Steps Toward Safety: Improving Systemic and Community Responses for Families Experiencing Domestic Violence

This report is designed to mine the lessons learned from the research and reforms in child welfare and domestic violence, as well as explore possibilities for the next generation of innovation.https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/books/1076/thumbnail.jp

Protoplasmic Astrocytes Enhance the Ability of Neural Stem Cells to Differentiate into Neurons In Vitro

Protoplasmic astrocytes have been reported to exhibit neuroprotective effects on neurons, but there has been no direct evidence for a functional relationship between protoplasmic astrocytes and neural stem cells (NSCs). In this study, we examined neuronal differentiation of NSCs induced by protoplasmic astrocytes in a co-culture model. Protoplasmic astrocytes were isolated from new-born and NSCs from the E13-15 cortex of rats respectively. The differentiated cells labeled with neuron-specific marker β-tubulin III, were dramatically increased at 7 days in the co-culture condition. Blocking the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with an anti-BDNF antibody reduced the number of neurons differentiated from NSCs when co-cultured with protoplasmic astrocytes. In fact, the content of BDNF in the supernatant obtained from protoplasmic astrocytes and NSCs co-culture media was significantly greater than that from control media conditions. These results indicate that protoplasmic astrocytes promote neuronal differentiation of NSCs, which is driven, at least in part, by BDNF

Bringing the \u3cem\u3eGreenbook\u3c/em\u3e to Life: A Resource Guide for Communities

This book is designed for communities seeking to develop interventions that will improve their responses to families suffering both domestic violence and child maltreatment.https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/books/1075/thumbnail.jp

Geochemical and Microstructural Signals in Giant Clam Tridacna maxima

To validate the usability of the giant clam shell as a recorder of short-term environmental changes such as typhoons, we collected a live Tridacna maxima from Okinotori Island, Japan, on 15 June 2006. Growth increment thickness, stable isotope ratio (O-18(shell), C-13(shell)), and the barium/calcium ratio (Ba/Ca) in the T.maxima shell sample were measured and compared to Okinotori Island instrumental environmental data. In the outer layer of the shell sample, there were 3656 growth increments per year, as estimated by the O-18(shell) profile compared with sea surface temperature. The growth increments in the specimen were formed daily, and thus, we can determine the date of the sampling points of O-18(shell), C-13(shell) and the Ba/Ca ratio by counting growth increments. After typhoon approach, there is a decrease in increment thickness and some disturbed growth increments. The positive peaks in the shell Ba/Ca ratio and O-18(shell) corresponded to lower sea surface temperature caused by typhoons. These results indicated that the microstructural and geochemical record in Tridacna maxima shells could be useful for detecting past typhoon events

Review on the distribution and biology of Antarctic Monoplacophora, with first abyssal record of Laevipilina antarctica

Records of extant Monoplacophora are still scarce, often limited to single specimens or empty shells. Little is known about monoplacophoran diversity, distribution and biology. This study summarizes the present distributional knowledge of all Antarctic monoplacophorans, adding new records from the Eastern Weddell Sea. The record of Laevipilina antarctica from over 3,000 m depth extends its previously known bathymetrical range from 210 to 644 m down to abyssal depths. Special symbiosis with bacteria might contribute to this remarkable eurybathy that is unique amongst extant monoplacophoran species. L. antarctica now is known from several stations along the shelf and slope of the Eastern Weddell and Lazarev Seas. Micropilina arntzi seems limited to the shelf and upper slope of the Lazarev Sea. An undescribed Laevipilina species is known only from a single station at the upper slope of the Eastern Weddell Sea. Distributional patterns are discussed and correlated to environmental conditions and available biological information