Faculty Scholarship and Open Access Collection

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https://dspace.allegheny.edu/handle/10456/34250

About This Collection:

This collection features scholarly articles written by Allegheny College faculty. Many articles are freely available in DSpace under the Allegheny faculty's Open Access Policy. Others are limited to Allegheny faculty, students, and staff.

Articles may appear in one of three version:

Published article
Preprint, article prior to formal peer review
Postprint, article post peer review, without publisher's formatting or copy editing

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Faculty, please use this link to submit your publication for DSpace: https://goo.gl/forms/XblxVXdVbYbVmyfC2

To learn about Allegheny College's faculty Open Access Policy, visit http://sites.allegheny.edu/scholarlycommunication/

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 487

Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling Is Critical for Mouse Corneal Development, Inhibition of Inflammatory Response, and Neovascularization of the Cornea
(Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Investigative Pathology, 2024-09-23) Kadmiel, Mahita; Diaz-Jimenez, David; Oakley, Robert H.; Petrillo, Maria G.; He, Bo; Xu, Xiaojiang; Cidlowski, John A.; Kadmiel, Mahita; Biology
The cornea protects the interior of the eye from external agents such as bacteria, viruses, and debris. Synthetic glucocorticoids are widely prescribed in the treatment of ocular infections and disorders. The actions of glucocorticoids are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR); however, the molecular and physiological functions of GR signaling in the cornea are poorly understood. This study found that treatment of mice with glucocorticoid eye drops led to a profound regulation of the corneal transcriptome. These glucocorticoid-regulated genes were associated with multiple biological functions, including the immune response. To understand the direct role of GR signaling in the cornea, mice with conditional knockout of GRs in the corneal epithelium were generated. Mice lacking corneal GRs exhibited microphthalmia, loss of pupils, a deformed and opaque lens, and mislocalization of key structural proteins within the corneal epithelial layers. Global transcriptomic approaches revealed that loss of GR signaling in the cornea also resulted in the dysregulation of a large cohort of genes strongly associated with an enhanced inflammatory response. Finally, corneal GR signaling was required for preventing neovascularization of blood and lymphatic vessels and thereby immune cell infiltration of the cornea. These results reveal that corneal GR signaling plays a critical role in ocular development and in maintaining the homeostasis of the eye.
Planetary health learning objectives: foundational knowledge for global health education in an era of climate change
(Elsevier Ltd., 2024-09-04) Jacobsen, Kathryn H.; Waggett, Caryl E.; Berenbaum, Pamela; Bayles, Brett R.; Carlson, Gail L.; Waggett, Caryl E
Planetary health is an emerging field that emphasises that humans depend on a healthy Earth for survival and, conversely, that the sustainability of Earth systems is dependent on human behaviours. In response to member demands for resources to support teaching and learning related to planetary health, the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) convened a working group to develop a set of planetary health learning objectives (PHLOs) that would complement the existing ten CUGH global health learning objectives. The eight PHLOs feature Earth system changes, planetary boundaries, and climate change science; ecological systems and One Health; human health outcomes; risk assessment, vulnerability, and resilience; policy, governance, and laws (including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement); roles and responsibilities of governments, businesses, civil society organisations, other institutions, communities, and individuals for mitigation, adaptation, conservation, restoration, and sustainability; environmental ethics, human rights, and climate justice; and environmental literacy and communication. Educators who use the PHLOs as a foundation for teaching, curriculum design, and programme development related to the health–environment nexus will equip learners with a knowledge of planetary health science, interventions, and communication that is essential for future global health professionals.
Food Security and Health Outcomes following Gray Divorce
(MDPI, 2024-02-24) Zhao, Hang; Andreyeva, Tatiana; Sun, Xiaohan; Zhao, Hang; Sun, Xiaohan; Business and Economics; Computer and Information Science
The study evaluates the immediate and long-term consequences of gray divorce (i.e., marital dissolution after age 50) for the food security, depression, and disability of older Americans. Staggered Difference-in-Difference models were fitted to a nationally representative longitudinal sample of adults aged ≥ 50 years from the Health and Retirement Study, 1998–2018. Food insecurity and disability increase in the year of gray divorce and remain significantly elevated for up to six years or more following the event, consistent with the chronic strain model of gray divorce. Gray divorce has particularly adverse consequences for the food security of older women, while no gender differences were observed for disability. Increasing trends in gray divorce have important negative implications for food security and health of older Americans, particularly women, who appear to be less prepared to financially withstand a marital collapse in older age. Targeted policies to provide nutrition assistance and support in reemployment might be necessary to reduce the burden of food insecurity in the wake of gray divorce among women.
Transmission of viable Haemophilus ducreyi by Musca domestica
(Public Library of Science, 2024-05-30) Stabile, Haley D.; Mccandless, Kayla; Donlan, Rachel A.; Gaston, Jordan R.; Humphreys, Tricia L.; Humphreys, Tricia L.; Biochemistry
Haemophilus ducreyi was historically known as the causative agent of chancroid, a sexually-transmitted disease causing painful genital ulcers endemic in many low/middle-income nations. In recent years the species has been implicated as the causative agent of nongenital cutaneous ulcers affecting children of the South Pacific Islands and West African countries. Much is still unknown about the mechanism of H. ducreyi transmission in these areas, and recent studies have identified local insect species, namely flies, as potential transmission vectors. H. ducreyi DNA has been detected on the surface and in homogenates of fly species sampled from Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea. The current study develops a model system using Musca domestica, the common house fly, as a model organism to demonstrate proof of concept that flies are a potential vector for the transmission of viable H. ducreyi. Utilizing a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged strain of H. ducreyi and three separate exposure methods, we detected the transmission of viable H. ducreyi by 86.11% ± 22.53% of flies sampled. Additionally, the duration of H. ducreyi viability was found to be directly related to the bacterial concentration, and transmission of H. ducreyi was largely undetectable within one hour of initial exposure. Push testing, Gram staining, and PCR were used to confirm the identity and presence of GFP colonies as H. ducreyi. This study confirms that flies are capable of mechanically transmitting viable H. ducreyi, illuminating the importance of investigating insects as vectors of cutaneous ulcerative diseases.
Amplifying Community Partner Voices in Rural Community Service-Learning Partnerships
(University of Georgia, 2024-03-01) Paulson , Lauren R.; Davis, Caitlyn; Paulson, Lauren R.; Psychology
This mixed-methods study delves into rural community service-learning (CSL) partnerships, shedding light on the complexities and dynamics of collaboration between colleges and rural communities. Through quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, the research amplifies the voices of rural community partners, emphasizing the crucial role of trust, communication, and reciprocity. Challenges such as staff demands and organizational mismatches underscore the need for rural institutions to better prepare students and allocate resources to support their community partners effectively. The study advocates for transformative CSL approaches that prioritize community needs and nurture long-lasting collaborations. By providing insights into the impact of CSL on rural partners and organizations, this research offers valuable recommendations for improving future practices and fostering meaningful engagement in both rural and urban settings.

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