Southern Utah University

Ionizing radiation is a known risk factor for the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in patients receiving thoracic radiotherapy. This exposure leads to oxidative stress and inflammation, which can damage cardiac tissue and vascular endothelium. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been recognized for its therapeutic potential, including antioxidant effects. In this study, male Wistar rats were irradiated with a dose of 10Gy (X-rays) in the chest area. Two and 9 days post-irradiation, significant increases in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), catalase, glutathione peroxidase activity, malondialdehyde, superoxide, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were observed in the rat blood plasma or heart tissue. Administration of H2 either via drinking H2-rich water (min. 4mg/L) or inhaling H2 in air (4%), effectively decreased oxidative stress, LDH, and inflammatory proteins to normal levels. H2 also normalized the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associating protein 1 (Nrf2/Keap1) pathway, an important antioxidative response regulator activated by irradiation. Based on these results, we can conclude that H2 administration through both routes mitigated heart damage caused by irradiation after 2 and 9 days. The mitigating effect exerted more pronounced trend with H2 gas inhalation, but further research is needed for statistically relevant data and mechanistic insights.

Healis, J, Adams, KJ, and Lawrence, MM. Trends in American female youth and junior weightlifting performance from 2015 to 2023. J Strength Cond Res 40(1): 56-67, 2026-This investigation assessed performance trajectories of American Youth and Junior female weightlifters in the snatch (SNT), clean and jerk (CJ), and total (T) from 2015 to 2023, using results from sanctioned USA Weightlifting events. Subjects ( N = 960-2,245) were ≤20 years old at initial competition. Performance was evaluated using strength-to-mass (SM) ratios, tracking the highest SM ratios, and allometric scaling in 3-month timeframes using each athlete's best total per timeframe for the first 3 years and 6-month timeframes over the study period (∼9 years). Performance was analyzed using percentage changes and Cohen's d effect sizes (ES). For 3-month timeframes, the largest initial improvements were between 3 and 6 months for the SNT (12.44%; ES = 0.00), CJ (11.12%; ES = -0.01), and T (11.50%; ES = 0.00). For 6-month timeframes, large improvements occurred from 6 to 12 months for SNT (SM = 0.80 ± 0.20 kg, 14.91%, ES = 0.11), CJ (SM = 1.03 ± 0.25 kg, 13.34%, ES = 0.10), and T (SM = 1.82 ± 0.45 kg, 13.87%, ES = 0.11) with potential performance plateaus observed around year 7 (78-84 months) for SNT (-0.25%, ES = 0.04), CJ (-2.68%, ES = 0.07), T (-1.90%, ES = 0.07). Allometric results supported these trends, showing similar peak timing and magnitude. Reduced participation rates from the first 3/6-month timeframes ( N = 2,245) to the next 6/12-month timeframes ( N = 970-1,209) continued until the final timeframe, which cannot be strictly attributed to aging out. Compared with data before 2015, weightlifters had higher initial performances, greater early gains, and potentially earlier plateaus. This suggests that evolving coaching methods improved performance, but targeted strategies are needed to sustain engagement and overcome plateaus in later training stages.

Abstract Multiple approaches have been devised to capture recent transformations in university governance connected to sustainability and innovation agendas. This study operationalises the Sustainable Entrepreneurial University (SEU) framework to assess sustainability and entrepreneurship orientation in practice at a sample of Finnish research-intensive universities. Drawing on the framework’s theoretical foundations, the study evaluates its applicability across the selected universities. Through qualitative content analysis of the strategic plans of six universities, the study examines the alignment of institutional discourse with the Ivory Tower University, Entrepreneurial University, and SEU models. The findings provide a detailed analysis of each university’s strategic direction, emphasising their commitment to sustainability and entrepreneurship, with most coded text indicating the alignment with SEU principles. This research offers insights into the framework’s applicability and potential for refinement. Future research could explore the framework’s implementation and impact in other institutional contexts, and the development of metrics for sustainability to track progress.

