Interdisciplinary Writing Center Collaborations

This article discusses approaches and attitudes toward writing center outreach amid misconceptions surrounding writing centers across many college campuses. Through the experiences of one land grant institution, the authors advocate interdisciplinary cooperation across campus to combat faulty perceptions of writing centers’ offerings. Students and faculty alike benefit from a new understanding of the writing center’s mission to strengthen students’ writing and processes

Assessment of the calendar aging of lithium-ion batteries for a long-term—Space missions

Energy availability is a critical challenge for space missions, especially for those missions designed to last many decades. Space satellites have depended on various combinations of radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RGTs), solar arrays, and batteries for power. For deep space missions lasting as long as 50 + years, batteries will also be needed for applications when there is no sunlight and RTGs cannot support peak power demand due to their insufficient specific power. This paper addresses the potential use of lithium-ion batteries for long-term space missions. Using data collected from the literature and internal experiments, a calendar aging model is developed to assess the capacity fade as a function of temperature, state-of-charge and time. The results for various LIB chemistries are used to identify the best candidate chemistries and determine the conditions, with a focus on low temperatures, that can best enable deep space missions

Home automation as an alternative of regional development a challenge for the integration of batchelor degree in Latin America and the Caribbean

El artículo pretende analizar desde una perspectiva crítica, el desarrollo que podría proveer la domótica como una alternativa al crecimiento del sector de la construcción en ALC. En este marco, se considera el papel de la domótica como un componente importante para el cumplimiento de la agenda para el desarrollo 2030. En ese sentido, se empezará con una revisión conceptual de la domótica y qué papel juega en la agenda para el desarrollo 2030, seguido de un breve análisis sobre los retos que enfrenta la educación superior en ALC frente al crecimiento del sector de la construcción e inmobiliario de la región, concluyendo con una reflexión del impacto que generaría para el desarrollo de ciudades sostenibles, la integración de la ingeniería domótica en los programas académicos de las universidades de la región.The article aims to analyze from a critical perspective, the development that domotics could provide as an alternative to the growth of the construction sector in LAC. In this framework, the role of home automation is considered as an important component for the fulfillment of the 2030 development agenda. In that sense, it will begin with a conceptual review of home automation and what role plays in the 2030 development agenda, followed by a brief analysis of the challenges facing higher education in LAC compared to the growth of the construction and real estate sector of the region, concluding with a reflection of the impact that would generate for the development of sustainable cities, the integration of domotic engineering in the academic programs of the universities of the region

Most national, mandatory flour fortification standards do not align with international recommendations for iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 levels

Abstract As national flour fortification standards are one of the policy documents developed to guide food fortification, the objective was to compare national, mandatory wheat and maize flour fortification standards to World Health Organization (WHO) fortification guidelines. For each nutrient in 72 countries' standards, the type of compound was noted as 'yes' if it was included in international guidelines or 'no' if it was not. Nutrient levels in standards were classified as lower than, equal to, or higher than those suggested by WHO. If another food (i.e. rice, oil, milk) was mass fortified with a nutrient categorized as "lower than," the classification was changed to "less than recommendation and included in other mass fortified food". At least 61% of standards included one or more recommended compounds for all nutrients in standards for wheat flour alone (iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin B12,), wheat and maize flour together (iron, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin B12) and maize flour alone (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine); no country included pantothenic acid in its maize flour standard. For folic acid, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and pyridoxine, at least 50% of standards (1) met or exceeded WHO suggested levels, or (2) were lower than suggested levels and another food was mass fortified with the specific nutrient in the country. For iron, zinc and vitamin B12, less than 50% of standards met (1) or (2). In conclusion, iron, zinc and vitamin B12 may require the most attention in national fortification standards

Evans Committee Statement on Pioneer

Letter from University of Denver faculty and alumni on the university\u27s use of the \u27Pioneer\u27 moniker

Genomics of post-bottleneck recovery in the northern elephant seal.

Populations and species are threatened by human pressure, but their fate is variable. Some depleted populations, such as that of the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), recover rapidly even when the surviving population was small. The northern elephant seal was hunted extensively and taken by collectors between the early 1800s and 1892, suffering an extreme population bottleneck as a consequence. Recovery was rapid and now there are over 200,000 individuals. We sequenced 260 modern and 8 historical northern elephant seal nuclear genomes to assess the impact of the population bottleneck on individual northern elephant seals and to better understand their recovery. Here we show that inbreeding, an increase in the frequency of alleles compromised by lost function, and allele frequency distortion, reduced the fitness of breeding males and females, as well as the performance of adult females on foraging migrations. We provide a detailed investigation of the impact of a severe bottleneck on fitness at the genomic level and report on the role of specific gene systems. [Abstract copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).

