RSS 1.0The Arsenal: The Undergraduate Research Journal of Augusta University
The Arsenal: The Undergraduate Research Journal of Augusta University
The Arsenal: The Undergraduate Research Journal of Augusta University is a peer-reviewed, online, interdisciplinary undergraduate journal.
Aims and Scope
- To represent and highlight undergraduate research of academic and scholarly value from a wide range of disciplines at Augusta University
- To involve undergraduate students in the peer review process under the guidance of faculty mentors
- To provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to prepare research and scholarly papers for publication
- To create an outlet for undergraduate research to be presented in a professional environment
- To create a platform for undergraduate research to gain recognition for their achievements
- To enhance students qualifications for career and academic goals post-graduation
Sub-communities within this community
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Arsenal: Volume 3 [56]
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Arsenal: Volume 4 [43]
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Arsenal: Volume 5 [59]
Recent Submissions
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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Coping in Nursing Students: A Pilot StudyThis article presents a pilot study sought to describe the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), problem-focused coping mechanisms, and emotion-focused coping mechanisms among undergraduate nursing students, as well as any relationships between ACEs and these coping mechanisms.
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The Role of bHLH Transcription Factor Bmal2 in Arterial Endothelial Circadian Rhythms and Remodeling: Sex Dependent Effects in MiceCardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of mortality in humans (Murphy, Kochanek, Xu, & Arias, 2020). An important influence in the progression of artery disease is the long-term effect of disruptions in daily patterns or circadian rhythms. Not sleeping well at night and daytime sleepiness both associate with cardiovascular disease. In addition, a cardiovascular system that does not rest well at night is also bad. A blood pressure reading that does not decrease at night, called non-dipping hypertension, worsens cardiovascular disease. One important impact of broken rhythms is to cause disease in arteries. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that control 24-hour daily patterns is important. One key component gene of circadian rhythm is the transcription factor Bmal1. Vascular disease is a progression that begins as an adaptation to hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, whereby blood vessels change their structure in response to these changes in the bloodstream through a process called vascular remodeling. Remodeling is a process whereby arteries, arterioles, and even veins change their size and cellular structure (muscularity). Using mouse models of genetic disruption, our lab previously found that Bmal1 has an important role to control vascular remodeling, and when Bmal1 was disrupted, a vascular disease phenotype occurred. The lab also found that the endothelial cell layer of arteries contributes to the disease in Bmal1 knockout (KO) mice. These observations seemed the same in both males and females, thus, were sex independent. Bmal2, is a paralog of Bmal1. Bmal2 interacts with Bmal1 and is more selectively expressed in the endothelium. However, the role of Bmal2 in remodeling is not clear. To understand the role of Bmal2 in vascular disease, I have implemented a widely used experimental animal model of arterial ligation to induce vascular remodeling. I have ligated the left common carotid artery (LC) in two groups of mice, control wild-type (WT) mice (no genetic mutation) and the experimental Bmal2-KO (global knockout) mice. After two weeks, I isolated the LC and fixed the arteries in optimal cutting temperature (O.C.T.) compound and conducted histological processing (cut cross sections with a cryotome and staining with hematoxylin and eosin). I then quantified the changes in structure in the artery using the ImageJ program on digitized microscope images. My findings show that inward remodeling and wall-hypertrophy in male Bmal2-KO mice are similar to wild-type mice. The inward remodeling observed in the male WT and male Bmal2-KO mice is consistent with the normal response of what has been observed in this ligation model, inward accompanied by wall hypertrophy. However, I saw something different in the female Bmal2-KO mice undergoing the ligation for two weeks. Female Bmal2-KO mice exhibited robust inward remodeling that was accompanied by intimal hyperplasia. My data suggest that there are sex-specific differences in remodeling controlled by Bmal2.
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Mathematical Modeling of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 2019, and as of August 29, 2022, this virus was responsible for about 6 million confirmed deaths and about 450 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally. In this project, we used mathematical modeling to investigate the impact of post-exposure prophylaxis in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The disease-free equilibrium of our model is derived, and the basic reproduction number is computed, using the next generation matrix approach. We studied the elasticity indices of the reproduction number with respect to each parameter and identified parameters that are most sensitive in increasing the reproduction number and those that are most sensitive in decreasing the reproduction number. Numerical simulations suggest that an increase in the modification parameter for the transmission rate of breakthrough cases results in more infectiousness for those not on prophylaxis when compared to individuals on prophylaxis. The outcomes of our contour plot suggest the possibility of eradicating the virus from the population under different combinations of the proportion of individuals who recently came in contact with an infectious individual and have been administered an antiviral drug such as REGEN-CoV. Results of numerical simulations and contour plots highlight the importance of post-exposure prophylaxis on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the population.
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The Euphemism of Escape in Never Let Me GoAmong scholarly discussions of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005), the idea of the clones’ manipulation in order to fulfill their roles in the organ transplantation system is pervasive. Many posit that the clones begin to place their sense of self and identity within their roles as organ suppliers. However, I argue that there is a lack of discussion and significance attributed to the role of the potential outlets of “escape” and their role in the clones’ submission to exploitation. I posit that the clones’ belief in the possibility of “escape” from this system, whether this comes in the form of relationships, identity, or future plans, is essential to the continued function of the system itself. Employing a Marxist lens in the form of Althusser’s ideas of ideological state apparatuses (ISA) and interpellation as described in his work Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (1971), I highlight the ways in which the clones are distracted from the horrors of their roles in the overall system by false feelings of agency and individuality provided by these “escapes.” Ultimately, by overlooking the role of these outlets for “escape” from the ISA in the interpellation of the clones, we are in turn failing to acknowledge the ways the ISAs around us ensnare our participation by manipulating us into creating our sense of individuality and identity around the parameters of the system. While the clones form relationships and begin to characterize themselves, they do so only through their participation in the ISA and through their sense of fulfillment thereof. This in turn perpetuates the system and prevents any mass forms of rebellion, escape, or overturning of the ISA.
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Matching Data from Heterogeneous Databases for Integrated Assessment of Research ProductivityThe following article presents a thesis of a general matching framework.
