Varieties of nationalism: communities, narratives, identities

Nationalism has long been a normatively and empirically contested concept, associated with democratic revolutions and public goods provision, but also with xenophobia, genocide, and wars. Moving beyond facile distinctions between 'good' and 'bad' nationalisms, the authors argue that nationalism is an empirically variegated ideology. Definitional disagreements, Eurocentric conceptualizations, and linear associations between ethnicity and nationalism have hampered our ability to synthesize insights. This Element proposes that nationalism can be broken down productively into parts based on three key questions: (1) Does a nation exist? (2) How do national narratives vary? (3) When do national narratives matter? The answers to these questions generate five dimensions along which nationalism varies: elite fragmentation and popular fragmentation of national communities; ascriptiveness and thickness of national narratives; and salience of national identities

Intensity Thresholds and the Statistics of the Temporal Occurrence of Solar Flares

Introducing thresholds to analyze time series of emission from the Sun enables a new and simple definition of solar flare events, and their interoccurrence times. Rescaling time by the rate of events, the waiting and quiet time distributions both conform to scaling functions that are independent of the intensity threshold over a wide range. The scaling functions are well described by a two parameter function, with parameters that depend on the phase of the solar cycle. For flares identified according to the current, standard definition, similar behavior is found.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, revtex

Increased Clusterin Expression in Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy

Purpose: To compare the relative expression of peroxiredoxin (Prx) proteins in normal human corneal endothelium with endothelium in corneas affected by Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy (FED) and between normal human endothelium and epithelial/stromal tissue. Methods: Human corneal endothelial cell-Descemet’s membrane (HCEC-DM) complexes from normal and FED corneal buttons were dissected from the epithelium/stroma. For proteomic analysis, HCEC-DM protein extracts were separated by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Relative differences in protein spot density was analyzed. Proteins of interest, including Prx isoforms, were identified by MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted desorption ionization-time of flight) mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis compared the relative expression of Prx isoforms in normal and FED endothelium and between normal endothelium and normal epithelium/stroma. Expression of Prx-2 mRNA was compared by using real-time PCR. Results: Proteomic analysis identified differences in the relative expression of Prx isoforms between normal and FED endothelium. Western blot analysis confirmed that expression of Prx-2, −3, and −5 was significantly decreased (P \u3c 0.05) in FED cells. Normal HCECs expressed significantly (P \u3c 0.05) higher levels of Prx-2 and −3 than did the epithelium/stroma. Expression of Prx-5 was not significantly different (P \u3e 0.05) in the endothelium versus the epithelium/stroma. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that Prx-2 mRNA was significantly decreased (P = 0.027) in FED samples. Conclusions: Prx proteins were identified in human corneal endothelium. The fact that Prx-2 and −3 were expressed at significantly higher levels in HCEC-DM compared with the epithelium/stroma reflects the different physiologic activities of individual corneal cell types. Significantly decreased expression of Prx-2, −3, and −5 in FED may suggest an alteration in the ability of endothelial cells to withstand oxidant-induced damage and may be closely related to the pathogenesis of this disease

Bidirectional Wave-Propelled Capillary Spinners

When a solid body floats at the interface of a vibrating liquid bath, the relative motion between the object and interface generates outwardly propagating surface waves. It has recently been demonstrated that millimetric objects with fore-aft mass asymmetry generate an associated asymmetric wavefield and consequently self-propel in unidirectional motion. Harnessing this wave-powered mechanism of propulsion, we here demonstrate that chiral objects placed on a vibrating fluid interface are set into steady, yet reversible, rotation, with the angular speed and direction of rotation controlled by the interplay between object geometry and driving parameters. Scaling laws and a simplified model of the wavefield reveal the underlying physical mechanism of rotation, while collapsing experimental measurements of the angular velocity across parameters. Leveraging the control over the chiral object's direction of rotation, we then demonstrate that a floating body with an asymmetric mass distribution and chirality can be remotely steered along two-dimensional trajectories via modulation of the driving frequency alone. This accessible and tunable macroscopic system serves as a potential platform for future explorations of chiral active and driven matter, and demonstrates a mechanism by which wave-mediated fluid forces can be manipulated for directed propulsion

Decreased Expression of Peroxiredoxins in Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy

