Youth beyond borders: Methodological challenges in youth information interaction

The pace of technological change is rapid and the impact of this acceleration on the information behavior of youth from diverse backgrounds is multifaceted. Most young people have online access in some form, but the uses and quality of access vary tremendously (Madden, Lenhart, Duggan, Cortesi & Gasser, 2013). With the growth and variation of information behaviors among youth in social media and the mobile Web, keeping pace with research methods used to capture these behaviors and phenomena continues to be a discussion among scholars. Adding to the complications of research in this area, youth are increasingly using information and communications technologies (ICT) across platforms for a variety of information behaviors, including academic and social reasons (Agosto & Abbas, 2010). It is often not enough to solely examine a young person's Twitter feed-we need to see how that conversation carries from Twitter, to direct messages, to texting, to a Facebook post and so on. This variation suggests a need for greater nuance in research (Madden, Lenhart, Duggan, Cortesi & Gasser, 2013; Gasser, Cortesi, Malik & Lee, 2012). This panel will bring together several researchers experienced in studying youth information practices to discuss their methodologies and strategies in dealing with these intricate issues. This panel will be conducted in a roundtable style-encouraging deep conversation between the researchers and the audience. This will be followed by a small group discussions with the audience and conclude by sharing back best practices uncovered through the group discussions. Through attending this panel, attendees will engage with current developments in diverse youth, ICT and research methodologies, and identify priorities and approaches for future work in these areas

Analysis of honeybee drone activity during the mating season in northwestern argentina

Males in Hymenopteran societies are understudied in many aspects and it is assumed that they only have a reproductive function. We studied the time budget of male honey bees, drones, using multiple methods. Changes in the activities of animals provide important information on biological clocks and their health. Yet, in nature, these changes are subtle and often unobservable without the development and use of modern technology. During the spring and summer mating season, drones emerge from the hive, perform orientation flights, and search for drone congregation areas for mating. This search may lead drones to return to their colony, drift to other colonies (vectoring diseases and parasites), or simply get lost to predation. In a low percentage of cases, the search is successful, and drones mate and die. Our objective was to describe the activity of Apis mellifera drones during the mating season in Northwestern Argentina using three methods: direct observation, video recording, and radio frequency identification (RFID). The use of RFID tagging allows the tracking of a bee for 24 h but does not reveal the detailed activity of drones. We quantified the average number of drones’ departure and arrival flights and the time outside the hive. All three methods confirmed that drones were mostly active in the afternoon. We found no differences in results between those obtained by direct observation and by video recording. RFID technology enabled us to discover previously unknown drone behavior such as activity at dawn and during the morning. We also discovered that drones may stay inside the hive for many days, even after initiation of search flights (up to four days). Likewise, we observed drones to leave the hive for several days to return later (up to three days). The three methods were complementary and should be considered for the study of bee drone activity, which may be associated with the diverse factors influencing hive health.Fil: Ayup, María Marta. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido; ArgentinaFil: Gärtner, Philipp. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; ArgentinaFil: Agosto Rivera, José L.. Universidad de Puerto Rico; Puerto RicoFil: Marendy, Peter. University of Tansmania. School Of Technology, Environments And Design ; AustraliaFil: de Souza, Paulo. University of Tansmania. School Of Technology, Environments And Design ; AustraliaFil: Galindo Cardona, Alberto. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido; Argentin

Neonicotinoids Disrupt Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in Honey Bees

Honey bees are critical pollinators in ecosystems and agriculture, but their numbers have significantly declined. Declines in pollinator populations are thought to be due to multiple factors including habitat loss, climate change, increased vulnerability to disease and parasites, and pesticide use. Neonicotinoid pesticides are agonists of insect nicotinic cholinergic receptors, and sub-lethal exposures are linked to reduced honey bee hive survival. Honey bees are highly dependent on circadian clocks to regulate critical behaviors, such as foraging orientation and navigation, time-memory for food sources, sleep, and learning/memory processes. Because circadian clock neurons in insects receive light input through cholinergic signaling we tested for effects of neonicotinoids on honey bee circadian rhythms and sleep. Neonicotinoid ingestion by feeding over several days results in neonicotinoid accumulation in the bee brain, disrupts circadian rhythmicity in many individual bees, shifts the timing of behavioral circadian rhythms in bees that remain rhythmic, and impairs sleep. Neonicotinoids and light input act synergistically to disrupt bee circadian behavior, and neonicotinoids directly stimulate wake-promoting clock neurons in the fruit fly brain. Neonicotinoids disrupt honey bee circadian rhythms and sleep, likely by aberrant stimulation of clock neurons, to potentially impair honey bee navigation, time-memory, and social communication

