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The Effect of Sleep Environment on Sleep Quality and Behavior in Firefighters
Erica Esper
Firefighting is a demanding profession with high physical and psychological demands. Additionally, shift work results in abnormal working hours, decreased work-life balance, and poor recovery, impacting sleep behaviors. Poor sleep has been associated with health issues such as increased cardiometabolic risk, mental health disorders, and reduced cognitive function. While this population is prone to disrupted sleep while on shift, little research exists describing the effect of the on-duty sleeping environment on sleep quality in firefighters. PURPOSE: Examine the effect of the sleep environment on sleep quality in firefighters. METHODS: Sixty-six firefighters (Age= 40.89±11.05; Body Mass Index = 29.01±3.84) enrolled in a wellness program completed a health history questionnaire as part of their annual evaluation. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Subjects completed the questionnaire twice (On-Duty and Off-Duty), and each version was scored using the PSQI scoring manual. A Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used to examine differences in PSQI scores On-Duty vs. Off-Duty. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences in PSQI scores in Bunk vs. Dorm style sleeping quarters on-duty. RESULTS: Data revealed a significant difference in PSQI variables between On-Duty and Off-Duty, with Sleep Duration (Z = -5.078; p<0.001), Sleep Efficiency (Z= -3.991; p<0.001), Sleep Quality (Z = -4.466; p<0.001), and the Total PSQI (Z=-4.424; p<0.001) scoring significantly better Off-Duty compared to On-Duty. Additionally, no significant differences exist in PSQI variables or the Total PSQI score between Bunk and Dorm style sleeping quarters. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current investigation indicate no significant differences in sleeping quality between different styles of fire station sleeping quarters but demonstrate significant differences in the place of sleep (Off-Duty vs. On-Duty). Specifically, Sleep Duration, Efficiency, Quality, and Total PSQI values were greater, resulting in better sleep, when sleeping off-duty. Future research should be done examining the relationships between call volume and sleep quality, as well as the effects of sleep related interventions for improving on duty sleep, as well as off-duty to aid in recovery from the acute sleep deprivation experienced on-duty.
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The Effect of S-glutahionylation of KEAP-1/NRF-2 and Caspase 3
Claire Greenless
S-glutathionylation is a form of post-translational modification where glutathione forms disulfide bonds with protein cysteine residues under oxidative conditions. The process of Sglutathionylation is important because it is a reversible process, regulates enzyme activity, and may link to disease development. In this work, under physiological conditions, KEAP-1 and NRF-2 bind together as a complex. Upon oxidative stress, NRF-2 dissociates from KEAP-1 and triggers an antioxidant response. However, the dissociation mechanism was not well studied. S-glutathionylation of KEAP-1 causes dissociation of NRF-2. This result demonstrates a possible dissociation mechanism of NRF-2. Caspase 3 is a cysteine containing protein and a key enzyme in executing apoptosis in cells. The cysteine residue is required for its activity. Our results show that S-glutathionylation of the cysteine inhibits caspase 3 activity and that inhibition can be reversed by the addition of dithiothreitol (DTT). The inhibition of caspase 3 activity with GSSG and reactivation of caspase 3 activity with DTT showed a concentration dependent manner. Our work shows that the process of protein S-glutathionylation can affect cellular protein physiological functions under oxidative stress.
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Disruption of Minor Intron Splicing by Disease-associated Mutations in U12 snRNA
Kyra Jancik
In eukaryotic gene expression, the removal of introns from pre-mRNA is an essential function carried out by spliceosomes. Human cells have two distinct spliceosomes: U2-dependent and U12-dependent. U2- dependent spliceosomes, or major spliceosomes, remove over 99% of introns, whereas U-12 dependent spliceosomes remove less than 0.5% of introns. Mutations in spliceosome machinery are a notable cause of human disease. In particular, mutations to components unique to the minor spliceosome demonstrate that it plays a vital role in human development. Mutations in the gene encoding the minor spliceosomal small nuclear RNA (snRNA) U12, RNU12, are associated with two rare developmental disorders: 1) CDAGS syndrome (craniosynostosis and clavicular hypoplasia; delayed closure of the fontanelles, cranial defects, and, in some patients, deafness; anal anomalies; genitourinary malformations; and skin eruption) and 2) early onset cerebellar ataxia. Recent work identified rare biallelic variants in RNU12 as the likely cause of CDAGS syndrome, while a single homozygous mutation was identified as the likely cause of early onset cerebellar ataxia. Mutations associated with these diseases are clustered in or near the stem- loop III of U12 snRNA, with three of the mutations located in the Sm protein binding site. Further investigation of the mutation associated with early onset cerebellar ataxia suggests that mutations in RNU12 disrupt U12 snRNA function through the destabilization of the 3’ stem-loop, which precedes overall destabilization of the U12 snRNA. Using our in vivo orthogonal splicing assay, we quantified the effects of pathogenic RNU12 mutations on U12-dependent splicing. Splicing activity varies depending on the location of the mutation. Splicing was significantly reduced among three U12 variants located in the Sm protein binding site. Sm proteins are responsible for proper assembly of snRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoproteins) prior to pre-mRNA splicing. Similarly, splicing activity was substantially impaired in the mutation located three nucleotides downstream of the U12 snRNA sequence. While the impact of this variant on the minor spliceosome complex is unclear, one possibility is that this mutation could affect 3’ end processing of U12 snRNA. The effects of the two variants within stem-loop III of U12 snRNA differ. Whereas splicing activity was considerably diminished with the 86G>A mutation, activity in cells with the 84C>T mutation was near wild-type levels. It is presumed that these mutations affect the secondary structure of the snRNA due to the fact that they are located at the base of stem-loop III, farther away from the U12-65K protein binding site. Further work remains to fully define the mechanisms of splicing impairment that are the result of disease-associated mutations in U12 snRNA.
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Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha mediated regulation of mitochondrial function and homeostasis in normoxia
Matthew Lunkis
During normal levels of oxygenation, also known as normoxia, the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) 1α is produced and broken down in a continuous manner. Previous studies of HIF1α function(s) in hypoxia demonstrate restricted oxygen uptake and decreased protein synthesis but data regarding this transcription factor in normoxia is limited. We determined the functional aspects of HIF1α in normoxia in differentiated myotubes and with transgenic mice. Higher expression of sirtuin 3 along with higher concentrations of many TCA cycle intermediates were identified in multiple studies. Additionally, phenotypic and morphological implications of HIF1α in normoxia were identified.
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Feminist Mothering and the Needs-Focus Approach of Writing Centers: A Literature Review
Sophia Wohlwend
Within academia, English fields have developed a reputation for being less professional or academically rigid compared to STEM. This undervaluation of English studies, particularly Writing Center work, poses many issues to the people who pursue these careers, specifically harming the women who decide to take these jobs. Typically, English fields are viewed as being nurturing and caring in a way that is deemed less respectable and coddling towards students. Thus, spaces like Writing Centers are branded as “domestic spaces” housing undesirable, feminine traits. As a result of these negative attitudes, this “women’s work” is judged as poorer in quality. According to statistics from 2022, 67.3% of Writing Center tutors are women (“Writing Center”, 2022), follwing the trend of a majority of English studies members also being female (Kugler, et al., 2021). Thus, these negative attitudes can cause issues to the women involved in this field. However, Writing Center research challenges these perceptions through theories such as feminist mothering. Rather than dismissing the feminine qualities of Writing Center work, we should strive to show the value of nurturing and caring for students in an academic setting in a manner that benefits everyone involved.
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