Language and Capital: Socioeconomic Status and Female Migrants’ Spanish and English Language Use and Attitudes

The use of Spanish and English and the attitudes held toward both languages in migrant communities provide insight into the tension between the new arrivals’ desire to retain cultural and linguistic ties to their homeland and their desire to assimilate to the language and culture of their new home. The immigration stream from Mexico, the origin of the largest number of US migrants, has diversified socioeconomically over the last few decades, however, the sociolinguistic research has not reflected this change. The present study examines the similarities and differences in the language use and attitudes of female migrants from Mexico that belong to two distinct socioeconomic backgrounds

The Abca7V1613M variant reduces Aβ generation, plaque load, and neuronal damage

BackgroundVariants in ABCA7, a member of the ABC transporter superfamily, have been associated with increased risk for developing late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD).MethodsCRISPR-Cas9 was used to generate an Abca7V1613M variant in mice, modeling the homologous human ABCA7V1599M variant, and extensive characterization was performed.ResultsAbca7V1613M microglia show differential gene expression profiles upon lipopolysaccharide challenge and increased phagocytic capacity. Homozygous Abca7V1613M mice display elevated circulating cholesterol and altered brain lipid composition. When crossed with 5xFAD mice, homozygous Abca7V1613M mice display fewer Thioflavin S-positive plaques, decreased amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, and altered amyloid precursor protein processing and trafficking. They also exhibit reduced Aβ-associated inflammation, gliosis, and neuronal damage.DiscussionOverall, homozygosity for the Abca7V1613M variant influences phagocytosis, response to inflammation, lipid metabolism, Aβ pathology, and neuronal damage in mice. This variant may confer a gain of function and offer a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease-related pathology.HighlightsABCA7 recognized as a top 10 risk gene for developing Alzheimer's disease. Loss of function mutations result in increased risk for LOAD. V1613M variant reduces amyloid beta plaque burden in 5xFAD mice. V1613M variant modulates APP processing and trafficking in 5xFAD mice. V1613M variant reduces amyloid beta-associated damage in 5xFAD mice

Punica granatum L. protects mice against hexavalent chromium-induced genotoxicity

This study investigated the chemoprotective effects of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) fruits alcoholic extract (PGE) on mice exposed to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. Animals were pretreated with PGE (25, 50 or 75 mg/kg/day) for 10 days and subsequently exposed to a sub-lethal dose of Cr(VI) (30 mg/kg). The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow was investigated and the Cr(VI) levels were measured in the kidneys, liver and plasm. For the survival analysis, mice were previously treated with PGE for 10 days and exposed to a single lethal dose of Cr(VI) (50 mg/kg). Exposure to a sub-lethal dose of Cr(VI) induced a significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells. However, the prophylactic treatment with PGE led to a reduction of 44.5% (25 mg/kg), 86.3% (50 mg/kg) and 64.2% (75 mg/kg) in the incidence of micronuclei. In addition, the 50 mg/kg dose of PGE produced a higher chemoprotective effect, since the survival rate was 90%, when compared to that of the non-treated group. In these animals, reduced amounts of chromium were detected in the biological materials, in comparison with the other groups. Taken together, the results demonstrated that PGE exerts a protective effect against Cr(VI)-induced genotoxicity

The relationship of academic achievement to the language use and language attitudes of bilingual Chicago youths of Mexican descent

The present study compares traits of Midwestern youths of Mexican descent from three separate academic levels: high school dropouts (HSD), high school students (HSS), and college students (CS). Data for the study were obtained by means of a questionnaire that included sociodemographic information (e.g. ethnic identity, socioeconomic status), academic information (e.g. grade retention, grade paint average), as well as sociolinguistic information regarding the use of and attitudes toward Spanish and English. HSD informants were interviewed orally; HSS and CS informants filled out a written version of the HSD interview.While previous research has found that the sociodemographic and academic factors of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and grade point average yield the strongest indicators of academic achievement, the present study found sibling education, informant's grade retention, and informant's participation in bilingual education as well as informant's grade point average were most strongly associated with academic achievement. Factors such as parental education, academic track, and study times showed a more moderate influence. Finally, factors such as ethnic identity, socioeconomic status, informant nativity, and family size were not found to be associated with academic achievement.While studies regarding southwestern Mexican populations have found a preference for Spanish in informal contexts and a preference for English in formal contexts, the data from the present study did not reveal such a distinction. Instead, in interpersonal interaction, the study's Midwest informants chose to use Spanish and English based primarily on their interlocutor's proficiency, place of birth, and the age difference between informant and interlocutor. Topic was seen to be associated with language choice, but to a lesser degree. In their personal language use, (e.g. reading, praying) informants at different academic levels chose to employ Spanish and English for separate purposes, such that at no time did all three groups coincide with their use of either language.The data regarding language attitudes revealed that Midwest informants in this study held both Spanish and English in very high regard and, very much in contrast to studies regarding the attitudes of Southwest Mexican populations, informants here were seen to associate both languages with affective, instrumental, integrative attitudes and retained a high degree of loyalty to both languages.Finally, the present study's results counter assumptions of a detrimental impact of Spanish on academic achievement. Instead, results suggest that Spanish may encourage academic achievement rather than represent a hindrance.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio

Raising Awareness about Siberian Permafrost

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