Matching Items (527)
Description
Scholarly work, industry profile analyses, and sports entertainment, similarly posit the normative fantasy football fan as an uber fan, defined largely by the vast amount of time spent per week consuming sports media content. The average fantasy football participant is also defined as a white, middle-class, married man in his late 20s (FTSA.org). However, by drawing on qualitative interview data of 48 fantasy football participants, we argue that this typical profile of a fantasy football participant as an uber fan is limiting in a masculinist way precisely because it reifies a gendered category of fan as normal, making anything outside of that category deviant. Close analysis of the experiences of thirteen of the 48 fantasy football players, all of whom identify as women, indicate an alternative, cohesive fantasy football participant profile that is centered on being competitive while also being efficient with one's time and resources. Additionally, we find that these women fantasy fans actively reject the notion of the uber fan as the only way to be a normal fantasy football fan because they want to play and win on their own terms.
ContributorsItmam, Arif (Author) / Ingram-Waters, Mary (Thesis director) / Southergill, Keith (Committee member) / Lashley, Mark (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Full thickness wounds encompass damage through the epidermis and dermis with characteristic loss of structure and healing through secondary intention. Two treatments that have been thoroughly researched and shown efficacy in treating these types of wounds are platelet-rich-gels (PRG) and electro-spun collagen scaffolds. However, little research has been done to investigate the two as a combination treatment, a biomaterial enrich platelet-rich-gel. PRGs provide the wound with growth factors and cytokines that are naturally present in a wound bed, but in a concentration above that of native physiological conditions. The electro-spun collagen scaffold works on two premises, the first is that it is providing a vital skin protein that will be deposited during the wound healing process in addition to providing a matrix for cells to migrate into. The investigation into PRGs and the combination treatment was ultimately accomplished in a three step study: creation of a PRG from platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) utilizing calcium chloride; analysis into the effects of calcium chloride on platelets through scanning electron microscopy; and finally an in vivo study comparing two treatments, the combination treatment and standalone electrospun scaffold treatment, and a control (dressed with petroleum gauze). Calcium chloride revealed to be an effective method for gel creation. SEM analysis detailed whole blood platelets demonstrating normal discoid morphology found in quiescent platelets, whereas the PRG platelets demonstrated extending pseudopods and bleb formation indicative of activation. In the in vivo study, both the standalone electro-spun collagen scaffold treatment and the combination treatment had statistical significance 144 hours post wound creation when compared to the control with p values of 0.0092 and 0.0016 respectively. However, there was no statistical significance between the combination treatment and the standalone electro-spun scaffold treatment at any time point of the study.
ContributorsRobinson, Andrew Joseph (Author) / Massia, Stephen (Thesis director) / Tabor, Aaron (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2015-12
Description
Personality is a relevant and applicable research topic now more than ever; because of the Internet, self-report measures of personality are becoming increasingly accessible. Although now widely available for personal application, personality inventories are not often examined in the context of their associations with other factors. Specifically, there exists a gap in the research on personality and its associations with philosophical belief. Based on a sample of 88 individuals, correlations between the Big Five and Philosophy Dichotomy Test were examined in order to investigate the associations between personality traits and philosophical belief. Agreeableness was found to be negatively associated with the sensuality, values, metaphysical, and societal axes, corresponding to higher levels of hedonism, rationalism, materialism, and egoism. These findings suggest that personality as measured by the Big Five and philosophical belief are somewhat associated. Limitations and future directions are presented.
