Holding Our Breath : The Work of Adrian Stimson

"HOLDING OUR BREATH by Adrian Stimson, is a large-scale installation based on the artist’s first hand experiences and observations at a military base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The work is informed by conversations Stimson had with soldiers, some of which were First Nations, and his impression with daily life occurring at the military base situated in the vast Middle Eastern landscape." -- Publisher's website

Nitrogen removal and the fate of Nitrate in Riparian buffer zones

Riparian buffer zones, adjacent to waterways, may protect water quality by intercepting and removing nitrogen in runoff from agricultural land. This research comprised four parts: (1) a field study of nitrogen buffering by differently vegetated riparian zones in a United Kingdom (UK) sheep-grazed pastoral catchment; (2) a field study of surface and subsurface runoff hydrology, and nitrogen flux, in a UK riparian wetland; (3) a laboratory study ((^15)N tracer-isotope dilution) of microbial inorganic nitrogen production and removal processes in the UK riparian wetland soil; and (4) a laboratory microcosm study ((^15)tracer) of nitrate removal processes in bare and plant-inhabited (Glyceria declinata) New Zealand (NZ) riparian wetland soil. Dissolved organic nitrogen and ammonium were generally more important components of subsurface runoff than nitrate in the three UK riparian zones. All riparian zones were poor buffers having minimal effect on the nitrogen concentration of subsurface runoff. In the UK riparian wetland site subsurface (saturated zone) and surface 'preferential flow paths' typically conveyed large quantities of catchment runoff rapidly into, and across the site, and hindered nitrogen buffering. However, under low flow conditions, runoff-riparian soil contact increased and the wetland decreased the catchment nitrogen flux by 27%. In the UK riparian wetland soil most nitrate removal was attributable to denitrification (87- 100%) as opposed to dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) (0-13%) and immobilisation (0-10%). Total ((^14)N+(^15)N) transformation rates for these processes were 1.3-47, 0.5-1.5 and 0.6-2.5 μg N g soil(^-1) hr(^-1) respectively. In the NZ riparian wetland soil Glyceria declinata assimilated 11-15% of nitrate but, more importantly, increased soil oxidation and altered the proportions of nitrate removal attributable to denitrification (from 29% to 61-63%) and DNRA (from 49 to <1%), but not immobilisation (22-26%). Denitrification and, thus, nitrogen buffering might be enhanced, in some riparian zones by increasing the extent of moderately anoxic soil with plants that release oxygen from their roots or with water table management

State Responsibility for International Bail-Jumping

Over the last decade, there has been a spate of incidents in Canada and the United States involving Saudi Arabian nationals who, while out on bail for predominantly sexual crimes, were able to abscond from the countries despite having surrendered their passports. Investigation has revealed evidence supporting a reasonable inference that the government of Saudi Arabia has, in fact, assisted its nationals to escape on these occasions. This article makes the case that this kind of conduct amounts not just to unfriendly acts but also to infringements upon the territorial sovereignty of both states and serious breaches of the international law of jurisdiction. It surveys the possible remedies available to both injured states and, in light of the fact that neither state has sought any such remedy, examines possible remedial routes for the victims of the Saudi nationals’ crimes. It remarks upon the utter failure of either Canada or the United States to address these acts, concluding that such wilful neglect both corrodes sovereignty and undermines the will to address sexual crimes

The perfect home for the imbalanced : visual culture and the built space of the asylum in early twentieth century and post war Saskatchewan

