Andrew Melville, sacred chronology and world history: the Carmina Danielis 9 and the Antichristus

The accepted view of the ecclesiastical reformer Andrew Melville (1545–1622) as the dynamic leader of the Presbyterian movement in Jacobean Scotland has been severely eroded in recent years, with particular criticism of the actual importance of his contribution to the Kirk and to Scottish higher education. While this reductionism has been necessary, it has resulted in an inversion of the overwhelmingly positive traditional image of Melville, and does not give us a rounded assessment of his life and works. This article attempts to partially redress this balance by looking at a neglected aspect of Melville's Latin writings, which showcase his talents as a humanist intellectual and biblical commentator. It focuses on two long poems that are both commentaries and paraphrases of Daniel and Revelation: the Carmina Danielis and the Antichristus. Through these poems, we see how Melville engaged with two problems exercising reformed theologians across Europe: the dating of key biblical events and the historicised meaning of prophecies within these texts. We also find evidence that Melville read widely among both contemporary and ancient commentators on both these issues

Effects of Time-Restricted Exercise on Training Induced Adaptations in Mice

Recent studies have shown that the time of day that exercise is performed can alter the physiological and molecular response. However, very few studies have investigated the longitudinal effects of time-of-day dependent training. Identification of an optimal exercise timing could lead to subsequent exercise prescriptions to elicit specific adaptations based on desired outcomes in healthy or disease populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if voluntary exercise performed at different times of day would alter the physiological response to training. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice (Jackson Labs) housed on a strict 12:12 light dark cycle performed 4 weeks of voluntary exercise training on a wireless running wheel, in a time-of-day dependent manner. Mice were allocated to three groups (n = 10/group): 1) Sedentary (locked wheel), 2) Early Active Phase exercise (EAP; wheel unlocked during the first half of the dark/active phase), or 3) Late Active Phase exercise (LAP; wheel unlocked during the second half of the dark/active phase). Endurance capacity was tested via graded exercise tests (GXTs) at baseline, 2- and 4-weeks. Body weight was recorded at the same times. RESULTS: We found the EAP mice accrued significantly more voluntary exercise compared to LAP mice (7.34 ± 0.55 km/session vs 4.70 ± 0.38 km/session, p \u3c 0.001). Interestingly, EAP and LAP mice both improved on the GXT to a similar extent, and both performed significantly better than SED mice (537.2 ± 68.3 m, vs 467.6 ± 27.7 m, vs 262.7 ± 15.3 m, respectively; p \u3c 0.05). Throughout the training period, SED and EAP mice gained similar amounts of weight, while LAP mice gained less weight (1.4 ± 0.2 g, vs 0.4 ± 0.4 g, vs 1.3 ± 0.3 g, respectively). CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, mice preferentially perform nearly 50% more exercise during the early active phase compared to the late active phase. However, no significant difference exists in the GXT performance between EAP and LAP mice. These findings suggest that LAP exercise may confer similar adaptations with substantially lower volume

A New Platycrinitid from Gilmore City, Iowa

A recently discovered crinoid from the Gilmore City Formation, Kinderhookian Stage, Lower Mississippian age, is in excellent preservation and is an undescribed species belonging to a highly specialized group within the genus Platycrinites. Charles F. Crane, of Ames, Iowa, the collector, realized the scientific importance of the specimen and allowed it to be described and reposited in the Repository, Department of Geology, the University of Iowa, Iowa City. The species is named Platycrinites cranei Strimple & McGinnis, new species, named for Charles F. Crane. Description and comparison with related species from Montana and southeastern Iowa is made

Fossil crinoid studies

26 p., 9 fig.http://paleo.ku.edu/contributions.htm

Effects of Social Jetlag on Exercise-Induced Adaptations in Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Content in Mice

