Hoping for the Best, Preparing for the Worst: Prepping, sculptural practice and the everyday crisis of insecurity

This research project investigates highly individuated preparatory activity, or prepping, through a practice-led research methodology which is articulated through three frameworks identified from commonalities found in prepping’s often highly disparate activities. These frameworks, narrative, adaptable objects, and preservation, aid in sculpturally articulating an often-overlooked aspect of the prepping spectrum. Namely, those attempting to secure already precarious lives in a world of constantly unfolding and speculative crises

Hepcidin and iron homeostasis during pregnancy.

Hepcidin is the master regulator of systemic iron bioavailability in humans. This review examines primary research articles that assessed hepcidin during pregnancy and postpartum and report its relationship to maternal and infant iron status and birth outcomes; areas for future research are also discussed. A systematic search of the databases Medline and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health returned 16 primary research articles including 10 human and six animal studies. Collectively, the results indicate that hepcidin is lower during pregnancy than in a non-pregnant state, presumably to ensure greater iron bioavailability to the mother and fetus. Pregnant women with undetectable serum hepcidin transferred a greater quantity of maternally ingested iron to their fetus compared to women with detectable hepcidin, indicating that maternal hepcidin in part determines the iron bioavailability to the fetus. However, inflammatory states, including preeclampsia, malaria infection, and obesity were associated with higher hepcidin during pregnancy compared to healthy controls, suggesting that maternal and fetal iron bioavailability could be compromised in such conditions. Future studies should examine the relative contribution of maternal versus fetal hepcidin to the control of placental iron transfer as well as optimizing maternal and fetal iron bioavailability in pregnancies complicated by inflammation

Efficiency Comparisons of Secondary Biofuels

Biofuels are essential for the energy production of the future. This report is a meta-study of the efficiencies of first, second and third generation secondary biofuels used for transportation purposes. We present and compare data from several studies concerning the efficiency of converting raw biomass info biofuels. We also compare this data to the efficiencies of hydrogen and solar power transportation systems. The efficiency data was presented as percentages from ratios of different data types, primarily exergy and energy efficiency ratios, which are defined for each study throughout the report. The highest efficiency percentages were displayed by second-generation wood knot rejects that did not require pretreatment input energy and resulted in high-energy ethanol output. The lowest efficiency percentages were from quasi-solar thermophotovoltaic radiator technology, heightening the reputation of biofuels as the efficient, renewable transportation energy source of tomorrow

Structure of the master regulator Rns reveals an inhibitor of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli virulence regulons

Enteric infections caused by the gram-negative bacteria enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Vibrio cholerae, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella enterica are among the most common and affect billions of people each year. These bacteria control expression of virulence factors using a network of transcriptional regulators, some of which are modulated by small molecules as has been shown for ToxT, an AraC family member from V. cholerae. In ETEC the expression of many types of adhesive pili is dependent upon the AraC family member Rns. We present here the 3 Å crystal structure of Rns and show it closely resembles ToxT. Rns crystallized as a dimer via an interface similar to that observed in other dimeric AraC’s. Furthermore, the structure of Rns revealed the presence of a ligand, decanoic acid, that inhibits its activity in a manner similar to the fatty acid mediated inhibition observed for ToxT and the S. enterica homologue HilD. Together, these results support our hypothesis that fatty acids regulate virulence controlling AraC family members in a common manner across a number of enteric pathogens. Furthermore, for the first time this work identifies a small molecule capable of inhibiting the ETEC Rns regulon, providing a basis for development of therapeutics against this deadly human pathogen

ACES RED Experiment #1 Environmental Test Results for Industrial Grade, Non-traditional, and Other Components Lacking Flight Heritage

Results of the thermal vacuum chamber (TVAC) testing and vibrational testing of the ACES RED Experiment #1 are presented. Performance of commercial-off-the-shelf components such as the Avnet PicoZed, the Xiphos Q7, the MAI-400, and a NovaTel GNSS during TVAC testing are provided and analyzed. To our knowledge, this is the first orbital flight of this version of the GNSS, this version of the MAI-400, and the PicoZed. The experiment utilizes a novel structural concept for ease of electronics assembly and disassembly. The health monitoring system measures temperatures, vibration, voltages, and currents for situational awareness of each of these component\u27s relative performance. An assessment and progression of the technology readiness level of the hardware is also presented

Looking for evidence that place of residence influenced visitor attitudes to feeding wild dolphins

Purpose – To ascertain if place attachment or experiential norms influence visitor attitudes to the feeding of wild dolphins. Design/Methodology/Approach – A cross section of beach based visitors at a popular Australian marine tourism destination were opportunistically sampled using pen and paper questionnaires. Findings – Visitors expressed strong support for the strictly controlled minimalist reward feeding that accompanies beach based wild dolphin interactions at the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre and visitors believe there are tourism benefits to be gained from the regulated feeding of wild dolphins. Results also suggest that neither place attachment nor experiential norms influence visitor attitudes to feeding of the Koombana Bay dolphin population. Originality of the research – This location specific, snapshot, case study suggests that contrary to published theory, place attachment and experiential norms do not influence tourist attitudes to wildlife feeding, especially for charismatic iconic wildlife such as dolphins