ContributorsFitzgerald, Clare (Author) / Randall, Ashley K. (Thesis director) / Iida, Masumi (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The purpose of this thesis project is to analyze the impact that patient death has on long-term care providers. This study draws upon my own experience working as a licensed nursing assistant in a long-term care facility and also uses a qualitative analysis of six semi-structured interviews with other nursing assistants and hospice volunteers. With patient death being an unavoidable part of working in this area of healthcare, I explore how these care providers cope with losing their patients and the effectiveness of these coping mechanisms. Some strategies found that aided in coping with grief included staying detached from patients, being distracted by other aspects of the job, receiving support from co-workers, family members and/or supervisors, and having a religious outlook on what happens following death. In addition to these, I argue that care providers also utilize the unconscious defense mechanism of repression to avoid their feelings of grief and guilt. Repressing the grief and emotions that come along with patient death can protect the individual from additional pain in order for them to continue to do their difficult jobs. Being distracted by other patients also aids in the repression process by avoiding personal feelings temporarily. I also look into factors that have been found to affect the level of grief including the caregiver’s closeness to the patient, level of preparedness for the death, and first experience of losing a patient. Ultimately, I show that the common feelings accompanied by patient death (sadness, anger and stress) and the occurrence of burnout are harmful symptoms of the repression taking place.
ContributorsMasterson, Kaitlin (Author) / Loebenberg, Abby (Thesis director) / Mack, Robert (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Ethnic groups experience different societal and economic circumstances that contribute to their well-being. Life satisfaction and happiness are commonly used as a measure of well-being; but they are not often used to evaluate well-being in lower income countries. This study focuses on the self-reported life satisfaction and happiness of members of ethnic groups from low- and middle-income countries and its correlation with ethnic privilege, gender opportunity, and income. Using two self-reported measures of well-being—life satisfaction and happiness—among 110,391 women in 27 countries (ages 15-49) surveyed in Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, this study examines how country-level indicators of gender opportunity, ethnic-level indicators of privilege and household-level measures of wealth are associated with well-being. Our findings indicate a significant relationship between ethnic privilege, gender opportunity and income on life satisfaction. The results from this study provide valuable data and implications for lower income countries to identify and reduce modifiable risk factors that affect a population’s well-being.
ContributorsChavez Lopez, Giselle (Co-author, Co-author) / Hruschka, Daniel (Thesis director) / Gonzales, Angela (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Do certain refugee groups better adapt and assimilate into society in Arizona? If this is the case, which factors contribute to this better rate of assimilation and what can other groups do to better assimilate into American society? Examining data from the Department of Economic Security and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, this study examined trends in refugee resettlement in Arizona. Specifically, trends involving socialization, employment, and education were examined. In addition to analyzing governmental data, this study involved the surveying of local refugees at random in order to gather data regarding the relationship between refugees' home countries and assimilation rates. This study finds evidence that there is indeed a correlation between refugees' geographical origin and their overall rate of assimilation. In order to determine this relationship, survey responses involving a variety of aspects of life in America were quantified. Specifically, this study showed that refugees from Latin America and the Middle East tend to assimilate better than those from Africa and other regions.
ContributorsLabban, Dillon Brendon (Author) / Mousa, Neimeh (Thesis director) / Sulayman, Umar (Committee member) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Higher plant Rubisco activase (Rca) is a stromal ATPase responsible for reactivating Rubisco. It is a member of the AAA+ protein superfamily and is thought to assemble into closed-ring hexamers like other AAA+ proteins belonging to the classic clade. Progress towards modeling the interaction between Rca and Rubisco has been slow due to limited structural information on Rca. Previous efforts in the lab were directed towards solving the structure of spinach short-form Rca using X-ray crystallography, given that it had notably high thermostability in the presence of ATP-γS, an ATP analog. However, due to disorder within the crystal lattice, an atomic resolution structure could not be obtained, prompting us to move to negative stain electron microscopy (EM), with our long-term goal being the use of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for atomic resolution structure determination. Thus far, we have screened different Rca constructs in the presence of ATP-γS, both the full-length β-isoform and truncations containing only the AAA+ domain. Images collected on preparations of the full-length protein were amorphous, whereas images of the AAA+ domain showed well-defined ring-like assemblies under some conditions. Procedural adjustments, such as the use of previously frozen protein samples, rapid dilution, and minimizing thawing time were shown to improve complex assembly. The presence of Mn2+ was also found to improve hexamer formation over Mg2+. Calculated class averages of the AAA+ Rca construct in the presence of ATP-γS indicated a lack of homogeneity in the assemblies, showing both symmetric and asymmetric hexameric rings. To improve structural homogeneity, we tested buffer conditions containing either ADP alone or different ratios of ATP-γS to ADP, though results did not show a significant improvement in homogeneity. Multiple AAA+ domain preparations were evaluated. Because uniform protein assembly is a major requirement for structure solution by cryo-EM, more work needs to be done on screening biochemical conditions to optimize homogeneity.
