A New Test for the Identification of Eosinophils in Patient Samples

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Description

Eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) is a marker of eosinophilic inflammation in allergic diseases. Currently, measuring EPX in nasal swabs as a surrogate for airway eosinophil levels is completed using a gold standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) lab test. The purpose of…

Eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) is a marker of eosinophilic inflammation in allergic diseases. Currently, measuring EPX in nasal swabs as a surrogate for airway eosinophil levels is completed using a gold standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) lab test. The purpose of this project was to develop and validate a novel lateral flow assay (LFA) that measures EPX with the same sensitivity and range of detection as the gold standard EPX ELISA, but that can be efficiently used in clinical settings. The results of this project show that the EPX LFA is a promising method for measuring EPX in nasal swab samples. While future studies are needed for further validation, the EPX LFA could provide rapid point-of-care EPX measurements for clinicians and patients suffering with eosinophil-associated diseases.

Date Created
2022-05
Agent

The 8 Yoga Sutras and How They Impact the Daily Stress of College Students

Description

Yoga has become one of the most popular contemporary health approaches practiced by young adults in the United States. It is an ancient mind and body practice with origins in Indian philosophy dating to over 5,000 years ago. Yoga combines…

Yoga has become one of the most popular contemporary health approaches practiced by young adults in the United States. It is an ancient mind and body practice with origins in Indian philosophy dating to over 5,000 years ago. Yoga combines physical postures, rhythmic breathing, and meditative exercises to offer the participants a unique, holistic mind-body experience. In this report, the Sutras first introduced by Patanjali, an ancient Indian sage, are broken down into modern definitions. Each sutra has its own unique mental and physical benefits that can be attained by college students. Yama encourages maintaining a personal moral code. Niyama allows for personal connection and self-awareness. Asana refers to the poses that are still commonly practiced today. Pranayama helps to practice deep breathing. Pratyahara offers a disconnect from the world around us. Dharana allows us to focus and hone in on one thought. Dyana promotes a continuous flow of focus in meditation. Samadhi is reaching a state of pure relaxation. All of these take time and practice, but when implemented in different aspects of daily life, college students can reduce their overall stress and anxiety to improve focus and success.

Date Created
2020-12
Agent

Reviewing the Effects of Misfolded Tau Proteins in Alzheimer’s Disease

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Description
Current research attempts to address the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by
finding causes and treatments to revert misfolded proteins and ceasing progression due to
Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The goal of this review is to highlight the contribution of misfolded Tau
protein…

Current research attempts to address the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by
finding causes and treatments to revert misfolded proteins and ceasing progression due to
Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The goal of this review is to highlight the contribution of misfolded Tau
protein to AD through neurofibrillary tangles solely, and in conjunction with known causative
agents such as 𝛽-amyloid protein. Finally, it interprets the association of Tau with DM and its
effects on the progression of AD.
Date Created
2020-05
Agent

Summary of Lung Cancer

Description
This work examines lung cancer to provide a tool for patients, health care workers, and the community in the form of an informational pamphlet. The research was done through the analysis of peer-reviewed scientific publications, books, and other credible sources.…

This work examines lung cancer to provide a tool for patients, health care workers, and the community in the form of an informational pamphlet. The research was done through the analysis of peer-reviewed scientific publications, books, and other credible sources. This thesis establishes a timeline of disease from the broad definition, through molecular development and further progression through the stages of the disease. To simulate the natural flow of the disease from a patient’s perspective, the symptoms section appears next, followed by diagnosis, which then makes patients question statistics, treatment, and finances. The next section focuses on prevention as a solution to decrease incidence. Finally, the commentary and conclusion section offer alternative ideas. Lung cancer is found to be the most prolific killer among cancers due to high occurrence rate and low survival rates. Some of the reasons for low survival are asymptomatic nature of the disease, lack of early detection tools, and fast progression rate. While patients’ out of pocket cost is found to be around $57,000, lung cancer research receives inadequate funding. Smoking and radon exposure is the leading causes of lung cancer development. Prevention of these and other risk factors is the key to lowering cancer occurrence and death. These issues require solutions such as early detection tools, semi-frequent testing, community awareness, and education, as well as adequate research funding.
Date Created
2020-05
Agent

Movement of Marine-Based Microplastics from Seabird Guano to Terrestrial Ecosystems

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Description
Microplastics are defined as small pieces of plastics that are less than five millimeters in size. These microplastics can vary in their appearance, are known to be harmful to aquatic life and can threaten life cycles of marine organisms because…