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in the Context of Ongoing HIV Cure-Related Research Studies

To the Editors: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected research efforts worldwide. Previously, we described our strategy to mitigate COVID-19 transmission risk during an ongoing HIV cure-related clinical trial. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines recently have been authorized for emergency use and will become available to people with HIV imminently. As a result, researchers must determine how to adjust study protocols to incorporate the likelihood that participants may be vaccinated

Challenging notions of gendered game play: teenagers playing `The Sims`

This paper challenges notions of gendered game playing practice implicit in much research into young women\u27s involvement with the computer gaming culture. It draws on a study of Australian teenagers playing The Sims Deluxe as part of an English curriculum unit and insights from feminist media studies to explore relationships between gender and game playing practices. Departing from a reliance on predetermined notions of &ldquo;gender&rdquo;, &ldquo;domestic space&rdquo;, and &ldquo;successful game play&rdquo;, it conceptualizes The Sims as a game in which the boundaries between gender and domestic space are disturbed. It argues that observing students\u27 constructions of gender and domestic space through the act of game play itself provides a more productive insight into the gendered dimensions of game play for educators wishing to work computer games such as The Sims into curriculum development.<br /

Open access resources for genome-wide association mapping in rice.

Increasing food production is essential to meet the demands of a growing human population, with its rising income levels and nutritional expectations. To address the demand, plant breeders seek new sources of genetic variation to enhance the productivity, sustainability and resilience of crop varieties. Here we launch a high-resolution, open-access research platform to facilitate genome-wide association mapping in rice, a staple food crop. The platform provides an immortal collection of diverse germplasm, a high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism data set tailored for gene discovery, well-documented analytical strategies, and a suite of bioinformatics resources to facilitate biological interpretation. Using grain length, we demonstrate the power and resolution of our new high-density rice array, the accompanying genotypic data set, and an expanded diversity panel for detecting major and minor effect QTLs and subpopulation-speci&#64257;c alleles, with immediate implications for rice improvement.Article number:10532

Genotype-phenotype features of germline variants of the TMEM127 pheochromocytoma susceptibility gene: A 10-year update