ContributorsHernandez, Victoria Joan (Author) / Wachter, Rebekka (Thesis director) / Chiu, Po-Lin (Committee member) / Redding, Kevin (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Objective
The objective of this study is to compare amyloid β (Aβ) PET positive and negative patients to their neuropsychological profiles. There is a definitive link between Aβ deposits and cognitive disorders such as MCI or Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but does its presence justify the costly imaging tests based on its clinical context?
Background
Amnestic MCI is largely considered prodromal to AD/dementia in a high majority of cases. [1] Many studies have shown a positive correlation between Aβ PET positive individuals and their likelihood to progress to AD. Aβ deposits in the brain are not always a sign of AD or even MCI, and many elderly people live normal lives with elevated levels. The presence of Aβ in the brain should be carefully considered alongside other tests before making a clinical diagnosis of MCI or AD.
Methods
130 subjects from Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix, AZ) were included in this study. Amyloid PET report data was pulled from Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Outpatient Imaging. Amyloid PET scans obtained by using F-18 florbetapir compound and reviewed by an expert radiologist providing a qualitative status of amyloid-beta positive (+) or negative (-). All data was anonymized and categorized into positive amyloid PET, negative amyloid PET, and clinical diagnosis based on neuropsychological profiles.
Results
The demographic data indicated that 38.5% of the 91 patients diagnosed as amnestic MCI were amyloid PET negative while 61.5% were amyloid PET positive. Of the 39 patients diagnosed as Dementia or AD 15.4% were amyloid PET negative and 84.6% were amyloid PET positive. Correlational analysis between diagnosis and neuropsychological variables suggests that some variables correlate well while others do not. There is a significant correlation between diagnosis and dementia rating scale (DRS) r(24) = -.762, between diagnosis and TrailsB Test r(39) = .397, between diagnosis and phonetic fluency r(30) = -.383, between diagnosis and semantic fluency r(29) = -.369, and between diagnosis and the Boston Naming Test (BNT) r(36) = -.312. Comparing the PET positive and PET negative groups there is a marginal significance in the Boston Naming Test (T=1.945, P=.060) suggesting PET positive individuals test lower than PET negative.
Conclusion
Based on all the results of this study, amyloid PET is still a clinical indicator that an individual might be MCI or dementia/AD, but it has its exceptions. A small number of patients diagnosed as dementia/AD had a negative amyloid PET suggesting that beta amyloid plaques are not the only cause of the disease. There is a strong suggestion that amyloid plaques are a major factor in the progression of dementia or AD, however the results from an amyloid PET cannot be directly related to a diagnosis.
The objective of this study is to compare amyloid β (Aβ) PET positive and negative patients to their neuropsychological profiles. There is a definitive link between Aβ deposits and cognitive disorders such as MCI or Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but does its presence justify the costly imaging tests based on its clinical context?
Background
Amnestic MCI is largely considered prodromal to AD/dementia in a high majority of cases. [1] Many studies have shown a positive correlation between Aβ PET positive individuals and their likelihood to progress to AD. Aβ deposits in the brain are not always a sign of AD or even MCI, and many elderly people live normal lives with elevated levels. The presence of Aβ in the brain should be carefully considered alongside other tests before making a clinical diagnosis of MCI or AD.
Methods
130 subjects from Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix, AZ) were included in this study. Amyloid PET report data was pulled from Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Outpatient Imaging. Amyloid PET scans obtained by using F-18 florbetapir compound and reviewed by an expert radiologist providing a qualitative status of amyloid-beta positive (+) or negative (-). All data was anonymized and categorized into positive amyloid PET, negative amyloid PET, and clinical diagnosis based on neuropsychological profiles.
