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Communitas, Worship, and Music: Using Music to Revitalize the Post-Modern Church
Music often facilitates the experience of communitas within disparate groups of people. As the American mainline Protestant church faces schism and struggles for relevance in a post-modern era defined by mistrust in the institutional church and social subjectivism, reexamining how singing together can break down barriers within ecclesial structures and create shared understanding is merited. As demonstrated through the music of pilgrimage, community musicking allows individuals to define the sacred together. Music then becomes an educational resource for the reformation of the church. The Iona and Taizé communities offer insights into this process. Their publishing efforts and worship styles, influenced and crafted by the populations who visit their locations, have provided resources for this dialogue in localized contexts. However, the experience of communitas is individualized—no one person, group, or organization can define this outcome. Consequently, no single musical or liturgical approach will be appropriate in all contexts; the church’s music must adapt so that each selection is imbued with meaning for that community. Facilitating such a process in the local congregation may threaten the status quo while also becoming a tool for revitalization in the post-modern era.
Journal Article
Development of a computational model for macroscopic predictions of device-induced thrombosis
While cardiovascular device-induced thrombosis is associated with negative patient outcomes, the convoluted nature of the processes resulting in a thrombus makes the full thrombotic network too computationally expensive to simulate in the complex geometries and flow fields associated with devices. A macroscopic, continuum computational model is developed based on a simplified network, which includes terms for platelet activation (chemical and mechanical) and thrombus deposition and growth in regions of low wall shear stress (WSS). Laminar simulations are performed in a two-dimensional asymmetric sudden expansion geometry and compared with in vitro thrombus size data collected using whole bovine blood. Additionally, the predictive power of the model is tested in a flow cell containing a series of symmetric sudden expansions and contractions. Thrombi form in the low WSS area downstream of the asymmetric expansion and grow into the nearby recirculation region, and thrombus height and length largely remain within 95 % confidence intervals calculated from the in vitro data for 30 min of blood flow. After 30 min, predicted thrombus height and length are 0.94 and 4.32 (normalized by the 2.5 mm step height). Importantly, the model also correctly predicts locations of thrombus deposition observed in the in vitro flow cell of expansions and contractions. As the simulation results, which rely on a greatly reduced model of the thrombotic network, are still able to capture the macroscopic behavior of the full network, the model shows promise for timely predictions of device-induced thrombosis toward optimizing and expediting the device development process.
Journal Article
Biochemical Effect of Resistance Mutations against Synergistic Inhibitors of RSV RNA Polymerase
ALS-8112 is the parent molecule of ALS-8176, a first-in-class nucleoside analog prodrug effective in the clinic against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The antiviral activity of ALS-8112 is mediated by its 5'-triphosphate metabolite (ALS-8112-TP, or 2'F-4'ClCH2-cytidine triphosphate) inhibiting the RNA polymerase activity of the RSV L-P protein complex through RNA chain termination. Four amino acid mutations in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain of L (QUAD: M628L, A789V, L795I, and I796V) confer in vitro resistance to ALS-8112-TP by increasing its discrimination relative to natural CTP. In this study, we show that the QUAD mutations specifically recognize the ClCH2 group of ALS-8112-TP. Among the four mutations, A789V conferred the greatest resistance phenotype, which was consistent with its putative position in the active site of the RdRp domain. AZ-27, a non-nucleoside inhibitor of RSV, also inhibited the RdRp activity, with decreased inhibition potency in the presence of the Y1631H mutation. The QUAD mutations had no effect on the antiviral activity of AZ-27, and the Y1631H mutation did not significantly increase the discrimination of ALS-8112-TP. Combining ALS-8112 with AZ-27 in vitro resulted in significant synergistic inhibition of RSV replication. Overall, this is the first mechanistic study showing a lack of cross-resistance between mutations selected by different classes of RSV polymerase inhibitors acting in synergy, opening the door to future potential combination therapies targeting different regions of the L protein.
Journal Article
Antibodies in action: the role of humoral immunity in the fight against atherosclerosis
The sequestering of oxidation-modified low-density lipoprotein by macrophages results in the accumulation of fatty deposits within the walls of arteries. Necrosis of these cells causes a release of intercellular epitopes and the activation of the adaptive immune system, which we predict leads to robust autoantibody production. T cells produce cytokines that act in the plaque environment and further stimulate B cell antibody production. B cells in atherosclerosis meanwhile have a mixed role based on subclass. The current model is that B-1 cells produce protective IgM antibodies in response to oxidation-specific epitopes that work to control plaque formation, while follicular B-2 cells produce class-switched antibodies (IgG, IgA, and IgE) which exacerbate the disease. Over the course of this review, we discuss further the validation of these protective antibodies while evaluating the current dogma regarding class-switched antibodies in atherosclerosis. There are several contradictory findings regarding the involvement of class-switched antibodies in the disease. We hypothesize that this is due to antigen-specificity, and not simply isotype, being important, and that a closer evaluation of these antibodies’ targets should be conducted. We propose that specific antibodies may have therapeutical potential in preventing and controlling plaque development within a clinical setting.