Purpose: This work aimed to evaluate genotype-phenotype associations in individuals carrying germline variants of transmembrane protein 127 gene (TMEM127), a poorly known gene that confers susceptibility to pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL). Design: Data were collected from a registry of probands with TMEM127 variants, published reports, and public databases. Main Outcome Analysis: Clinical, genetic, and functional associations were determined. Results: The cohort comprised 110 index patients (111 variants) with a mean age of 45 years (range, 21-84 years). Females were predominant (76 vs 34, P <. 001). Most patients had PHEO (n = 94; 85.5%), although PGL (n = 10; 9%) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC, n = 6; 5.4%) were also detected, either alone or in combination with PHEO. One-third of the cases had multiple tumors, and known family history was reported in 15.4%. Metastatic PHEO/PGL was rare (2.8%). Epinephrine alone, or combined with norepinephrine, accounted for 82% of the catecholamine profiles of PHEO/PGLs. Most variants (n = 63) occurred only once and 13 were recurrent (2-12 times). Although nontruncating variants were less frequent than truncating changes overall, they were predominant in non-PHEO clinical presentations (36% PHEO-only vs 69% other, P <. 001) and clustered disproportionately within transmembrane regions (P <. 01), underscoring the relevance of these domains for TMEM127 function. Integration of clinical and previous experimental data supported classification of variants into 4 groups based on mutation type, localization, and predicted disruption. Conclusions: Patients with TMEM127 variants often resemble sporadic nonmetastatic PHEOs. PGL and RCC may also co-occur, although their causal link requires further evaluation. We propose a new classification to predict variant pathogenicity and assist with carrier surveillance.Fil: Armaiz Pena, Gustavo. University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio;; Estados UnidosFil: Flores, Shahida K.. No especifíca;Fil: Cheng, Zi Ming. No especifíca;Fil: Zhang, Xhingyu. No especifíca;Fil: Esquivel, Emmanuel. No especifíca;Fil: Poullard, Natalie. No especifíca;Fil: Vaidyanathan, Anusha. No especifíca;Fil: Liu, Qianqian. No especifíca;Fil: Michalek, Joel. No especifíca;Fil: Santillan Gomez, Alfredo A.. No especifíca;Fil: Liss, Michael. No especifíca;Fil: Ahmadi, Sara. No especifíca;Fil: Katselnik, Daniel. No especifíca;Fil: Maldonado, Enrique. No especifíca;Fil: Salgado, Sarimar Agosto. No especifíca;Fil: Jimenez, Camilo. No especifíca;Fil: Fishbein, Lauren. No especifíca;Fil: Hamidi, Oksana. No especifíca;Fil: Else, Tobias. No especifíca;Fil: Lechan, Ron. Tufts Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Tischler, Art S.. Tufts Medical Center; Estados UnidosFil: Benn, Diana E.. No especifíca;Fil: Dwight, Trisha. University of Technology Sydney; AustraliaFil: Clifton Bligh, Rory. University of Technology Sydney; AustraliaFil: Sanso, Elsa Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada". Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada". Fundación de Endocrinología Infantil. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada"; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; ArgentinaFil: Barontini, Marta Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada". Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada". Fundación de Endocrinología Infantil. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergada"; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; ArgentinaFil: Vincent, Deepa. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Aronin, Neil. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Biondi, Bernadette. University of Naples Federico II; ItaliaFil: Koops, Maureen. University of Texas Health San Antonio; Estados UnidosFil: Bowhay Carnes, Elizabeth. No especifíca;Fil: Gimenez Roqueplo, Anne Paule. No especifíca;Fil: Alvarez Eslava, Andrea. No especifíca;Fil: Bruder, Jan M.. No especifíca;Fil: Kitano, Mio. No especifíca;Fil: Burnichon, Nelly. No especifíca;Fil: Ding, Yanli. No especifíca;Fil: Dahia, Patricia L. M.. No especifíca

Glycerol Hypersensitivity in a Drosophila Model for Glycerol Kinase Deficiency Is Affected by Mutations in Eye Pigmentation Genes

Glycerol kinase plays a critical role in metabolism by converting glycerol to glycerol 3-phosphate in an ATP dependent reaction. In humans, glycerol kinase deficiency results in a wide range of phenotypic variability; patients can have severe metabolic and CNS abnormalities, while others possess hyperglycerolemia and glyceroluria with no other apparent phenotype. In an effort to help understand the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the phenotypic variation, we have created a Drosophila model for glycerol kinase deficiency by RNAi targeting of dGyk (CG18374) and dGK (CG7995). As expected, RNAi flies have reduced glycerol kinase RNA expression, reduced phosphorylation activity and elevated glycerol levels. Further investigation revealed these flies to be hypersensitive to fly food supplemented with glycerol. Due to the hygroscopic nature of glycerol, we predict glycerol hypersensitivity is a result of greater susceptibility to desiccation, suggesting glycerol kinase to play an important role in desiccation resistance in insects. To evaluate a role for genetic modifier loci in determining severity of the glycerol hypersensitivity observed in knockdown flies, we performed a preliminary screen of lethal transposon insertion mutant flies using a glycerol hypersensitive survivorship assay. We demonstrate that this type of screen can identify both enhancer and suppressor genetic loci of glycerol hypersensitivity. Furthermore, we found that the glycerol hypersensitivity phenotype can be enhanced or suppressed by null mutations in eye pigmentation genes. Taken together, our data suggest proteins encoded by eye pigmentation genes play an important role in desiccation resistance and that eye pigmentation genes are strong modifiers of the glycerol hypersensitive phenotype identified in our Drosophila model for glycerol kinase deficiency