John Evans Study Committee Recommendations

With the completion of this report the University of Denver is presented with an opportunity to reflect on our institutional origins, history, and legacy. We have an opportunity to provide a model of transparency, accountability, and transformation for institutions that have directly profited or indirectly benefited from the displacement of the indigenous communities whose lands and histories they occupy. This moment invites us to bend the arc of history away from the clamor of old apologetics that have caused deep wounds for those whose voices have been silenced and toward justice, healing, and peace. This likewise holds for those whose privilege and power has been upheld by historical noise, silence, and intentional omission. This is truly a new horizon and DU should be a change leader illuminating a new path forward: a path of unity, collaboration, and healing for all communities

In vivo biocompatibility testing of nanoparticle-functionalized alginate–chitosan scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Background: There is a strong interest in designing new scaffolds for their potential application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The incorporation of functionalization molecules can lead to the enhancement of scaffold properties, resulting in variations in scaffold compatibility. Therefore, the efficacy of the therapy could be compromised by the foreign body reaction triggered after implantation.Methods: In this study, the biocompatibilities of three scaffolds made from an alginate–chitosan combination and functionalized with gold nanoparticles (AuNp) and alginate-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNp + Alg) were evaluated in a subcutaneous implantation model in Wistar rats. Scaffolds and surrounding tissue were collected at 4-, 7- and 25-day postimplantation and processed for histological analysis and quantification of the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis, macrophage profile, and proinflammatory (IL-1β and TNFα) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines.Results: Histological analysis showed a characteristic foreign body response that resolved 25 days postimplantation. The intensity of the reaction assessed through capsule thickness was similar among groups. Functionalizing the device with AuNp and AuNp + Alg decreased the expression of markers associated with cell death by apoptosis and polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment, suggesting increased compatibility with the host tissue. Similarly, the formation of many foreign body giant cells was prevented. Finally, an increased detection of alpha smooth muscle actin was observed, showing the angiogenic properties of the elaborated scaffolds.Conclusion: Our results show that the proposed scaffolds have improved biocompatibility and exhibit promising potential as biomaterials for elaborating tissue engineering constructs

Genetic landscape of 6089 inherited retinal dystrophies affected cases in Spain and their therapeutic and extended epidemiological implications

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), defined by dysfunction or progressive loss of photoreceptors, are disorders characterized by elevated heterogeneity, both at the clinical and genetic levels. Our main goal was to address the genetic landscape of IRD in the largest cohort of Spanish patients reported to date. A retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 6089 IRD affected individuals (from 4403 unrelated families), referred for genetic testing from all the Spanish autonomous communities. Clinical, demographic and familiar data were collected from each patient, including family pedigree, age of appearance of visual symptoms, presence of any systemic findings and geographical origin. Genetic studies were performed to the 3951 families with available DNA using different molecular techniques. Overall, 53.2% (2100/3951) of the studied families were genetically characterized, and 1549 different likely causative variants in 142 genes were identified. The most common phenotype encountered is retinitis pigmentosa (RP) (55.6% of families, 2447/4403). The most recurrently mutated genes were PRPH2, ABCA4 and RS1 in autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR) and X-linked (XL) NON-RP cases, respectively; RHO, USH2A and RPGR in AD, AR and XL for non-syndromic RP; and USH2A and MYO7A in syndromic IRD. Pathogenic variants c.3386G > T (p.Arg1129Leu) in ABCA4 and c.2276G > T (p.Cys759Phe) in USH2A were the most frequent variants identified. Our study provides the general landscape for IRD in Spain, reporting the largest cohort ever presented. Our results have important implications for genetic diagnosis, counselling and new therapeutic strategies to both the Spanish population and other related populations.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) of the Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS; PI16/00425 and PI19/00321), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, 06/07/0036), IIS-FJD BioBank (PT13/0010/0012), Comunidad de Madrid (CAM, RAREGenomics Project, B2017/BMD-3721), European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE), Fundación Ramón Areces, Fundación Conchita Rábago and the University Chair UAM-IIS-FJD of Genomic Medicine. Irene Perea-Romero is supported by a PhD fellowship from the predoctoral Program from ISCIII (FI17/00192). Ionut F. Iancu is supported by a grant from the Comunidad de Madrid (CAM, PEJ-2017-AI/BMD7256). Marta del Pozo-Valero is supported by a PhD grant from the Fundación Conchita Rábago. Berta Almoguera is supported by a Juan Rodes program from ISCIII (JR17/00020). Pablo Minguez is supported by a Miguel Servet program from ISCIII (CP16/00116). Marta Corton is supported by a Miguel Servet program from ISCIII (CPII17/00006). The funders played no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation and/or publication decisions