The Who, What, and How of Wisdom : An Exploration in Karl Barth and his ‘Descendants’

Open Access via the Wiley AgreementPeer reviewe

A Reformed Engagement with Bulgakov’s Doctrine of Wisdom

OA via the Brill AgreementPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Social Buffering as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Anxiety and Attention

A Research Methods Project supervised by Dr. Laura Wilson (Spring 2021)

Genome-wide diversity and gene expression profiling of Babesia microti isolates identify polymorphic genes that mediate host-pathogen interactions

Babesia microti, a tick-transmitted, intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite circulating mainly among small mammals, is the primary cause of human babesiosis. While most cases are transmitted by Ixodes ticks, the disease may also be transmitted through blood transfusion and perinatally. A comprehensive analysis of genome composition, genetic diversity, and gene expression profiling of seven B. microti isolates revealed that genetic variation in isolates from the Northeast United States is almost exclusively associated with genes encoding the surface proteome and secretome of the parasite. Furthermore, we found that polymorphism is restricted to a small number of genes, which are highly expressed during infection. In order to identify pathogen-encoded factors involved in host-parasite interactions, we screened a proteome array comprised of 174 B. microti proteins, including several predicted members of the parasite secretome. Using this immuno-proteomic approach we identified several novel antigens that trigger strong host immune responses during the onset of infection. The genomic and immunological data presented herein provide the first insights into the determinants of B. microti interaction with its mammalian hosts and their relevance for understanding the selective pressures acting on parasite evolution

Microvascular cerebral hemodynamics in pediatric sickle cell disease with Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy

Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that has profound effects on the brain. Chronic anemia combined with both macro- and micro-vascular perfusion abnormalities that arise from stenosis or occlusion of blood vessels, increased blood viscosity, adherence of red blood cells to the vascular endothelium, and impaired autoregulatory mechanisms in sickle cell disease patients all culminate in susceptibility to cerebral infarction. Indeed, the risk of stroke is 250 times higher in children with sickle cell disease than in the general population. Unfortunately, while transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) has been widely clinically adopted to longitudinally monitor macrovascular perfusion in these patients, routine clinical screening of microvascular perfusion abnormalities is challenging with current modalities (e.g., positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) given their high-cost, requirement for sedation in children \u3c 6y, and need for trained personnel. In this pilot study, we first assess the feasibility of a low-cost, noninvasive optical technique known as Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy (DCS) to quantify an index of resting-state cortical cerebral blood flow in 11 children with SCD along with 11 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. As expected, blood flow index was significantly higher in sickle subjects compared to healthy controls (p \u3c 0.001). Within sickle subjects, blood flow index was inversely proportional to resting-state arterial hemoglobin levels (p = 0.012), consistent with expected anemia-induced compensatory vasodilation that aims to maintain adequate oxygen delivery to the tissue. Further, in a subset of patients measured with transcranial Doppler ultrasound, DCS-measured blood flow was correlated with TCD-measured blood flow velocity in middle cerebral artery (Rs = 0.68), although the trend was not statistically significant (p=0.11). These results are consistent with those of several previous studies using traditional neuroimaging techniques to quantify cerebral blood flow, suggesting that DCS may be a promising low-cost tool for assessment of tissue-level cerebral blood flow in pediatric sickle cell disease. Finally, given that sickle cell disease is often associated with severe anemia, we next assessed the potentially confounding effects of hematocrit on the DCS-measured blood flow index using a microfluidic tissue-simulating phantom. For a fixed flow rate in the microfluidic channels, we show that blood flow index is inversely correlated with hematocrit, and we present a means to correct the measured blood flow index for hematocrit in anemic conditions

Restocking extensive mountain areas with young ewes - does origin matter?

Recent renewed drives to maintain farming activities on extensive areas have been encouraged at the EU level, which previously had witnessed a phenomenon of partial abandonment and reduction in flock sizes. Successful restocking with naïve animals from outwith the farm is a challenge, as these animals are not familiar with the landscape and may lack the social interactions and ‘hefting’ qualities their homebred counterparts develop. This paper presents results from an experiment where young ewes from different origins (homebred and bought-in) were reintroduced onto a mountain range grazing area. Focal animals of both types were monitored using GPS tracking collars over a one year period whilst performance was recorded for the whole flock over a two year period, to gauge whether or not their origin had an influence on ranging behaviour and performance. Although initially the bought-in animals developed their own home range and interacted little with the main flock, after one summer grazing period they appeared to learn from and socially interact with their homebred counterparts, developing a knowledge of the grazing landscape. Despite initial weight change differences, later performance results of the animals were not affected by their origin. Provided that animals are encouraged and given opportunity to socially interact with the main homebred flock, this study indicates that it is feasible to restock extensive farms with animals from different origins

Gastrin: A Distinct Fate of Neurogenin3 Positive Progenitor Cells in the Embryonic Pancreas

Neurogenin3+ (Ngn3+) progenitor cells in the developing pancreas give rise to five endocrine cell types secreting insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide and ghrelin. Gastrin is a hormone produced primarily by G-cells in the stomach, where it functions to stimulate acid secretion by gastric parietal cells. Gastrin is expressed in the embryonic pancreas and is common in islet cell tumors, but the lineage and regulators of pancreatic gastrin+ cells are not known. We report that gastrin is abundantly expressed in the embryonic pancreas and disappears soon after birth. Some gastrin+ cells in the developing pancreas co-express glucagon, ghrelin or pancreatic polypeptide, but many gastrin+ cells do not express any other islet hormone. Pancreatic gastrin+ cells express the transcription factors Nkx6.1, Nkx2.2 and low levels of Pdx1, and derive from Ngn3+ endocrine progenitor cells as shown by genetic lineage tracing. Using mice deficient for key transcription factors we show that gastrin expression depends on Ngn3, Nkx2.2, NeuroD1 and Arx, but not Pax4 or Pax6. Finally, gastrin expression is induced upon differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to pancreatic endocrine cells expressing insulin. Thus, gastrin+ cells are a distinct endocrine cell type in the pancreas and an alternative fate of Ngn3+ cells

Design Build

The 2011 Design/Build Studio included 13 undergraduate architects, 2 graduate architects, 6 landscape architects, and 1 interior designer. Under the careful supervision and guidance of Bruce Bassler, this team worked to design and deliver a complete sleeping cabin to the Scenic Park campground in South Sioux City, Nebraska

Correction: The use of bluetooth low energy Beacon systems to estimate indirect personal exposure to household air pollution

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper

Type and extent of trans-disciplinary co-operation to improve food security, health and household environment in low and middle income countries: systematic review

Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Dr Steve Turner and Dr Adam Price for their insightful comments that improved the manuscript. We would like to thank Heather Clark and Bimbola Kalejaiye for their help in data extraction. We are also grateful to Melanie Bickerton and Dr Amudha Poobalan for their systematic review advice.Peer reviewedPublisher PD