In the dominant North American imagination, the asylum has always been a place of the “other” in society. Stories of Saskatchewan asylums and their reincarnations as mental hospitals are filled with early twentieth century horror narratives and redemptive tales of mid-century scientific progress: the monstrousness of the labyrinthine asylum structures and its arcane treatments, the modern marvels of the experimental therapies and the lives saved by the scientific authorities. Still some of the most infamous buildings to haunt provincial imagination, mental hospitals became more than buildings designed to treat disease in Saskatchewan: they were a cultural phenomenon. The hospitals themselves became social objects invested with meanings which shaped social relations. This thesis investigates how the built structure of the asylum and in particular the North Battleford and Weyburn Mental Hospitals were perceived, experienced and theorized in early twentieth century and post-war Saskatchewan society. In analyzing architectural drawings, floor plans, television documentaries, photographs and patients' personal stories, this dissertation takes a critical look at how patients and staff were situated within the built structure at certain points and in particular during the Weyburn Mental Hospital’s extensive earlier twentieth century history and its mid-century re-birth as a modern psychiatric research centre. Feminist and post-colonial debates about the history of medicine and eugenics, spatial and socio-practices of power within built structure and the representation of patients and health professionals in colonial and modern society are also examined as a means to situate the discussion of the mental hospital within the broader context of the discussion on spatial discourses

Flow, Just Flow: Variations on a Theme

Flow, Just Flow: Variations on a Theme Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art University of Richmond Museums, VA January 29 to June 28, 2013 Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi first used the term “flow” in 1975 to describe “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz.” Accordingly, this experience of single-minded immersion in an activity that is continuously challenging and rewarding is the secret to a vigorous and satisfying life. Also referred to as “being in the zone,” this state of flow is the launching point for this exhibition and online catalogue, which present a variety of media involving kinetic forms, non-static content generation, visitor interaction, and collective states of being. Twenty-four works of art by twenty-one artists of national and international origin explore a range of definitions and applications of the word “flow,” from dynamism and movement to ideas and communication. The exhibition is organized by University of Richmond Museums and curated by N. Elizabeth Schlatter, Deputy Director and Curator of Exhibitions, University Museums. The exhibition and programs are made possible in part by the University’s Cultural Affairs Committee, and funds from the Louis S. Booth Arts Fund. Additional support has been provided by grants from the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and the Austrian Cultural Forum, Washington, DC.https://scholarship.richmond.edu/exhibition-catalogs/1000/thumbnail.jp

A spatial judgement task to determine background emotional state in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Humans experiencing different background emotional states display contrasting cognitive (e.g. judgement) biases when responding to ambiguous stimuli. We have proposed that such biases may be used as indicators of animal emotional state. Here, we use a spatial judgement task, in which animals are trained to expect food in one location and not another, to determine whether rats in relatively positive or negative emotional states respond differently to ambiguous stimuli of intermediate spatial location. We housed 24 rats with environmental enrichment for seven weeks. Enrichment was removed for half the animals prior to the start of training (‘U’: unenriched) to induce a relatively negative emotional state, whilst being left in place for the remaining rats (‘E’: enriched). After six training days, the rats successfully discriminated between the rewarded and unrewarded locations in terms of an increased latency to arrive at the unrewarded location, with no housing treatment difference. The subjects then received three days of testing in which three ambiguous ‘probe’ locations, intermediate between the rewarded and unrewarded locations, were introduced. There was no difference between the treatments in the rats’ judgement of two out of the three probe locations, the exception being when the ambiguous probe was positioned closest to the unrewarded location. This result suggests that rats housed without enrichment, and in an assumed relatively negative emotional state, respond differently to an ambiguous stimulus compared to rats housed with enrichment, providing evidence that cognitive biases may be used to assess animal emotional state in a spatial judgement task

Glucocorticoids and selumetinib are highly synergistic in RAS pathway-mutated childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia through upregulation of BIM

