In Vitro Gametogenesis: A Research Timeline and Implications for the Future of Assisted Reproductive Technology

The novel reproductive technology, In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG), includes the process of obtaining mature viable germ cells from pluripotent stem cells. To do so, embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are specified to primordial germ cells and differentiated to form gametes that undergo further maturation, which subsequently may undergo in vitro fertilization to form an embryo. With this capability, IVG holds the power to provide a novel treatment option for human infertility. As of now, research has been conducted on mice successfully, and with limited success in humans. Future research will likely focus on discovering the species-specific differences between mice and humans through studies with nonhuman primates. Research on large mammals such as the rhinoceros will also contribute to animal conservation efforts. While human IVG has not been fully developed yet, several concerns have arisen regarding the ethical and legal implications of this technology. While none of these concerns are tangible due to the current state of research findings and current International Society for Stem Cell Research guidelines, they may inform legislation in the future

'Censorship-free' platforms: Evaluating content moderation policies and practices of alternative social media

Following the development and implementation of mainstream social media platforms’ election-related speech policies, a renewed wave of criticism emerged from the U.S. ideological right. Several months before the 2020 U.S. presidential election, conservative politicians, pundits, and self-described patriots alleged that their speech was being censored by “Big Tech.” This resulted in right-leaning influencers, and many of their followers, migrating to alternative online platforms to avoid moderation. Alternative social media, such as Parler, Bitchute, Gab, and Gettr, describe themselves as unmoderated hubs for “free speech,” signalling an invitation for users to voice everything from unpopular opinions, to misinformation, to hate speech. Yet when pushed by technology infrastructure platforms like Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store to address missing or substandard moderation practices, “alt-tech” platforms were forced to create or adapt ad hoc, often minimalistic, content moderation policies.Our research explores and evaluates these policies in comparison to mainstream platforms, and analyses how moderation policies interact with the ideological framework asserted at an alternative platform’s nascence. Our work provides necessary insight into the potential motivations for one potential source of U.S. internet platform oversight. With few immediately available regulatory options, assessing the viability of alternatives is crucial. This is particularly true as severe legislative gridlock stalls meaningful reform to the federal law perhaps most capable of improving platforms’ moderation practices. Because private regulation appears to be the most immediate solution to address new breeding grounds for mis- and disinformation, inquiry into alternative platforms’ adoption and enforcement of moderation policies is needed. Our paper concludes with questions for future research into the efficacy of alternative platforms’ policy implementation; it is imperative to distinguish legitimate moderation from mere shells constructed to retain profit in parallel with ideological posturing

Brachial Artery Pseudoaneurysm Secondary to a Sessile Osteochondroma in an Avid Teenage Basketball Player

PURPOSE: Osteochondromas (OCE) are typically characterized as benign cartilaginous neoplasms occurring as either solitary lesions or as part of multiple hereditary exostosis (MHE). In some instances, they may cause pain due to irritation of nearby musculoskeletal structures such as ligaments, tendons, nerves and vessels. Growth of these lesions is often slow and mimics skeletal growth. Rapid change in the size of an OCE warrants investigation due to concern for malignant transformation. Presented here is the case of a 17 year old male who noted rapid ongoing growth in a humeral osteochondroma secondary to development of a brachial artery pseudoaneurysm. METHODS: 17 year old male avid basketball player presents with history of MHE who is status post resection of OCE lesions about his knee. He reported a one year history of significant and progressive growth of a lesion in his right medial upper arm associated with mechanical pain (especially during basketball), night pain and occasional numbness. Physical exam revealed a large, firm and relatively immobile non-pulsatile mass just distal to the axilla without adjacent adenopathy. CT scan revealed a 10 cm mass with subjacent cortical irregularity concerning for a mass/sarcoma with hemorrhage versus pseudoaneurysm. MRI was most suggestive of a pseudoaneurysm with displacement of the neurovascular structures. MRA and CT angiogram confirmed the suspected pseudoaneurysm. He subsequently underwent successful resection and repair of the pseudoaneurysm in addition to resection of the offending exostosis by Orthopaedic oncology. His recovery to date has been unremarkable. DISCUSSION: Vascular complications associated with OCE are rare, with around 100 reported in the literature. The most common location for vascular findings is typically the popliteal artery, likely secondary to the knee being a common location for OCE’s, frequent trauma to the area and the relative tethering of this artery about the knee. The humerus is decidedly an uncommon location despite the shoulder’s large range of motion. Conclusion: Rapid or ongoing enlarging OCE’s require prompt medical attention and work up. Whereas sarcomatous degeneration needs to always be considered, other etiologies such as pseudoaneurysms need to be included in the differential diagnosis. Presented is a case report of the rare complication of an OCE leading to a brachial artery pseudo-aneurysm in the upper extremity. Recognition of this potential diagnosis aided in appropriate imaging without disastrous open or needle biopsy and an ultimate successful outcome.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/merf2019caserpt/1067/thumbnail.jp

