Human Trafficking and the Media

This paper focuses on how the media can affect the publics knowledge about human trafficking. Specific attention is paid to what human trafficking is and what the different types of criteria that need to be met are. Of the criteria that is met, the paper looks at the overlapping of requirements between human trafficking and other offenses. More importantly throughout the paper is analyzations on police officers’ beliefs about knowing what human trafficking is, what still needs to be done, and their stance on the current definition. The research presented demonstrates the need for more positive psychological approaches when talking to a victim of human trafficking as they are already a part of a vulnerable group and the need to implement clearer terminology to establish modernized laws and programs

Investigating Gene Functions in Mycobacteriophage Island3

Island3 is a temperate Cluster I1 mycobacteriophage that infects Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155. Its genome consists of 76 protein-coding genes, only 17 of which have known functions. Towards the goal of identifying additional gene functions, we amplified, cloned, and assayed 14 genes for host cytotoxicity and the ability to render the host resistant to infection by other phages (defense). We analyzed genes 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 25, 50, 51, 57, 60, and 61 and concluded that none of these genes exhibited either host cytotoxicity or defense against phage infection. We are in the process of assaying the remaining genes of Island3

Stream Water Quality Responses in a Tornado Damaged Residential Watershed

Tornado damage has the potential to impact stream water quality from seeping anthropogenic compounds and scattered debris in affected areas. On 3 March 2020, an EF4 tornado (~282 km h-1 winds) hit Putnam County, Tennessee, destroying structures, trees, and removing vegetation across the area. This study assessed the influence of tornado damage on the water quality of streams draining the damaged area. We compared physiochemical conditions, fecal contamination, and chemical water quality measures for affected and unaffected watersheds over three months. We found differences between stormflow and baseflow conditions between watersheds, with elevated nutrients, dissolved metals, and fecal coliform bacteria after rain events. However, there were no significant differences between affected and unaffected watersheds for any parameter. Similarly, there were no relationships among nutrients or contaminants and distance to, or density of tornado wreckage. This study provides evidence that unlike other natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, tornados may have minimal effects on water quality when residential areas are hit, possibly due to the localized area of destruction that tornados leave. However, tornado influence may still be event-specific and depend on the type of structures damaged

Genetic Annotation of Bacteriophages MScarn, Knocker, and Neos5

We annotated the genomes of three recently discovered bacteriophages to learn more about their genetic composition. MScarn is a lytic bacteriophage that infects Gordonia terrae 3612. It was discovered and purified from soil collected in Iroquois, SD. MScarn is a cluster CT phage, one of only 37 discovered to date. Its genome is 45,677 base pairs long and has 10-nucleotide 3’ sticky overhanging ends. Its GC content is 60.3% which is typical of CT cluster members. Knocker is a cluster B9 phage that was isolated on the host Mycobacterium smegmatis mc²155 from soil collected in Watertown, SD. Its circularly permuted genome contains 71,459 base pairs, and it has a high GC content of 69.7%. Similar to the other three members of the B9 cluster, it exhibits a lytic life cycle. Neos5, a lytic bacteriophage, was also isolated on Mycobacterium smegmatis mc²155 from soil collected in Baltimore, MD. It is a cluster B3 phage with a circularly permuted genome of 68,886 base-pairs and a 67.5% GC content, synonymous to the other 37 members of the cluster. All three phages were discovered, purified, and annotated by Northwestern College students

Animal models of cognitive dysfunction and negative symptoms of schizophrenia: focus on NMDA receptor antagonism

YesCognitive deficits in schizophrenia remain an unmet clinical need. Improved understanding of the neuro- and psychopathology of these deficits depends on the availability of carefully validated animal models which will assist the development of novel therapies. There is much evidence that at least some of the pathology and symptomatology (particularly cognitive and negative symptoms) of schizophrenia results from a dysfunction of the glutamatergic system which may be modelled in animals through the use of NMDA receptor antagonists. The current review examines the validity of this model in rodents. We review the ability of acute and sub-chronic treatment with three non-competitive NMDA antagonists; phencyclidine (PCP), ketamine and MK801 (dizocilpine) to produce cognitive deficits of relevance to schizophrenia in rodents and their subsequent reversal by first- and second-generation antipsychotic drugs. Effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on the performance of rodents in behavioural tests assessing the various domains of cognition and negative symptoms are examined: novel object recognition for visual memory, reversal learning and attentional set shifting for problem solving and reasoning, 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time for attention and speed of processing; in addition to effects on social behaviour and neuropathology. The evidence strongly supports the use of NMDA receptor antagonists to model cognitive deficit and negative symptoms of schizophrenia as well as certain pathological disturbances seen in the illness. This will facilitate the evaluation of much-needed novel pharmacological agents for improved therapy of cognitive deficits and negative symptoms in schizophrenia

A Tale of Two Spills: Novel Science and Policy Implications of an Emerging New Oil Spill Model

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil release posed the challenges of two types of spill: a familiar spill characterized by buoyant oil, fouling and killing organisms at the sea surface and eventually grounding on and damaging sensitive shoreline habitats, and a novel deepwater spill involving many unknowns. The subsurface retention of oil as finely dispersed droplets and emulsions, wellhead injection of dispersants, and deepwater retention of plumes of natural gas undergoing rapid microbial degradation were unprecedented and demanded the development of a new model for deepwater well blowouts that includes subsurface consequences. Existing governmental programs and policies had not anticipated this new theater of impacts, which thereby challenged decisionmaking on the spill response, on the assessment of natural resource damages, on the preparation for litigation to achieve compensation for public trust losses, and on restoration. Modification of laws and policies designed to protect and restore ocean resources is needed in order to accommodate oil drilling in the deep sea and other frontiers.Keywords: Ecosystem, Petroleum, Deep water horizon, Gulf of Mexico, BlowoutKeywords: Ecosystem, Petroleum, Deep water horizon, Gulf of Mexico, Blowou

The Portrayal of Controversial Topics in Satirical Media

In a time with media outlets catering news and media to their specific audience, satirical news stands out as it provides a fresh breath of information and humor. Research has found that young adults consume more satirical content than regular news (Boukes et al., 2015). Audiences, especially younger generations, actively tailor what media content they take in; they tend to find media that aligns with their views. Boukes et al. (2015) found that humor plays a large role in message absorption, and Anderson and Kincaid (2013) examine satirical media paradox where fake news is more informative than “credible”, or traditional, media. Through a content analysis of segments of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Saturday Night Live, this research will look at how controversial issues are framed in satirical media. By examining 40 segments from The Daily Show, 40 segments from The Colbert Report, and 42 segments from Saturday Night Live in 2014, this research examines the conservative to liberal leaning portrayals of controversial issues. This research project studies what controversial topics are discussed, how they are framed by each satirical news program, and which topics each program covers the most