African labour problems on South African gold mines, with special reference to the strike of 1946

The aim of this work has been to place the African Mine Strike of 1946 in historical perspective, by tracing through the years the results of the policy of the gold mining industry and the paternalism of the Government, and thus the causes of the strike. My task was aggravated by the fact that many of the principles in this story were either not in the country or could not see me. In addition, records of some particularly important court cases, as well as the files of such organisations as the Communist Party, have been destroyed

Ocean oxygenation during the Middle Ordovician: links to biodiversification?

During the Ordovician period, biological diversity experienced a threefold increase (Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event). This expansion took place in several steps, with one of the largest pulses of diversification occurring in the Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian). This study presents paired carbon isotope data from carbonate and organic matter from the Antelope Valley Limestone of Meiklejohn Peak, Nevada, a Darriwilian carbonate sequence. A correlation is established between this section and two Estonian drill cores in which the MDICE has been previously reported. This correlation, based on carbon isotope stratigraphy, is supported by paleontological evidence. These data represent the first documentation of the Mid-Darriwilian Carbon Isotope Excursion (MDICE) from western Laurentia. The paired results of this study show a stepwise increase of approximately 3‰ in photosynthetic fractionation through the early stages of the MDICE, consistent with an increase in atmospheric oxygen of up to 18% (i.e. an increase from a starting atmospheric oxygen concentration of 10% to 28%). Increases in atmospheric oxygen are thought to have played a critical role in key evolutionary developments throughout time, such as the rise of animals at the end of the Precambrian and the gigantism seen in arthropods of the Permo-Carboniferous. The timing of the pulse of oxygen observed in the Darriwilian coincides with the timing of rapid biodiversification, suggesting that the two may have been intimately linked.No embargoAcademic Major: Earth Science

Viruses, Vaccines and the Public

Current research in virology is changing public conceptions about vaccines and infectious disease. The University of Nebraska State Museum collaborated with research virologists, science writers, artists and learning researchers to create public outreach materials about viruses and infectious disease. The project, funded by the National Institute of Health’s SEPA program, developed comics, a book with Carl Zimmer, and other materials and programs. The project launched three kinds of learning research: 1) a survey of Nebraska adults on their opinions about vaccines and infectious disease; 2) a study comparing the mental models of viruses, vaccines and infection from virologists, teachers, and students; and 3) a controlled study 873 high school students randomly assigned to read either a comic or a text-based essay with the same virus information

World of Viruses: the Frozen Horror

https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/coph_books/1000/thumbnail.jp

Widespread Tau Seeding Activity at Early Braak Stages

Transcellular propagation of tau aggregates may underlie the progression of pathology in Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Braak staging (B1, B2, B3) is based on phospho-tau accumulation within connected brain regions: entorhinal cortex (B1); hippocampus/limbic system (B2); and frontal and parietal lobes (B3). We previously developed a specific and sensitive assay that uses flow cytometry to quantify tissue seeding activity based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in cells that stably express tau reporter proteins. In a tauopathy mouse model, we have detected seeding activity far in advance of histopathological changes. It remains unknown whether individuals with AD also develop seeding activity prior to accumulation of phospho-tau. We measured tau seeding activity across four brain regions (hippocampus, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and cerebellum) in 104 fresh-frozen human AD brain samples from all Braak stages. We observed widespread seeding activity, notably in regions predicted to be free of phospho-tau deposition, and in detergent-insoluble fractions that lacked tau detectable by ELISA. Seeding activity correlated positively with Braak stage and negatively with MMSE. Our results are consistent with early transcellular propagation of tau seeds that triggers subsequent development of neuropathology. The FRET-based seeding assay may also complement standard neuropathological classification of tauopathies

Heads Up: Using Your Brain When Tackling Concussions

Introduction: A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) typically caused by bio-mechanical forces inflicted on the head that change the way the brain works. Concussions can also result from a blow elsewhere in the body causing an impulsive force transmitted to the head. These types of injuries often involve a sudden onset of neurologic function impairment such as confusion, amnesia, or loss of consciousness that quickly dissipates and is generally not life-threatening. Unfortunately, these seemingly “mild” symptoms have led numerous primary care providers to undermine its potential risks, often leading to inadequate evaluation, premature return to play, and poor psychological management. Complications of severe or repeated concussions include migraines, depression & mood changes, sleep disorders, convulsions, coma, and in some instances even death. The goals of our study were to evaluate public awareness and knowledge of concussion, identify common misconceptions, assess barriers to proper management, and propose uniform guidelines for education, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to be used in the Vermont school system.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1051/thumbnail.jp