New drugs are needed for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia and preclinical evaluation of the MEK inhibitor, selumetinib, has shown excellent activity in those with RAS pathway mutations. The proapoptotic protein, BIM is pivotal in the induction of cell death by both selumetinib and glucocorticoids, suggesting the potential for synergy. Thus, combination indices for dexamethasone and selumetinib were determined in RAS pathway mutated acute lymphoblastic leukemia primagraft cells in vitro and were indicative of strong synergism (CI <0.2; n=5). Associated pharmacodynamic assays were consistent with the hypothesis that the drug combination enhanced BIM upregulation over single drug alone. Dosing of dexamethasone and selumetinib singly, and in combination in mice engrafted with primary derived RAS pathway mutated leukemia cells, resulted in a marked reduction in spleen size which was significantly greater with the drug combination. Assessment of the central nervous system leukaemia burden showed a significant reduction in drug treated mice, with no detectable leukemia in those treated with the drug combination. These data suggest that a selumetinib-dexamethasone combination may be highly effective in RAS pathway mutated acute lymphoblastic leukemia and an international phase I/II clinical trial of dexamethasone and selumetinib (Seludex trial) is underway for children with multiple relapsed/refractory disease

UBVRI Light Curves of 44 Type Ia Supernovae

We present UBVRI photometry of 44 type-Ia supernovae (SN Ia) observed from 1997 to 2001 as part of a continuing monitoring campaign at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The data set comprises 2190 observations and is the largest homogeneously observed and reduced sample of SN Ia to date, nearly doubling the number of well-observed, nearby SN Ia with published multicolor CCD light curves. The large sample of U-band photometry is a unique addition, with important connections to SN Ia observed at high redshift. The decline rate of SN Ia U-band light curves correlates well with the decline rate in other bands, as does the U-B color at maximum light. However, the U-band peak magnitudes show an increased dispersion relative to other bands even after accounting for extinction and decline rate, amounting to an additional ~40% intrinsic scatter compared to B-band.Comment: 84 authors, 71 pages, 51 tables, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. Version with high-res figures and electronic data at http://astron.berkeley.edu/~saurabh/cfa2snIa

Seagrass restoration is possible: insights and lessons from Australia and New Zealand

Seagrasses are important marine ecosystems situated throughout the world's coastlines. They are facing declines around the world due to global and local threats such as rising ocean temperatures, coastal development and pollution from sewage outfalls and agriculture. Efforts have been made to reduce seagrass loss through reducing local and regional stressors, and through active restoration. Seagrass restoration is a rapidly maturing discipline, but improved restoration practices are needed to enhance the success of future programs. Major gaps in knowledge remain, however, prior research efforts have provided valuable insights into factors influencing the outcomes of restoration and there are now several examples of successful large-scale restoration programs. A variety of tools and techniques have recently been developed that will improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and scalability of restoration programs. This review describes several restoration successes in Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on emerging techniques for restoration, key considerations for future programs, and highlights the benefits of increased collaboration, Traditional Owner (First Nation) and stakeholder engagement. Combined, these lessons and emerging approaches show that seagrass restoration is possible, and efforts should be directed at upscaling seagrass restoration into the future. This is critical for the future conservation of this important ecosystem and the ecological and coastal communities they support

Seagrass restoration is possible:Insights and lessons from Australia and New Zealand

Seagrasses are important marine ecosystems situated throughout the world’s coastlines. They are facing declines around the world due to global and local threats such as rising ocean temperatures, coastal development and pollution from sewage outfalls and agriculture. Efforts have been made to reduce seagrass loss through reducing local and regional stressors, and through active restoration. Seagrass restoration is a rapidly maturing discipline, but improved restoration practices are needed to enhance the success of future programs. Major gaps in knowledge remain, however, prior research efforts have provided valuable insights into factors influencing the outcomes of restoration and there are now several examples of successful large-scale restoration programs. A variety of tools and techniques have recently been developed that will improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and scalability of restoration programs. This review describes several restoration successes in Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on emerging techniques for restoration, key considerations for future programs, and highlights the benefits of increased collaboration, Traditional Owner (First Nation) and stakeholder engagement. Combined, these lessons and emerging approaches show that seagrass restoration is possible, and efforts should be directed at upscaling seagrass restoration into the future. This is critical for the future conservation of this important ecosystem and the ecological and coastal communities they support