Social jetlag (SJL) occurs when the sleep/wake schedule differs on work days (weekdays) and free days (weekends). Previous studies have shown that individuals with SJL have lower physical fitness and are prone to obesity. While exercise reverses this phenotype (i.e. - via increasing skeletal muscle mitochondrial content), the effects of social jetlag on exercise training adaptations have yet to be shown. PURPOSE: To determine how social jetlag impacts skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise training in mice. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice aged 10-weeks (n=40) were assigned to four groups, with experimental conditions persisting for 6-weeks; control sedentary (C-SED), control with voluntary wheel exercise (C-EX), social jetlag sedentary (SJL-SED), and social jetlag with exercise (SJL-EX). SJL was introduced weekly via 4h shifts in light/dark cycles on weekends. Skeletal muscles (quad, gas, sol) were collected for gravimetric analysis, and assessment of circadian clock gene expression and mitochondrial content. RESULTS: Mice with SJL had larger quadriceps (ME-SJL, p\u3c0.05), but this effect was lost when normalized to BW. Exercised mice had smaller quadriceps (ME-EX, p\u3c0.05), and larger solei (ME-EX, p\u3c0.05). No effects of SJL were seen in solei. SJL led to alterations in PER1, PER2, and CRY2 expression (ME-SJL, p\u3c0.05 all), while exercise led to reductions in PER2 and CRY2 expression (ME-EX, p\u3c0.05), with no interactions reaching significance. Exercise increased OXPHOS complex expression (ME Exercise; C-V, C-III, C-I, all p\u3c0.05), which was attenuated by SJL (ME SJL; C-II, C-I, p\u3c0.05). We found an interaction in C-IV expression where the exercise-induced increase was blunted in SJL-EX mice (p\u3c0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that, while exercise has a beneficial impact on mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle, social jetlag prevents some of the exercise-induced improvements, potentially via disruption of the muscle circadian clock

Epigenetic Telomere Protection by Drosophila DNA Damage Response Pathways

Analysis of terminal deletion chromosomes indicates that a sequence-independent mechanism regulates protection of Drosophila telomeres. Mutations in Drosophila DNA damage response genes such as atm/tefu, mre11, or rad50 disrupt telomere protection and localization of the telomere-associated proteins HP1 and HOAP, suggesting that recognition of chromosome ends contributes to telomere protection. However, the partial telomere protection phenotype of these mutations limits the ability to test if they act in the epigenetic telomere protection mechanism. We examined the roles of the Drosophila atm and atr-atrip DNA damage response pathways and the nbs homolog in DNA damage responses and telomere protection. As in other organisms, the atm and atr-atrip pathways act in parallel to promote telomere protection. Cells lacking both pathways exhibit severe defects in telomere protection and fail to localize the protection protein HOAP to telomeres. Drosophila nbs is required for both atm- and atr-dependent DNA damage responses and acts in these pathways during DNA repair. The telomere fusion phenotype of nbs is consistent with defects in each of these activities. Cells defective in both the atm and atr pathways were used to examine if DNA damage response pathways regulate telomere protection without affecting telomere specific sequences. In these cells, chromosome fusion sites retain telomere-specific sequences, demonstrating that loss of these sequences is not responsible for loss of protection. Furthermore, terminally deleted chromosomes also fuse in these cells, directly implicating DNA damage response pathways in the epigenetic protection of telomeres. We propose that recognition of chromosome ends and recruitment of HP1 and HOAP by DNA damage response proteins is essential for the epigenetic protection of Drosophila telomeres. Given the conserved roles of DNA damage response proteins in telomere function, related mechanisms may act at the telomeres of other organisms

Nondestructive Evaluation of Standing Trees With a Stress Wave Method

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of a stress wave technique for evaluating wood strength and stiffness of young-growth western hemlock and Sitka spruce in standing trees. A secondary objective was to determine if the effects of silvicultural practices on wood quality can be identified using this technique. Stress wave measurements were conducted on 168 young-growth western hemlock and Sitka spruce trees. After in situ measurements, a 0.61-m-long bole section in the test span was taken from 56 felled trees to obtain small, clear wood specimens. Stress wave and static bending tests were then performed on these specimens to determine strength and stiffness. Results of this study indicate that in situ stress wave measurements could provide relatively accurate and reliable information that would enable nondestructive evaluation of wood properties in standing trees. The mean values of stress wave speed and dynamic modulus of elasticity for trees agreed with those determined from small, clear wood specimens. Statistical regression analyses revealed good correlations between stress wave properties of trees and static bending properties of small, clear wood specimens obtained from the trees. Regression models showed statistical significance at the 0.01 confidence level. Results of this study also demonstrate that the effect of silvicultural practices on wood properties can be identified with the stress wave properties of trees. This indicates that this nondestructive stress wave technique can be used to track property changes in trees and help determine how forests could be managed to meet desired wood and fiber qualities