Results
The demographic data indicated that 38.5% of the 91 patients diagnosed as amnestic MCI were amyloid PET negative while 61.5% were amyloid PET positive. Of the 39 patients diagnosed as Dementia or AD 15.4% were amyloid PET negative and 84.6% were amyloid PET positive. Correlational analysis between diagnosis and neuropsychological variables suggests that some variables correlate well while others do not. There is a significant correlation between diagnosis and dementia rating scale (DRS) r(24) = -.762, between diagnosis and TrailsB Test r(39) = .397, between diagnosis and phonetic fluency r(30) = -.383, between diagnosis and semantic fluency r(29) = -.369, and between diagnosis and the Boston Naming Test (BNT) r(36) = -.312. Comparing the PET positive and PET negative groups there is a marginal significance in the Boston Naming Test (T=1.945, P=.060) suggesting PET positive individuals test lower than PET negative.
Conclusion
Based on all the results of this study, amyloid PET is still a clinical indicator that an individual might be MCI or dementia/AD, but it has its exceptions. A small number of patients diagnosed as dementia/AD had a negative amyloid PET suggesting that beta amyloid plaques are not the only cause of the disease. There is a strong suggestion that amyloid plaques are a major factor in the progression of dementia or AD, however the results from an amyloid PET cannot be directly related to a diagnosis.
ContributorsSorenson, Keaton Andrew (Author) / Azuma, Tamiko (Thesis director) / DeCourt, Boris (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
The goal of this study was to investigate the possibility of catch bond formation between nectin and actin during cellular adhesion by modeling the actin-filament binding protein, afadin, out of equilibrium. This was done through the in silico methodology of Molecular Dynamics (MD); more specifically using Steered Molecular Dynamics (SMD) and Replica Exchange Molecular Dynamics (REMD). The methodology of this experiment centered around generating physiologically probable structures through REMD, then using MD and SMD methods to generate structures in the absence and presence of force respectively. These structures were then analyzed through Solvent Accessible Surface Area (SASA) measurements to assess the overall compactness of the structure, which led to implicit observations on the overall resistance of force that this structure has. Overall, it was found that the structure displayed more compact conformations in the presence of force as the SASA values of the binding pocket and individual residues involved in the system tend to decrease as force was applied. This is indicative of more stable conformations and a force resistant quality that is indicative of catch bonding, thus leading to the natural conclusion that this structure displays catch bond character.
ContributorsChapman, Jonathan (Author) / Singharoy, Abhishek (Thesis director) / Beckstein, Oliver (Committee member) / Ros, Robert (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05
Description
The primary channel responsible for cold thermo-transduction in mammals is the transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) channel. TRPM8 is a polymodal, nonselective cation channel with an activation that is dependent on a variety of signals, including the membrane potential, calcium concentration, temperature, and ligands such as menthol. Mathematical modeling provides valuable insight into biochemical phenomena, such as the activity of these channels, which are difficult to observe experimentally. Here, we propose a TRPM8 gating model, represented as a system of ordinary differential equations with menthol, calcium, voltage, and temperature dependencies. We use voltage-clamp data from transfected HEK293 cells in the presence of menthol to create a menthol-dependent voltage shift of activation. We fit the parameters of the TRPM8 gating model to replicate experimental TRPM8 transfected HEK293 cell voltage clamp electrophysiology data using a genetic algorithm. Using k-means clustering, we note eight clusters within 110 total parameter sets consisting of parameter solutions that provide a good fit to the experimental data. We then replicate novel fixed-voltage temperature ramp and fixed-temperature voltage ramp experimental data, demonstrating that our model can replicate the dynamic behaviors of TRPM8. With this TRPM8 gating model, we analyze the various parameter sets obtained from the genetic algorithm and find that different parameter combinations of calcium decay, calcium voltage shift of activation, and temperature sensitivity are able to match static voltage clamp data although differ in their effects on hysteresis and maximal current within prolonged temperature ramp simulations.
ContributorsDudebout, Eric (Author) / Crook, Sharon (Thesis director) / Van Horn, Wade (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor)
Created2024-05