Macaque cardiac physiology is sensitive to the valence of passively viewed sensory stimuli.

Autonomic nervous system activity is an important component of affective experience. We demonstrate in the rhesus monkey that both the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system respond differentially to the affective valence of passively viewed video stimuli. We recorded cardiac impedance and an electrocardiogram while adult macaques watched a series of 300 30-second videos that varied in their affective content. We found that sympathetic activity (as measured by cardiac pre-ejection period) increased and parasympathetic activity (as measured by respiratory sinus arrhythmia) decreased as video content changes from positive to negative. These findings parallel the relationship between autonomic nervous system responsivity and valence of stimuli in humans. Given the relationship between human cardiac physiology and affective processing, these findings suggest that macaque cardiac physiology may be an index of affect in nonverbal animals

Evaluating Equity in Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Strategies in Local Climate Action Planning in Oakland, California

Emissions from California’s transportation sector contribute to global climate change and impact local air quality and public health. Forty-one percent of California’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were from transportation. Transportation emissions are also a source of many health-harming air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. Disadvantaged communities in California experience disproportionate impacts from transportation emissions and suffer worse health effects, including higher incidences of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Cities have led the way in policymaking to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including creating Climate Action Plans (CAPs) to propose strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many of these plans acknowledge that considering equity in climate action planning is essential, but no protocol exists to ensure that equity goals are being met. This work examines equity in climate action planning through a detailed case study analysis, a framework and equity analysis, and a comparative analysis to determine how an equity focus affects the transportation emission reduction strategies proposed in CAPs. The research determined that there are substantial co-benefits to transportation emission reduction, including reduction in air pollution concentrations and improved public health. This work also found that cities that prioritized equity attempted to address underlying socioeconomic vulnerabilities simultaneously with emissions reduction efforts, and prioritized extensive, community-led engagement efforts that encouraged participation through the design and implementation of the CAP. Finally, this work makes recommendations for steps that city planners can take to facilitate the creation of more equitable transportation emission reduction strategies

False Speech and the First Amendment: The Problem with Free Speech in a Fake News Crisis

Social media platforms are used daily by millions of Americans to connect with friends and family, shop from home, and stay attuned to current events. But the increasing ease and speed of accessing information on social media leaves its users exposed to misinformation, disinformation, and fake news that is designed to deceive. Because natural cognitive biases make individualized truth-filtering mechanisms unreliable, it is often difficult for the public to distinguish between fact and fiction. Widespread belief in viral fake news stories have caused serious and dangerous consequences to public health, safety, and democracy. However, because false speech remains categorically protected under the First Amendment, courts rely on the counter-speech doctrine as the remedy to harmful fake news rather than content regulation. Nevertheless, in the social media era where fundamentally false information often prevails over factual truths on the information marketplace, it becomes difficult to reconcile theory with reality. There is growing belief among scholars and legislators that a Section 230 amendment imposing civil liability on social media platforms would incentivize platforms to enforce stricter content moderation policies. This note suggests that such legislative action does not go far enough to meaningfully mitigate the foreseeable harm caused by viral fake news. Instead, this note directly challenges the current First Amendment doctrine that categorically protects false speech from regulation. While this note posits a judicial solution to the fake news problem; given the limitations that hinder swift judicial action, this note further posits that private businesses are well-positioned to take immediate preemptive action to fight fake news

More Than Just an Athlete: A Model For Character Strengths To Enhance Well-Being During Retirement From Sport

Sport, for as long as it has existed, has held a purpose of developing character in competitors. Positive psychology establishes that each of us has unique character strengths core to who we are that support our well-being. Athletes often develop their sense of self during adolescence and formative college years while competing at elite levels. This results in a strong “athlete identity” and a self-concept centered around sport participation, performance, and team membership. Each year, approximately 150,000 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes graduate, very few going on to play at professional levels. Athletic retirement is a pivotal transition where redefining one’s identity beyond the role of athlete is necessary to flourish. What if identity was redefined leveraging one’s best traits? Could character strengths developed through years of athletics support effective coping through this major life transition and lead to flourishing in new life domains? This paper reviews the research on character strengths and discusses how, when cultivated through mindfulness, goal setting, and growth mindset they can help retiring student-athletes achieve greater well-being. A model for character strengths use is presented with implementation recommendations aimed at helping student-athletes attain greater well-being at the culmination of their athletic career

Kinetics of running on arboreal versus terrestrial substrates in Siberian chipmunks

Many mammals travel on both tree branches and flat ground in their natural habitat. Forelimbs were found to have the dominant role in braking on both substrates, while hindlimbs had the dominant role in propulsion on both substrates. However, the forelimb aided in propulsion more so than the hindlimbs contributed to braking on both substrates.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2012/1013/thumbnail.jp

Alien Registration- Johnson, Eliza J. (Presque Isle, Aroostook County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/33627/thumbnail.jp

Alien Registration- Dostie, Eliza J. (Lewiston, Androscoggin County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/29312/thumbnail.jp