Social Jetlag Inhibits Exercise-Induced Adaptations in the Heart and Alters Markers of Mitochondrial Dynamics

Social jetlag (SJL), or the shifting of behavior and sleep times between weekdays and weekends, is a pervasive form of circadian rhythm disruption that affects nearly 70% of the population to some extent. The magnitude of SJL can be determined by the difference in the mid-sleep phase between weekends and weekdays. Higher levels of SJL have been associated with lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, and increased incidence of cardiometabolic disease, which may be due, in part, to mitochondrial dysfunction. However, no studies to date have evaluated the effects of long term SJL on cardiac mitochondrial dynamics. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of SJL on mitochondrial fission and fusion signaling in the heart, and if exercise protects the heart against SJL. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice (n = 40) were allocated to four groups (n = 10/group): 1) Control Light:Dark cycle, Sedentary (CON-SED), 2) Control Light:Dark cycle, Exercise (CON-EX), 3) SJL, sedentary (SJL-SED), or SJL, exercise (SJL-EX). SJL was implemented by delaying the LD cycle 4 hours on ‘Fridays,’ and advancing the LD cycle on Mondays. Exercise was provided ad libitum with a disc. Conditions persisted for 6 weeks at which point hearts were harvested for gravimetric analysis and western blotting of markers of mitochondrial dynamics. RESULTS: Exercise caused myocardial hypertrophy in both control and SJL LD conditions (Main Effect – EX, p \u3c 0.05), with no difference between CON and SJL conditions. We did not observe any significant differences in mitochondrial content (OXPHOS antibody cocktail, p \u3e 0.05), SJL decreased expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins MFN1 and OPA1 (Main Effect – SJL, p \u3c 0.05). Importantly, SJL inhibited exercise-induced increases in MFN2 (p \u3c 0.05), suggesting that SJL specifically ameliorates some exercise-induced adaptations in mitochondrial dynamics in the heart. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that exercise induces adaptations in mitochondrial dynamics, potentially increasing mitochondrial function, and SJL may disrupt mitochondrial dynamics both in the sedentary and exercise trained states

Neuroinflammatory and cognitive consequences of combined radiation and immunotherapy in a novel preclinical model.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients often report behavioral and cognitive changes following cancer treatment. These effects can be seen in patients who have not yet received treatment or have received only peripheral (non-brain) irradiation. Novel treatments combining radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy (IT) demonstrate remarkable efficacy with respect to tumor outcomes by enhancing the proinflammatory environment in the tumor. However, a proinflammatory environment in the brain mediates cognitive impairments in other neurological disorders and may affect brain function in cancer patients receiving these novel treatments. Currently, gaps exist as to whether these treatments impact the brain in individuals with or without tumors and with regard to the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Combined treatment with precision RT and checkpoint inhibitor IT achieved control of tumor growth. However, BALB/c mice receiving combined treatment demonstrated changes in measures of anxiety levels, regardless of tumor status. C57BL/6J mice with tumors demonstrated increased anxiety, except following combined treatment. Object recognition memory was impaired in C57BL/6J mice without tumors following combined treatment. All mice with tumors showed impaired object recognition, except those treated with RT alone. Mice with tumors demonstrated impaired amygdala-dependent cued fear memory, while maintaining hippocampus-dependent context fear memory. These behavioral alterations and cognitive impairments were accompanied by increased microglial activation in mice receiving immunotherapy alone or combined with RT. Finally, based on tumor status, there were significant changes in proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-5, IL-2, IL-10) and a growth factor (FGF-basic). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here we test the hypothesis that IT combined with peripheral RT have detrimental behavioral and cognitive effects as a result of an enhanced proinflammatory environment in the brain. BALB/c mice with or without injected hind flank CT26 colorectal carcinoma or C57BL/6J mice with or without Lewis Lung carcinoma were used for all experiments. Checkpoint inhibitor IT, using an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, and precision CT-guided peripheral RT alone and combined were used to closely model clinical treatment. We assessed behavioral and cognitive performance and investigated the immune environment using immunohistochemistry and multiplex assays to analyze proinflammatory mediators. CONCLUSIONS: Although combined treatment achieved tumor growth control, it affected the brain and induced changes in measures of anxiety, cognitive impairments, and neuroinflammation