An Integrated Assessment of Archaeobotanical Recovery Methods in the Neotropical Rainforest of Northern Belize: Flotation and Dry Screening

This report presents results of a study examining the ancient use of plants at four Late Classic (CE 600-900) Maya rural farmsteads in northwestern Belize. Our research specifically targeted residential middens for macrobotanical recovery. Samples yielded the remains of more than a dozen plant families, representing some genera that do not currently grow in the area. These plants were used in the Late Classic, countering the idea that ancient botanical remains do not survive in Neotropical archaeological contexts. We also evaluated two macrobotanical sample processing methods vis-à-vis one another: flotation and dry screening. Our results indicate that flotation recovered 58% more seeds than dry screening, while dry screening yielded almost twice as much charcoal and other wood as flotation. The divergent quantities in the types of material recovered suggest a comprehensive macrobotanical recovery program should include the use of both processing methods

Rites of Passage as a Framework for Community Interventions with Youth

This article discusses the potential value of adopting a rites of passage framework for developing community interventions for youth and suggests principles for its application. We propose a contemporary working definition of the concept, how it could reshape the way we approach community and youth development, and 20 core components of a rites of passage process developed from our work experience spanning over 40 years

Rites of Passage as a Framework for Community Interventions with Youth

This article discusses the potential value of adopting a rites of passage framework for developing community interventions for youth and suggests principles for its application. We propose a contemporary working definition of the concept, how it could reshape the way we approach community and youth development, and 20 core components of a rites of passage process developed from our work experience spanning over 40 years

Axonal stress kinase activation and tau misbehavior induced by kinesin-1 transport defects

Many neurodegenerative diseases exhibit axonal pathology, transport defects, and aberrant phosphorylation and aggregation of the microtubule binding protein tau. While mutant tau protein in frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP17) causes aberrant microtubule binding and assembly of tau into filaments, the pathways leading to tau-mediated neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders in which tau protein is not genetically modified remain unknown. To test the hypothesis that axonal transport defects alone can cause pathological abnormalities in tau protein and neurodegeneration in the absence of mutant tau or amyloid β deposits, we induced transport defects by deletion of the kinesin light chain 1 (KLC1) subunit of the anterograde motor kinesin-1. We found that upon aging, early selective axonal transport defects in mice lacking the KLC1 protein (KLC1-/-) led to axonopathies with cytoskeletal disorganization and abnormal cargo accumulation. In addition, increased c-jun N-terminal stress kinase activation colocalized with aberrant tau in dystrophic axons. Surprisingly, swollen dystrophic axons exhibited abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation and accumulation. Thus, directly interfering with axonal transport is sufficient to activate stress kinase pathways initiating a biochemical cascade that drives normal tau protein into a pathological state found in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease.Fil: Falzone, Tomas Luis. Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Stokin, Gorazd B.. University Psychiatric Hospital; EsloveniaFil: Lillo, Concepción. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Rodrigues, Elizabeth M.. Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Westerman, Eileen L.. Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Williams, David S.. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Goldstein, Lawrence S. B.. Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Estados Unido

Moods in everyday situations: Effects of menstrual cycle, work, and personality

Objective: This study examined women’s moods on work and off days during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Method: Self-reports of the moods angry, happy, sad, stressed, tired, and anxious were obtained on two work and two off days during the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle in 203 nurses. Individual differences in anger expression, anxiety, and hostility were assessed. Results: Ratings of anxious, stressed, and tired were higher and happy and sad were lower on the workday than the off day. Menstrual cycle phase was associated with mood differences depending on the day (work, off work) and individual differences in personality traits. Conclusions: The experience of moods in everyday life is affected by overall levels of stress and phase of the menstrual cycle. The findings suggest the need to refine sociopsychobiological and clinical models of mood regulation and of risk for disease