The Thousand-Year Myth: Construction and Characterization of Hmong

Coined only in the last twenty years, the phrase"Hmong means free" has been thoughtlessly promotedby both Hmong and non-Hmong alike. This phrase,however, simply manifests thousands of years ofnarrow, one-dimensional characterization of theHmong. To historical oppressors of Hmong, "free"entails primitive savageness and inability toassimilate, or to enter the fold of what theseoutsiders defined as civilization. To outsiders,"free" also captures the essence of the warlikeHmong character, the Hmong's inability to compromiseon a peaceful, rational level. The author disputesthis simple portrayal of Hmong and points to ahistorical diversity rivaling that of any humangroup. To various degrees, Hmong have assimilatedculturally and politically in both the Chinese andFrench Indo-Chinese context. In addition, Hmong whohave chosen to isolate themselves politically did soin response to unfair practices against them.Throughout, Hmong character and political history iscomplex. For this reason, the author urges Hmong tobe cautious about embracing such a narrow, unfoundeddefinition for the word "Hmong.

Highly-sensitive graphene-based flexible pressure sensor platform

In this work, graphene has been utilized as the sensing material for the development of a highly-sensitive flexible pressure sensor platform. It has been demonstrated that a graphene-based pressure sensor platform that is able to measure pressure change of up to 3 psi with a sensitivity of 0.042 psi-1 and a non-linearity of less than 1% has been accomplished. The developed device, which resides on a flexible platform, will be applicable for integration in continuous wearables health-care monitoring system for the measurement of blood pressure

Human-Automation Allocations for Current Robotic Space Operations: Space Station Remote Manipulator System

NASAs Human Research Programs Risk of Inadequate Design of Human and Automation/Robotic Integration (HARI) delineates the uncertainty surrounding crew work with automation and robotics in spaceflight. HARI is concerned with detrimental effects of ineffective user interfaces, system designs and/or functional task allocation on crew performance, potentially compromising mission success and safety. This risk arises because of limited experience with complex automation and robotics in spaceflight. One key knowledge gap within the HARI risk is related to function allocation

The oral sensory organs in Bathochordaeus stygius (Tunicata Appendicularia) are unique in structure and homologous to the coronal organ

The article processing charge was funded by the Open Access Publication Fund of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.Background: Appendicularia consists of approximately 70 purely marine species that belong to Tunicata the probable sister taxon to Craniota. Therefore, Appendicularia plays a pivotal role for our understanding of chordate evolution. In addition, appendicularians are an important part of the epipelagic marine plankton. Nevertheless, little is known about appendicularian species, especially from deeper water. Results: Using µCT, scanning electron microscopy, and digital 3D-reconstruction techniques we describe three pairs of complex oral sensory organs in the mesopelagic appendicularian Bathochordaeus stygius. The oral sensory organs are situated at the anterior and lateral margin of the mouth and inside the mouth cavity. A single organ consists of 22–90 secondary receptor cells that project apical cilia through a narrow hole in the epidermis. The receptor cells are innervated by branches of the second brain nerve. Conclusions: Based on position, morphology, and innervation we suggest that the oral sensory organs are homologues of the coronal organs in other tunicates. We discuss the hypothesized homology of coronal organs and the lateral line system of primary aquatic vertebrates. The complex oral sensory organs of B. stygius are unique in tunicates and could be adaptations to the more muffled environment of the mesopelagic.Peer Reviewe

Bacteriophage Administration Reduces the Concentration of Listeria monocytogenes in the Gastrointestinal Tract and Its Translocation to Spleen and Liver in Experimentally Infected Mice

To investigate the efficacy of phage supplementation in reducing pathogen numbers, mice were treated via oral gavage with a Listeria monocytogenes phage preparation (designated ListShield) before being orally infected with L. monocytogenes. The concentrations of L. monocytogenes in the liver, spleen, and intestines were significantly lower (P < .05) in the phage-treated than in the control mice. Phage and antibiotic treatments were similarly effective in reducing the levels of L. monocytogenes in the internal organs of the infected mice. However, the significant weight loss detected in the control and antibiotic-treated groups was not observed in the infected, ListShield-treated mice. Long-term (90 days), biweekly treatment of uninfected mice with ListShield did not elicit detectable changes in the microbiota of their large intestines or deleterious changes in their health. Our data support the potential feasibility of using bacteriophages to control proliferation of L. monocytogenes in mice without affecting commensal microbiota composition

Age differences in the manifestation &amp; neurobiology of negative affect during alcohol withdrawal in a mouse model of binge drinking

The research presented in this dissertation characterizes the manifestation and neurobiological underpinnings of negative affect during alcohol withdrawal in adult and adolescent mice using an animal model of voluntary binge drinking. A history of binge drinking elicits changes in glutamate-related protein expression within regions of the extended amygdala relevant to emotional regulation. Studying withdrawal-induced changes in protein expression may provide insight into the mechanisms mediating age-dependent differences in the negative affective consequences of alcohol abuse. The results of this work demonstrate that, similar to the human population, adult and adolescent mice differ both in their pattern of alcohol consumption and also in the consequences of that consumption. Although adolescent animals typically consume larger quantities of alcohol, adolescents are less sensitive than adults to negative affect during early withdrawal. However, adolescents binge drinkers show an emergence of negative affect later in adulthood, as well as elevated alcohol consumption. Moreover, these studies identify specific changes in protein expression within two brain regions critically involved in both emotion and addiction neurobiology- the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) and the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). Withdrawal from binge drinking is associated with increased neuronal activity within the AcbSh, concomitant with increased glutamate-related protein expression in adult animals. Conversely, decreased expression of protein indices of Homer2-dependent mGluR signaling was observed within the CEA of both adult and adolescent animals. Reversing these changes using neuropharmacological or virus-mediated transgene delivery approaches reduced behavioral signs of withdrawal-induced anxiety. Together, these studies identify neurobiological substrates and pathophysiology of relevance to the negative reinforcing properties of alcohol and characterize ontogenetic differences in the behavioral and neurobiological consequences of alcohol abuse