Review of Archival Values: Essays in Honor of Mark A. Greene

Review of Archival Values: Essays in Honor of Mark A. Greene

Archeota, Spring 2018

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Attitudinal Ambivalence – A New Look at Structure, Measurement, and Induction Approaches

Attitudinal ambivalence is defined as the simultaneous positive and negative evaluation of an attitude object. Although the research field investigating this special type of attitudes has generated valuable insights in many domains, it generally suffers from conceptual and methodological ambiguities. In a theoretical chapter, the current state of the art is critically reflected with regard to these shortcomings, and numerous directions for future research are suggested. In two empirical sections, six studies are presented that contribute to the field in at least three ways. First, in Experiments 1 to 3, using evaluative priming paradigms in which ambivalent material either served as primes or as targets, it is shown that positive and negative evaluations may be activated simultaneously and unintentionally if a univalent categorization is required. At short SOAs, ambivalent material generally increases response latencies in comparison to congruent trials, independent of its role and contextual cues. In Experiment 4, a similar experimental set-up with a valent/neutral categorization task further suggests that the ambivalence-induced conflict occurs at the response execution rather than at stimulus encounter. Second, in Experiments 2 to 6, direct and indirect attitude measures are systematically compared revealing that self-reported ambivalence predicts latencies if ambivalent material is used as targets, but not if it serves as primes. Third, in Experiments 5 and 6, univalent, neutral, and ambivalent attitudes are induced on direct measures by applying evaluative conditioning procedures in which conditioned stimuli are paired with two pictures (Experiment 5), or a picture and a sound (Experiment 6), respectively. In both studies, however, ambivalence does not carry over to an evaluative priming paradigm suggesting a complex interaction of automatic and deliberate processes. Finally, the main findings are summarized, and their methodological and theoretical implications regarding the nature, measurement, and induction of attitudinal ambivalence are discussed

Wikimedia and Beyond: Linked Data Projects in Minnesota

How many linked data conference sessions have you attended where the benefits of linked data to libraries were discussed, with the ultimate goal of leading to better visibility for libraries? These sessions likely mentioned research initiatives at large, well-resourced institutions such as the Library of Congress and OCLC Research. But then the post-conference reality sets in and linked data applications in the real world seem almost unattainable. Join us to learn about some of the more approachable and practical implementations of linked data in libraries. We have discovered that one of the best ways to learn about the impact of linked data is to experiment, acknowledging that experimenting can take a considerable amount of staff time and organizational resources to support the work. So come and reap the benefits of our experiments! We will discuss the Minitex Wikimedia pilot project, in which two Minnesota Libraries and a Historical Society added archival images to Wikimedia Commons, and Wikipedia, and added structured data (linked data) from Wikidata. All to find out what the impact on access and use would be. We will also discuss other local developments and what we can build together in the future

Limits of life and the habitability of Mars: The ESA space experiment BIOMEX on the ISS

BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports—among others—the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit

Seasonal variation in mycoflora associated with asymptomatic maize grain from small-holder farms in two provinces of South Africa

Seed quality plays an important role in the establishment of healthy crop stands. The aim of this study was to identify the mycoflora associated with maize grain collected over two growing seasons, one experiencing severe drought, from small-holder farms across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape (EC), two important provinces with maize producing small-holder farmers in South Africa. Asymptomatic maize ears were collected at harvest during two maize growing seasons from farms located in Hlanganani (KZN), Ntabamhlophe (KZN), KwaNxamalala (KZN), Bizana (EC) and Tabankulu (EC). Maize grain was subjected to seed health tests using the agar plate method. The percentage incidence of fungal species isolated from maize grain was determined with species identities confirmed by ITS sequencing. Nine fungal genera were identified with Fusarium species and Stenocarpella maydis the most prevalent. Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium graminearum and S. maydis were isolated from all sites in both seasons. No fungal species exhibited a higher incidence in the drought season across all sites.  F. graminearum and S. maydis had higher incidences in the wetter season at four and three sites, respectively. F. verticillioides had a greater incidence at the EC sites, particularly the coastal Bizana site. We conclude that local factors have a greater impact than the drought season on the population structure of ear-rot pathogens.  The widespread presence of fungi that are potentially mycotoxin-producing in asymptomatic maize grain poses health risks to consumers and is worthy of further investigation

Expression of H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in breast cancer

PURPOSE Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in females. Histone modifications have been shown to have an influence on the gene expression. This study focusses on the histone modifications H3K9ac and H3K4me3 in breast cancer and their impact on survival METHODS: H3K4me3 and H3K9ac expression was immunohistochemically examined in 235 tissue samples. RESULTS Positive estrogen receptor status was correlated with a higher IRS of the nuclear (p = 0.033), and of the cytoplasmic H3K4me3 staining (p = 0.009). H3K9ac intensity was associated to the Her2 status (p = 0.045) and to poor prognosis in cells with positive Ki67 status (p = 0.013). A high intensity of nuclear H3K4me3 staining was found to be correlated with a lower 10-year-survival (p = 0.026) and with lower breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.004). High percentage score (> 190) of H3K9ac expression was correlated to worse breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.005). Shorter progression-free survival was found in patients with nuclear (p = 0.013) and cytoplasmic H3K4me3expression (p = 0.024) and H3K9ac expression (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION This analysis provides new evidence of histone modifications in breast cancer. High H3K4me3 and H3K9ac expression was correlated with survival rates. Further investigation of histone modifications in breast cancer could lead to a more profound understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and could result in new therapeutic strategies

Faculty and Administrative Partnerships: Disciplinary Differences in Perceptions of Civic Engagement and Service-Learning at a Large, Research-Extensive University

In recent years, considerable energy has been expended attempting to define, evaluate and promote active learning pedagogies such as civic engagement and service-learning. Yet much of this scholarship treats civic engagement and service-learning at either a macroscopic level (studying an entire university system) or microscopic level (studying a particular course or project). There has been comparably less research examining how different disciplinary cultures influence the conceptualization and implementation of active learning pedagogies within individual institutions. This study draws on quantitative survey methodologies to examine faculty perceptions of civic engagement and service-learning at a major public research university within and across four disciplines: the Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and the Applied Professions. Quantitative results reveal significant variance in disciplinary approaches to civic engagement and service-learning across a variety of measures including advocacy, concerns, and goals for active learning pedagogies. The findings suggest several strategies for recognizing disciplinary differences and encouraging collaboration among faculty and between disciplines on civic engagement and service-learning approaches in higher education