Purpose: To compare the relative expression of peroxiredoxin (Prx) proteins in normal human corneal endothelium with endothelium in corneas affected by Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy (FED) and between normal human endothelium and epithelial/stromal tissue. Methods: Human corneal endothelial cell-Descemet’s membrane (HCEC-DM) complexes from normal and FED corneal buttons were dissected from the epithelium/stroma. For proteomic analysis, HCEC-DM protein extracts were separated by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Relative differences in protein spot density was analyzed. Proteins of interest, including Prx isoforms, were identified by MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted desorption ionization-time of flight) mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis compared the relative expression of Prx isoforms in normal and FED endothelium and between normal endothelium and normal epithelium/stroma. Expression of Prx-2 mRNA was compared by using real-time PCR. Results: Proteomic analysis identified differences in the relative expression of Prx isoforms between normal and FED endothelium. Western blot analysis confirmed that expression of Prx-2, −3, and −5 was significantly decreased (P \u3c 0.05) in FED cells. Normal HCECs expressed significantly (P \u3c 0.05) higher levels of Prx-2 and −3 than did the epithelium/stroma. Expression of Prx-5 was not significantly different (P \u3e 0.05) in the endothelium versus the epithelium/stroma. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that Prx-2 mRNA was significantly decreased (P = 0.027) in FED samples. Conclusions: Prx proteins were identified in human corneal endothelium. The fact that Prx-2 and −3 were expressed at significantly higher levels in HCEC-DM compared with the epithelium/stroma reflects the different physiologic activities of individual corneal cell types. Significantly decreased expression of Prx-2, −3, and −5 in FED may suggest an alteration in the ability of endothelial cells to withstand oxidant-induced damage and may be closely related to the pathogenesis of this disease

Evaluation of Striped Bass Stocks in Virginia: Monitoring and Tagging Studies, 2015-2019 Progress Report 1 September 2016 - 31 November 2017

This report presents the results of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) tagging and monitoring activities in Virginia during the period 1 September 2016 through 31 August 2017. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2017 spring spawning run and estimates of annual survival and fishing mortality based on annual spring tagging. Also included is an investigation on the potential use of close-kin analyses to determine the size of the spawning stock in the Rappahannock River and an evaluation of mortality rates associated with the bacterial dermal disease mycobacteriosis in relation to water temperatures and dissolved oxygen. The information contained in this report is required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is used to implement a coordinated management plan for striped bass in Virginia, and along the eastern seaboard

Food Insecurity among Children in Massachusetts

This article focuses on the prevalence among Massachusetts children and families of food insecurity, inadequate access to enough nutritious food for an active and healthy life. It summarizes research findings on the association of food insecurity with less optimal children’s health and development from the prenatal period through adolescence. Food insecurity also correlates with other material hardships, such as housing and energy insecurity. Data show families’ participation in public nutrition and other assistance program is associated with decreased prevalence of food insecurity and with mitigation of its impact on children’s health and well-being. The article concludes with recommendations for policy action at the federal and state level that could enhance Massachusetts’ children’s food security by streamlining and increasing access to federal nutrition and other assistance programs

Development and Launch of the World\u27s First Orbital Propellant Tanker

This paper describes the development of Orbit Fab’s Tanker-001 Tenzing mission, the world’s first orbital propellant tanker. The development of a robust orbital propellant supply chain is critical to accelerating the growth of government and commercial space activities. The widespread availability of spacecraft refueling has the potential to provide a number of revolutionary benefits. High-value space assets could have their operational lives extended, as they would no longer be constrained by the amount of propellant stored onboard for maneuvering. On-orbit servicing missions would become more efficient, as servicing vehicles could be refueled and repeatedly used. A large orbital propellant supply would also enable new mission and business models based on operational flexibility and frequent maneuvering. These benefits would be particularly impactful on small satellites, where the ability to refuel could overcome the operational constraints of having smaller propellant tanks. This will greatly expand the market for small spacecraft as it increases their range of missions and capabilities. Launching no earlier than June 24, 2021, Tenzing is a 35 kg small satellite with an Astro Digital bus carrying a supply of storable propellant, high test peroxide (HTP). Tenzing’s propellant supply is being offered to customers for refueling and used to gather data on propellant storage. In addition to being the first propellant tanker, Tenzing is also an orbital laboratory including a variety of payloads intended to test key technologies for refueling. This includes the first flight of Orbit Fab’s Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface (RAFTI), a stereo camera system, and a Halcyon HTP propulsion system designed and built by Benchmark Space Systems for orbital maneuvers. The latter two elements can be used to test rendezvous and flyby maneuvers, providing data to support the development of full rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD) systems for future Orbit Fab missions

Economic development, human development, and the pursuit of happiness, April 1, 2, and 3, 2004

This repository item contains a single issue of the Pardee Conference Series, a publication series that began publishing in 2006 by the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future. This was the Center's spring conference, which took place during April 1, 2, and 3, 2004.The conference asks the questions, how can we make sure that the benefits of economic growth flow into health, education, welfare, and other aspects of human development; and what is the relationship between human development and economic development? Speakers and participants discuss the role that culture, legal and political institutions, the UN Developmental Goals, the level of decision-making, and ethics, play in development

Protocol for multimodal analysis of human kidney tissue by imaging mass spectrometry and CODEX multiplexed immunofluorescence.

Here, we describe the preservation and preparation of human kidney tissue for interrogation by histopathology, imaging mass spectrometry, and multiplexed immunofluorescence. Custom image registration and integration techniques are used to create cellular and molecular atlases of this organ system. Through careful optimization, we ensure high-quality and reproducible datasets suitable for cross-patient comparisons that are essential to understanding human health and disease. Moreover, each of these steps can be adapted to other organ systems or diseases, enabling additional atlas efforts