Phenazines, phenoxazines, and phenothiazines are a structurally similar set of compounds that exhibit antibiotic and photocatalytic activity and that have been used as histological stains and optical sensors. Safranin O (SO) is a phenazine that has been found useful to quantify polysaccharides in cartilage and that has been shown to have a unique ability to inhibit ice growth. In both of these applications, the high concentration of SO can lead to aggregation, which can result in drastic changes in optical properties and excited-state dynamics. In this work, we characterize the optical properties, structure, and excited-state dynamics of SO monomers and dimers in dilute and concentrated aqueous solution. We use a combination of steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies along with density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT. We find that the monomer exhibits an appreciable absorption strength of ∼7 D and the aggregates, which we assign to dimers, form at concentrations exceeding 10 μM. The dimer absorption spectrum exhibits a modest blueshift with respect to the monomer, which we attribute to face-to-face (so-called H-aggregate) packing later confirmed by DFT. The monomer exhibits a large Stokes shift (∼2300 cm-1), small fluorescence quantum yield (∼0.05), and appreciable singlet excited-state lifetime (∼1 ns). The dimer exhibits a drastically reduced lifetime of ∼4 ps. Our work adds to an existing body of work suggesting that aggregation-induced quenching may be a general phenomenon in phenazines, phenoxazines, and phenothiazines, which is why these compounds may have not found widespread use in applications involving fluorescence emission and why aggregates of these compounds may potentially be advantageous for applications involving rapid, local heat generation.

ABSTRACT This study examines factors influencing household food insecurity in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria, using FAO’s sixth-round survey data from 3,441 households across five states. Households with multiple income sources (OR = 0.25, 95% CI [0.13, 0.51]) and male-controlled income (OR = 0.36, 95% CI [0.20, 0.65]) had reduced odds of food insecurity. In contrast, larger household size (OR = 1.05, 95% CI [1.03, 1.08]) and drought exposure (OR = 1.73, 95% CI [1.29, 2.32]) increased risk. Households in Borno, Yobe, and Zamfara faced higher odds. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive, resilience-focused interventions that promote income diversification.

ABSTRACT Faculty in higher education have a variety of role expectations, including research, service and teaching. Often the training they receive during their education provides little towards helping them develop their pedagogical skills. Faculty peer coaching is a practice that holds promise for effectively providing professional development aimed at improving faculty teaching to better meet the needs of adult learners. This case study at a small regional university outlines a process for peer coaching and the resulting faculty perceptions of its effectiveness to enhance teaching and usefulness of the model as a professional development tool. We conclude faculty may perceive peer coaching as an effective and satisfying professional development opportunity in a higher education setting.

The goal of this study was to unpack processes that may lead to child emotional insecurity. Guided by the emotional security theory (EST/EST-R), we examined the mediational role of parental depressive symptomology between interparental conflict (IPC), both constructive and destructive, and child emotional insecurity at age 36-months. We partitioned unique variance of IPC from shared using an extension of the common fate model. We used two-wave data from the Building Strong Families project, which consisted of racially diverse couples/parents (N = 4,424) who were low income and unmarried at the conception of their child. We found gendered differences for how mothers and fathers experience IPC, with mothers more influenced by their relational circumstances. We also found that fathers were vulnerable to experiencing depressive symptoms following aspects of destructive IPC. Consistent with EST-R, constructive IPC did not promote emotional security in children. Rather, both destructive and constructive IPC related to greater levels of emotional insecurity, with destructive IPC showing stronger effects. Proposed mediation was found for fathers only. Our findings may appeal to scholars who focus on untangling the complexity of IPC and intervention specialists and clinicians interested in a process-oriented approaches to the development of child psychopathology.

Objective: Examine the predictors of food insecurity and the association between food security status and dietary intake among students attending an HBCU in the Gulf Coast Region of Texas. Participants: Students (n = 571) enrolled at the university during the Fall 2022 academic semester. Methods: Participants completed an online survey. The USDA Adult Food Security Survey was used to evaluate food security status. Diet History Questionnaire III to determine the frequency of fruit and vegetable intake. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were performed to assess factors associated with food insecurity. Results: Sophomores had higher odds of being food insecure compared to freshmen, while graduate students had a lesser likelihood of experiencing food insecurity. Food-insecure students consumed fewer fruits and vegetables daily compared to food-secure students. Conclusions: Food insecurity persists among HBCU students. Sophomores are more susceptible to food insecurity than freshmen, while graduate students are less likely to experience food insecurity.