Distinctive expression patterns of 185/333 genes in the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus: an unexpectedly diverse family of transcripts in response to LPS, β-1,3-glucan, and dsRNA

BACKGROUND: A diverse set of transcripts called 185/333 is strongly expressed in sea urchins responding to immune challenge. Optimal alignments of full-length 185/333 cDNAs requires the insertion of large gaps that define 25 blocks of sequence called elements. The presence or absence of individual elements also defines a specific element pattern for each message. Individual sea urchins were challenged with pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) (lipopolysaccharide, β-1,3-glucan, or double stranded RNA), and changes in the 185/333 message repertoire were followed over time. RESULTS: Each animal expressed a diverse set of 185/333 messages prior to challenge and a 0.96 kb message was the predominant size after challenge. Sequence analysis of the cloned messages indicated that the major element pattern expressed in immunoquiescent sea urchins was either C1 or E2.1. In contrast, most animals responding to lipopolysaccharide, β-1,3-glucan or injury, predominantly expressed messages of the E2 pattern. In addition to the major patterns, extensive element pattern diversity was observed among the different animals before and after challenge. Nucleotide sequence diversity of the transcripts increased in response to β-1,3-glucan, double stranded RNA and injury, whereas diversity decreased in response to LPS. CONCLUSION: These results illustrate that sea urchins appear to be able to differentiate among different PAMPs by inducing the transcription of different sets of 185/333 genes. Furthermore, animals may share a suite of 185/333 genes that are expressed in response to common pathogens, while also maintaining a large number of unique genes within the population

A Diabetic Adolescent Case Study: Use of a Website in Combination with an Exercise Program to Increase Physical Activity

International Journal of Exercise Science 5(3) : 296-300, 2012. The purpose of this study was to report on the efficacy of a web-based technology support to encourage physical activity in children. This program was designed to promote physical activity and proper nutrition in the diabetic adolescent with a weekly meeting that consisted of a 30-minute educational session followed by 60-minutes of exercise. A specifically designed website was used as a support to this weekly supervised exercise program. Outcomes assessment included body mass index (BMI), muscle strength (grip strength, back and leg strength), flexibility, exercise self-efficacy, and physical activity participation (pedometer, LEAP II Survey). Improvements occurred in steps walked per day and exercise self-efficacy indicating that a once a week formal exercise, when combined with a technology support, is useful in increasing physical activity behavior

Spatial analysis of borrow pits along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska, USA, in 1957 and 2016

The Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) of Nebraska provides critical habitat for wildlife, while serving agricultural, indus­trial, and other human uses. Mining of sand and gravel from the floodplain of the Platte River has supported construction of roads and other uses, and this extraction has created many borrow-pit ponds, lakes, and other small bodies of standing water (hereafter borrow-pits), further transforming riparian and prairie habitats. The objective of this study was to compare the abundance, size, and distribution of borrow pits before construction of Interstate 80 (1957) and at present (2016) from Lexington to Chapman, Nebraska, a length of river spanning about 146 km (90 mi) and sometimes referred to as the Big Bend Reach. Orthorectified aerial imagery of the Platte River was obtained for years 1957 and 2016, and we digitized the standing bodies of water within the floodplain in Arc­GIS. Total numbers of borrow pits and measures of pit shape were calculated and compared between floodplain regions where im­agery overlapped. From 1957 to 2016, the number of borrow pits increased from 300 to 786, total area occupied by pits expanded by 538%, and total shoreline of pits increased by 261%. In 2016, aerial imagery was available for a larger extent of the floodplain and contained a total of 1,062 borrow pits covering 16 km2 (6 mi2), with a total shoreline of 581 km (361 mi). For context, the Platte River channels’ approximate area was 45 km2 (17 mi2) and shoreline 1,582 km (983 mi) between Lexington and Chapman, Nebraska, in 2016. Results provide insight into historical and current presence, distribution, and shape of borrow pits along the Platte River, as well as serve as a reference point for future studies investigating regional landscape change and ecological effects of creating hun­dreds of borrow pits on the floodplain

LIME : Software for 3-D visualization, interpretation, and communication of virtual geoscience models

