Why Simpler Computer Simulation Models Can Be Epistemically Better for Informing Decisions

For computer simulation models to usefully inform climate risk management, uncertainties in model projections must be explored and characterized. Because doing so requires running the model many ti..

Religiosity and Midwestern LGBTQ+ Homeless Youth

Previous investigations have focused on the intersections of LGBTQ+ youth and religion, homelessness and religion, or homeless LGBTQ+ youth, without recognizing the multiple intersections that make up each LGBTQ+ youth’s identity. The purpose of this study was to gain more insight into how being homeless, identifying as LGBTQ+, and growing up with some religion played a role in transitional-aged (ages eighteen to twenty-five) youths’ lives. After working with Youth Emergency Services (YES) in Omaha, Nebraska, and conducting interviews with LGBTQ+ youth who were previously homeless, similar topics emerged among participants. Three participants were evicted from their homes because of their gender and sexual orientation. One participant aged out of the foster care system and became homeless. Participants saw religion negatively because of past experiences with religion and no longer considered themselves religious

Mycotoxins in Conversation With Bacteria and Fungi

An important goal of the mycotoxin research community is to develop comprehensive strategies for mycotoxin control and detoxification. Although significant progress has been made in devising such strategies, yet, there are barriers to overcome and gaps to fill in order to design effective mycotoxin management techniques. This is in part due to a lack of understanding of why fungi produce these toxic metabolites. Here we present cumulative evidence from the literature that indicates an important ecological role for mycotoxins, with particular focus on Fusarium mycotoxins. Further, we suggest that understanding how mycotoxin levels are regulated by microbial encounters can offer novel insights for mycotoxin control in food and feed. Microbial degradation of mycotoxins provides a wealth of chemical information that can be harnessed for large-scale mycotoxin detoxification efforts

Self-healing elastomer system

A composite material includes an elastomer matrix, a set of first capsules containing a polymerizer, and a set of second capsules containing a corresponding activator for the polymerizer. The polymerizer may be a polymerizer for an elastomer. The composite material may be prepared by combining a first set of capsules containing a polymerizer, a second set of capsules containing a corresponding activator for the polymerizer, and a matrix precursor, and then solidifying the matrix precursor to form an elastomeric matrix

Cultivar-Dependent Expression of a Maize Lipoxygenase Responsive to Seed Infesting Fungi

Maize kernels are highly susceptible to Aspergillus spp. infection and aflatoxin (AF) contamination. Fatty acid signaling molecules appear to mediate the plant–fungal interaction by affecting the growth, development, and AF production of the fungus. In particular, fatty acid derivatives of the plant lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway are implicated in the Aspergillus spp.-seed interaction. The 9(S)-hydroperoxide derivative of linoleic acid promotes transcription of AF genes, whereas the 13(S)-hydroperoxide derivative decreases AF gene expression and production; both are sporulation factors. Our goal was to identify LOX genes responsive to Aspergillus spp. colonization and determine their specificities, 9(S)- or 13(S)-. Screening maize LOX expressed sequence tags (ESTs) identified one clone, cssap 92, which is highly expressed in Aspergillus spp.-infected seed susceptible to AF contamination and repressed in lines with resistance to AF contamination. The accumulation of cssap 92 transcript was similar during Fusarium spp. infection. The cDNA clone has 94% identity to the previously described L2 LOX gene from maize. Product-specificity analysis of the CSSAP 92 protein shows that it preferentially adds oxygen to carbon 9 of linoleic acid. Because 9(S)-hydroperoxy linoleic acid has been implicated as an aflatoxin-signaling molecule, it is possible that cssap 92 could be used as a biomarker that is indicative of AF resistance in maize lines

Cultivar-Dependent Expression of a Maize Lipoxygenase Responsive to Seed Infesting Fungi

Maize kernels are highly susceptible to Aspergillus spp. infection and aflatoxin (AF) contamination. Fatty acid signaling molecules appear to mediate the plant–fungal interaction by affecting the growth, development, and AF production of the fungus. In particular, fatty acid derivatives of the plant lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway are implicated in the Aspergillus spp.-seed interaction. The 9(S)-hydroperoxide derivative of linoleic acid promotes transcription of AF genes, whereas the 13(S)-hydroperoxide derivative decreases AF gene expression and production; both are sporulation factors. Our goal was to identify LOX genes responsive to Aspergillus spp. colonization and determine their specificities, 9(S)- or 13(S)-. Screening maize LOX expressed sequence tags (ESTs) identified one clone, cssap 92, which is highly expressed in Aspergillus spp.-infected seed susceptible to AF contamination and repressed in lines with resistance to AF contamination. The accumulation of cssap 92 transcript was similar during Fusarium spp. infection. The cDNA clone has 94% identity to the previously described L2 LOX gene from maize. Product-specificity analysis of the CSSAP 92 protein shows that it preferentially adds oxygen to carbon 9 of linoleic acid. Because 9(S)-hydroperoxy linoleic acid has been implicated as an aflatoxin-signaling molecule, it is possible that cssap 92 could be used as a biomarker that is indicative of AF resistance in maize lines

Narrating Science and Religion: Storytelling Strategies in Journey of the Universe

While scientific and religious narratives use distinct discourse strategies to reach different audiences, the documentary film Journey of the Universe combines scientific and humanistic perspectives to narrate the origin and evolution of the universe, life on Earth, and human consciousness. This science-based mythic telling of the universe story foregrounds science to enhance the story’s plausibility while using mythic elements to invite an ethical response. We evaluate how this film blends scientific and mythic storytelling strategies to present a plausible story with moral force. Journey of the Universe presents an image of humanity as naturally emerging from an increasingly complex cosmos, capable of profound wonder, and poised to use its intellectual gifts to renew the face of the earth. We argue that narrative strategies aligning scientific content with the viewer’s personal experiences of nature are generally effective, and that the film’s focus on the local and terrestrial, even in the midst of the vastness of the cosmos, supports its ecological message

The effects of interdepartmental customer orientation on distribution center performance

Firms have begun to look internally for ways to increase external service quality. ANOVA is used to examine the effect of interdepartmental customer orientation on time, inventory, and customer service-based performance variables in distribution centers. Findings indicate that high interdepartmental customer orientation positively affects distribution center performance in terms of time-based performance measures and customer satisfaction. Interdepartmental customer orientation was found to have only a marginal affect on inventory performance. Implications of the current research for distribution centers and transportation managers are discussed along with limitations and opportunities for future research

The effect of sustained maternal responsivity on later vocabulary development in children with Fragile X Syndrome

Purpose The research question addressed was whether sustained maternal responsivity (a parent-child interaction style characterized by warmth, nurturance and stability as well as specific behaviors such as contingent positive responses to child initiations) was a significant variable predicting vocabulary development of children with FXS through age 9 years. Method Fifty-five mother-child dyads were followed longitudinally when children were between 2 and 10 years of age. Measures of maternal responsivity and child vocabulary were obtained at regular intervals starting at age 2.9 years. Sustained responsivity was indicated by the average responsivity measured over observations 2–5. Responsivity at the first time period, autism symptoms, and cognitive development were used as control variables. Results After controlling for development and autism symptoms, we found significant effects for sustained responsivity on receptive vocabulary, expressive vocabulary, and the rate of different words children produced through age 9. Conclusions Maternal responsivity, which is typically a variable of interest during early childhood, continues to be a significant variable, predicting vocabulary development through the middle childhood period. Thus, responsivity is a potential target for language interventions through this age period