Microplastics are defined as small pieces of plastics that are less than five millimeters in size. These microplastics can vary in their appearance, are known to be harmful to aquatic life and can threaten life cycles of marine organisms because of their chemical make-up and the toxic additives used in their manufacture. Although small in size, it is hypothesized that microplastics can serve as an example of how human activities can alter ecosystems near and far. To investigate the implications and determine the potential impact of microplastics on a protected atoll’s ecosystems, red-footed booby (Sula sula) guano samples from six locations on Palmyra Atoll were acquired from North Carolina State University via The Nature Conservancy and were inspected for the presence of microplastics. Each of the guano samples were weighed and prepared via wet oxidation. Microplastic fibers were detected via stereoscope microscopy and analyzed for chemical composition via Raman spectroscopy. All six sampling locations within Palmyra Atoll contained microplastic fibers identified as polyethylene terephthalate, with North-South Causeway and Eastern Island having the highest average number of microplastic fibers found per gram of guano sample (n = 0.611). These data provide evidence that seabirds can serve as vectors for the spread of microplastic pollution. This research lends context to the widespread impact of plastic pollution and states possible implications of its presence in delicate ecosystems.
Date Created
2019-05
Agent

An Evidence-Based Resource for Faculty Addressing Non-Course-Specific Student Needs

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Description
The goal of this thesis was to create a resource addressing non-course-specific (NCS) student needs that College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA) faculty can provide to their students when appropriate. Students attend faculty office hours for a variety of…

The goal of this thesis was to create a resource addressing non-course-specific (NCS) student needs that College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA) faculty can provide to their students when appropriate. Students attend faculty office hours for a variety of reasons, and not all are academic in nature. Data was collected in order to determine which resources were lacking in addressing these needs. Student need was identified through a 13-item survey regarding faculty perception of NCS student needs, including the primary reason for office hour visitation and the primary sources of stress, academic advising, and time management complaints from their students. Additionally, feedback was collected regarding faculty perception of available resources and likelihood of utilizing a new resource. Throughout the Downtown, Tempe, and Polytechnic campuses, 24 faculty responded. It was found that work stress, familial stress, academic advising requests, and students comments of being overwhelmed were the primary NCS student needs as perceived by faculty. Additionally, the majority of faculty reported not feeling fully equipped to address these needs. This information was used to create a resource compiling a list of University and off-campus tools that students can access to address these needs. The resource combined data from faculty and from the literature to address general and specific issues of stress, academic advising, feeling ‘off,’ and recovery and was created a double-sided handout to be used electronically or for print. It is currently available for faculty use. With further research, this resource could be expanded or refined to address the needs of a larger population of students in different colleges or on different campuses. Eventually, this could be used as a University-wide tool.
Date Created
2019-05
Agent

Using Mummification and Temperature to Estimate Postmortem Interval

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Description
Mummification is an alternative to human decomposition that involves desiccation of the tissues of the body, particularly the skin. A total of 44 decedents with known postmortem intervals (PMIs) were collected from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office and given…

Mummification is an alternative to human decomposition that involves desiccation of the tissues of the body, particularly the skin. A total of 44 decedents with known postmortem intervals (PMIs) were collected from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office and given a cumulative mummification score (CMS) describing the extent of their mummification using a novel scale. PMI was multiplied by the ambient temperature of the scene to allow for the creation of a new variable, accumulated degree days (ADDs). A non-linear relationship was found between PMI and ADD. The variables were transformed to generate a linear relationship. Pearson correlations and regression analyses were performed and generated a final graphical model (p < 0.05, r = 0.750, n = 34). An equation was calculated based off of a previously-established protocol that produced a range of possible PMIs from a given CMS. The accuracy of the ranges the equation provided was not very high (14%). When expanded to the 95% confidence intervals, 41% of cases fell within the predicted range. The data collected may not have been accurate due to the method of PMI calculation. The PMIs were calculated from the time the decedent was last known alive, which was likely artificially high as many of the individuals were socially isolated premortem. There were also several confounding variables that were not accounted for. Any variable that prevented or accelerated the escape of water from the body's tissues would slow down or speed up mummification, respectively, including clothing, skin-skin or skin-surface contact, position, body mass, humidity, and airflow. Ideally, this study would be performed with decedents with known PMIs who were tracked longitudinally.
Date Created
2016-12
Agent
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