Journal Article
Development of a platelet adhesion transport equation for a computational thrombosis model
Thrombosis is a significant issue for cardiovascular device development and use. While thrombosis models are available, very few are device-related and none have been thoroughly validated experimentally. Here, we introduce a surface adherent platelet transport equation into a continuum model to account for the biomaterial interface/blood interaction. Using a rotating disc system and polyurethane-urea material, we characterize steady and pulsatile flow fields using laser Doppler velocimetry. In vitro measurements of platelet adhesion are used in combination with the LDV data to provide further experimental validation. The rotating disc system is computationally studied using the device-induced thrombosis model with the surface platelet adherent transport equation. The results indicate that the flow field is in excellent agreement to the experimental LDV data and that the platelet adhesion simulations are in good agreement with the in vitro platelet data. These results provide good evidence that this transport equation can be used to express the relationship between blood and a biomaterial if the correct platelet adhesion characteristics are known for the biomaterial. Further validation is necessary with other materials.
Journal Article
Weak interspecific interactions in a sagebrush steppe? Conflicting evidence from observations and experiments
Stable coexistence requires intraspecific limitations to be stronger than interspecific limitations. The greater the difference between intra- and interspecific limitations, the more stable the coexistence, and the weaker the competitive release any species should experience following removal of competitors. We conducted a removal experiment to test whether a previously estimated model, showing surprisingly weak interspecific competition for four dominant species in a sagebrush steppe, accurately predicts competitive release. Our treatments were (1) removal of all perennial grasses and (2) removal of the dominant shrub, Artemisia tripartita. We regressed survival, growth, and recruitment on the locations, sizes, and species identities of neighboring plants, along with an indicator variable for removal treatment. If our “baseline” regression model, which accounts for local plant–plant interactions, accurately explains the observed responses to removals, then the removal coefficient should be non-significant. For survival, the removal coefficients were never significantly different from zero, and only A. tripartita showed a (negative) response to removals at the recruitment stage. For growth, the removal treatment effect was significant and positive for two species, Poa secunda and Pseudoroegneria spicata, indicating that the baseline model underestimated interspecific competition. For all three grass species, population models based on the vital rate regressions that included removal effects projected 1.4- to 3-fold increases in equilibrium population size relative to the baseline model (no removal effects). However, we found no evidence of higher response to removal in quadrats with higher pretreatment cover of A. tripartita, or by plants experiencing higher pre-treatment crowding by A. tripartita, raising questions about the mechanisms driving the positive response to removal. While our results show the value of combining observations with a simple removal experiment, more tightly controlled experiments focused on underlying mechanisms may be required to conclusively validate or reject predictions from phenomenological models.
Journal Article
CTE Experiences and Career Trajectories of Youth With Disabilities
Students with disabilities (SWD) continue to experience poorer postschool employment outcomes compared to their nondisabled peers, particularly those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Career and Technical Education (CTE) has been associated with improved academic
and employment outcomes for SWD, yet research on their participation and outcomes remains limited and fragmented. This descriptive study utilized nationally representative data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) to examine the CTE experiences and outcomes of SWD, comparing
them to nondisabled peers and SWD who did not take CTE coursework. Results indicate that SWD earned more CTE credits than their nondisabled peers but had lower grade point averages (GPAs) in CTE coursework. CTE participation varied by disability category, gender, race/ethnicity, and language
status, with notable disparities in course participation and performance. Despite increased enrollment, many SWD remained uncertain about their long-term career pathways and often worked in fields unrelated to their CTE focus. Findings highlight the need for more inclusive instructional supports
in CTE classrooms, better alignment between CTE and transition planning, and greater collaboration across educational and employment systems. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed to promote equitable postschool outcomes for SWD.
Journal Article
Borreliosis and doxycycline treatment disrupt gut microbiota and immune responses in nonhuman primates
Lyme disease (LD) is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) transmitted via tick bite. The incidence of LD is expanding in North America and Southeast Asia. LD patients are frequently misdiagnosed or receive delayed treatment due to the lack of sensitive diagnostic strategies. The pathophysiology of LD remains poorly understood because of challenges with clear infection timelines in clinical studies. Here, we utilize Japanese macaques to provide an in-depth longitudinal investigation into the host immunological and gut microbial changes in response to Bb infection. This work highlights CXCL13 as a potential Bb diagnostic marker, as well as host factors such as aberrant B cell activity, mononuclear myocarditis, and gut dysbiosis as potential therapeutic targets.
Journal Article
Teaching and Learning Visual and Arts-Based Inquiry: Collaborative Visions and Possibilities in Graduate Education
This paper describes a doctoral seminar in visual and arts-based inquiry (V/ABR) to champion the generativity of such approaches for advancing doctoral research. We first describe the social and institutional context of the course and its design to situate the projects and the need for creating institutional spaces to amplify creative inquiry approaches in doctoral education. Then, five researchers reflect on their research approaches, including comics, collaging, critical visual analysis, a virtual walkography, and photo-elicitation. The projects focused on contemporary issues including researcher identity, racial justice, mothering crises, and Christian summer camps, collectively underscoring the productivity of V/ABR inquiry for amplifying researchers’ imaginaries and processes of becoming. We underscore the necessity of exploring qualitative diversity in doctoral education to unsettle fixed inquiry approaches that Bailey (2018) calls “methodological taxidermy.” Collectively, we demonstrate the vitality of advancing doctoral research using creative methods in relational, socially responsive, and critical, visionary ways (Finley, 2003).
Journal Article