Parts of LIME have been developed to address research requirements in projects funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) through the Petromaks and Petromaks 2 programs. The following grants are acknowledged: 153264 (VOG [Virtual Outcrop Geology]; with Statoil ASA), 163316 (Carbonate Reservoir Geomodels [IRIS (International Research Institute of Stavanger)]), 176132 (Paleokarst Reservoirs [Uni Research CIPR]), 193059 (EUSA; with FORCE Sedimentology and Stratigraphy Group), 234152 (Trias North [University of Oslo]; with Deutsche Erdoel AG, Edison, Lundin, Statoil, and Tullow), 234111 (VOM2MPS [Uni Research CIPR]; with FORCE Sedimentology and Stratigraphy Group), as well as SkatteFUNN (RCN) project 266740. In addition, the SAFARI project consortium (http://safaridb.com) is thanked for its continued support. The OSG and wxWidgets communities are acknowledged for ongoing commitment to providing mature and powerful software libraries. All authors thank colleagues past and present for studies culminating in the presented figures: Kristine Smaadal and Aleksandra Sima (Figs. 1 and 4); Colm Pierce (Fig. 2A); Eivind Bastesen, Roy Gabrielsen and Haakon Fossen (Fig. 3); Christian Haug Eide (Fig. 7); Ivar Grunnaleite and Gunnar Sælen (Fig. 8); and Magda Chmielewska (Fig. 9). Isabelle Lecomte contributed to discussions on geospatial-geophysical data fusion. Bowei Tong and Joris Vanbiervliet are acknowledged for internal discussions during article revision. The lead author thanks Uni Research for providing a base funding grant to refine some of the presented features. Finally, authors Buckley and Dewez are grateful to Institut Carnot BRGM for the RADIOGEOM mobility grant supporting the writing of this paper. Corbin Kling and one anonymous reviewer helped improve the final manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Naturecultures guidance: steps in our journey

The emergence of cultural landscapes concepts heralded important mindset shifts in heritage practices. These have underpinned development of landscape approaches that recognise larger-scale interactions and the relationships between natural and cultural elements and processes. However, it has become apparent that an enduring nature-culture binary in heritage practices can result in adverse outcomes ‘on the ground’. The ISCCL has provided a forum and a source of global leadership for these issues, including the exploration of the implications of working with naturecultures to achieve conservation outcomes that are effective and inclusive. Naturecultures was coined by Donna Haraway in 2003 to recognise that natural and human environments, including non-human and more-than-human beings (such as spirits, creation ancestors, divinities) are intimately bound or entangled within different places. There is a now a growing desire to move beyond a curious consideration of the conceptual possibilities of naturecultures to implement its meanings in a wide array of everyday heritage management practices. Physically separated by the global pandemic, we are a small group of natural and cultural heritage practitioners and ISCCL members who decided to step briefly away from our organisational and institutional affiliations to connect with each other, reflect on our experiences, and offer guidance to others. This presentation will be our first opportunity to communicate what we’ve been up to, and to share some thoughts that our journey together has afforded. We argue that applying naturecultures in our practices is beneficial for people and places, and can support more effective conservation outcomes. Please join us to think further about these ideas. Français : L\u27émergence des concepts de paysages culturels a annoncé d\u27importants changements de mentalité dans les pratiques patrimoniales. Ceux-ci ont soutenu le développement d\u27approches paysagères qui reconnaissent les interactions à plus grande échelle et les relations entre les éléments et les processus naturels et culturels. Cependant, il est devenu évident qu\u27un binaire nature-culture durable dans les pratiques patrimoniales peut entraîner des résultats négatifs « sur le terrain ». L\u27ISCCL a fourni un forum et une source de leadership mondial pour ces questions, y compris l\u27exploration des implications du travail avec les cultures de la nature pour obtenir des résultats de conservation efficaces et inclusifs. Naturecultures a été inventé par Donna Haraway en 2003 pour reconnaître que les environnements naturels et humains, y compris les êtres non humains et plus qu\u27humains (tels que les esprits, les ancêtres de la création, les divinités) sont intimement liés ou enchevêtrés dans différents endroits. Il y a maintenant un désir croissant d\u27aller au-delà d\u27une curieuse considération des possibilités conceptuelles des cultures de la nature pour mettre en œuvre ses significations dans un large éventail de pratiques quotidiennes de gestion du patrimoine. Physiquement séparés par la pandémie mondiale, nous sommes un petit groupe de praticiens du patrimoine naturel et culturel et de membres de l\u27ISCCL qui ont décidé de s\u27éloigner brièvement de nos affiliations organisationnelles et institutionnelles pour se connecter les uns aux autres, réfléchir à nos expériences et offrir des conseils aux autres. Cette présentation sera notre première occasion de communiquer ce que nous avons fait et de partager quelques réflexions que notre voyage ensemble a permis. Nous soutenons que l\u27application des cultures de la nature dans nos pratiques est bénéfique pour les personnes et les lieux, et peut favoriser des résultats de conservation plus efficaces. Veuillez vous joindre à nous pour approfondir ces idées. Español: La aparición de conceptos de paisajes culturales anunció importantes cambios de mentalidad en las prácticas patrimoniales. Estos han apuntalado el desarrollo de enfoques de paisaje que reconocen interacciones a mayor escala y las relaciones entre elementos y procesos naturales y culturales. Sin embargo, se ha hecho evidente que un binario duradero entre naturaleza y cultura en las prácticas patrimoniales puede dar lugar a resultados adversos sobre el terreno . El ISCCL ha proporcionado un foro y una fuente de liderazgo global para estos temas, incluida la exploración de las implicaciones de trabajar con las culturas de la naturaleza para lograr resultados de conservación que sean efectivos e inclusivos. Naturecultures fue acuñada por Donna Haraway en 2003 para reconocer que los entornos naturales y humanos, incluidos los seres no humanos y más que humanos (como espíritus, antepasados de la creación, divinidades) están íntimamente ligados o enredados en diferentes lugares. Existe ahora un creciente deseo de ir más allá de una consideración curiosa de las posibilidades conceptuales de las culturas de la naturaleza para implementar sus significados en una amplia gama de prácticas cotidianas de gestión del patrimonio. Físicamente separados por la pandemia global, somos un pequeño grupo de practicantes del patrimonio natural y cultural y miembros de ISCCL que decidieron alejarse brevemente de nuestras afiliaciones organizacionales e institucionales para conectarnos unos con otros, reflexionar sobre nuestras experiencias y ofrecer orientación a los demás. Esta presentación será nuestra primera oportunidad para comunicar lo que hemos estado haciendo y compartir algunos pensamientos que nos ha brindado nuestro viaje juntos. Argumentamos que la aplicación de las culturas de la naturaleza en nuestras prácticas es beneficiosa para las personas y los lugares, y puede respaldar resultados de conservación más efectivos. Únase a nosotros para pensar más en estas ideas

