in Type I fibres (1.03±1.51 p=0.07). Conclusions These results revealed that in healthy, older individuals, the basal levels of HSP27, ABC or pHSP2782 are not different to those in young adults in either Type I or Type II fibres. This could indicate that the muscle from the older individuals was not compromised. &nbsp;Interestingly, in response to HIT there were varying changes between these HSP’s, and of note these occurred only in Type I fibres. &nbsp;Given that during HIT Type II fibres would be activated to a greater extent, it appears that the recovery phases of the HIT were most responsive to HSPs