International Space Station Research for the Next Decade: International Coordination and Research Accomplishments

During 2011, the International Space Station reached an important milestone in the completion of assembly and the shift to the focus on a full and continuous utilization mission in space. The ISS partnership itself has also met a milestone in the coordination and cooperation of utilization activities including research, technology development and education. We plan and track all ISS utilization activities jointly and have structures in place to cooperate on common goals by sharing ISS assets and resources, and extend the impacts and efficiency of utilization activities. The basic utilization areas on the ISS include research, technology development and testing, and education/outreach. Research can be categorized as applied research for future exploration, basic research taking advantage of the microgravity and open space environment, and Industrial R&D / commercial research focused at industrial product development and improvement. Technology development activities range from testing of new spacecraft systems and materials to the use of ISS as an analogue for future exploration missions to destinations beyond Earth orbit. This presentation, made jointly by all ISS international partners, will highlight the ways that international cooperation in all of these areas is achieved, and the overall accomplishments that have come as well as future perspectives from the cooperation. Recently, the partnership has made special efforts to increase the coordination and impact of ISS utilization that has humanitarian benefits. In this context the paper will highlight tentative ISS utilization developments in the areas of Earth remote sensing, medical technology transfer, and education/outreach

Expanded Benefits for Humanity from the International Space Station

In 2012, the International Space Station (ISS) partnership published the updated International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 2nd edition, a compilation of stories about the many benefits being realized in the areas of human health, Earth observations and disaster response, and global education. This compilation has recently been revised to include updated statistics on the impacts of the benefits, and new benefits that have developed since the first publication. Two new sections have also been added to the book, economic development of space and innovative technology. This paper will summarize the updates on behalf of the ISS Program Science Forum, made up of senior science representatives across the international partnership. The new section on "Economic Development of Space" highlights case studies from public-private partnerships that are leading to a new economy in low earth orbit (LEO). Businesses provide both transportation to the ISS as well as some research facilities and services. These relationships promote a paradigm shift of government-funded, contractor-provided goods and services to commercially-provided goods purchased by government agencies. Other examples include commercial firms spending research and development dollars to conduct investigations on ISS and commercial service providers selling services directly to ISS users. This section provides examples of ISS as a test bed for new business relationships, and illustrates successful partnerships. The second new section, Innovative Technology, merges technology demonstration and physical science findings that promise to return Earth benefits through continued research. Robotic refueling concepts for life extensions of costly satellites in geo-synchronous orbit have applications to robotics in industry on Earth. Flame behavior experiments reveal insight into how fuel burns in microgravity leading to the possibility of improving engine efficiency on Earth. Nanostructures and smart fluids are examples of materials improvements that are being developed using data from ISS. The publication also expands the benefits of research results in human health, environmental change and disaster response and in education activities developed to capture student imaginations in support of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education internationally. Applications to human health of the knowledge gained on ISS continues to grow and improve healthcare technologies and our understanding of human physiology. Distinct benefits return to Earth from the only orbiting multi-disciplinary laboratory of its kind. The ISS is a stepping stone for future space exploration by providing findings that develop LEO and improve life on our planet