To Weed or Not to Weed? The Colorado Quandary of Legitimate Marijuana Businesses and the Financial Institutions Who are Unable to Serve Them

In 2012, Colorado voters passed Amendment 64, legalizing recreational marijuana. Marijuana, however, remains an illegal controlled substance under federal law. As a result of federal anti-money laundering laws, financial institutions risk prosecution if they provide services to customers whose funds derive from illegal activities. The Obama Administration issued guidance to help both law enforcement and financial institutions navigate this murky area. This guidance directed U.S. Attorneys to focus their resources on prosecuting persons whose activities implicate any federal priority designated by the Department of Justice. If state-legal marijuana businesses adhere to state law and financial institutions follow proper protocol, there should be little chance of prosecution. However, the guidance provides no guarantees, and most financial institutions refuse to take the risk. The lack of available banking services forces marijuana businesses to function as cash-only operations. This not only leads to tax, payroll, and vendor problems, but also makes the operation a target for crime. To tackle this problem, Colorado passed legislation to create cannabis cooperatives, which would allow marijuana businesses to pool their resources and offer bank accounts and credit to members. For the state to implement these cooperatives, according to the legislation, the Federal Reserve must approve the plan. This Comment examines the federal banking laws that inhibit financial institutions from offering services to state-legal marijuana businesses and the Obama Administration\u27s guidance. This Comment will also consider the obstacles marijuana businesses face due to the lack of banking services and the problems with relying on administrative guidance. This Comment posits that, in the absence of congressional action, Colorado can provide a short-term solution by implementing cooperatives, without approval from the Federal Reserve, under the authority of its traditional police powers

Hispanic and Latino Students and Their Library Experiences and Attitudes at a University in the Southeast

This study describes a survey of Hispanic and Latino students at a major research university in North Carolina. The purpose of the survey was to determine students' satisfaction with and use of the university's libraries. The study also included six interviews with students, which discussed more in-depth their attitudes toward library use at their university and their research processes. Hispanic and Latino students are at a higher risk for dropping out of college during their first few years than many of their counterparts. There are a number of factors which influence this dropout rate; among them is a lack of support on campus. When students do not identify with their librarians they become less likely to approach librarians for assistance with coursework. The interviewees' feedback supports the literature which claims that Hispanic and Latino students are hesitant to approach librarians and are not necessarily confident in their research abilities.Master of Science in Library Scienc

Experimental Evidence for the Population-Dynamic Mechanisms Underlying Extinction Cascades of Carnivores

SummarySpecies extinction rates due to human activities are high [1–3], and initial extinctions can trigger cascades of secondary extinctions, leading to further erosion of biodiversity [4]. A potential major mechanism for secondary extinction cascades is provided by the long-standing theory that the diversity of consumer species is maintained due to the positive indirect effects that these species have on each other by reducing competition among their respective resource species [5–7]. This means that the loss of one carnivore species could lead to competitive exclusion at the prey trophic level, leading to extinctions of further carnivore species. Evidence for these effects is difficult to obtain due to many confounding factors in natural systems, but extinction cascades that could be due to this mechanism have been demonstrated in simplified laboratory microcosms [8]. We established complex insect food webs in replicated field mesocosms and found that the overharvesting of one parasitoid wasp species caused increased extinction rates of other parasitoid species, compared to controls, but only when we manipulated the spatial distribution of herbivore species such that the potential for interspecific competition at this level was high. This provides clear evidence for horizontal extinction cascades at high trophic levels due to the proposed mechanism. Our results demonstrate that the loss of carnivores can have widespread effects on other species at the same trophic level due to indirect population-dynamic effects that are rarely considered in this context

Knowing Your Value for Academic Career Negotiations

Academic positions are highly competitive and rare in the field of Apparel and Textiles, especially in comparison to other disciplines such as science, engineering, and English. Negotiating for that position can be an overwhelming, yet an exciting part, of the application process. Many academicians, particularly women, have a difficult time knowing, communicating, and negotiating their respective personal value for a competitive salary, benefits, and start-up package that is commensurate to their research, industry and teaching experiences (Kjeldal, Rindfleish, & Sheridan, 2005; Wade, 2001). It is challenging to tactfully assure adequate compensation and positive perceptions related to the value of one’s professional work and experience

Role of the LINC00961 locus in vascular endothelial cell function

Over 17 million yearly deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases worldwide, and up to 80% are due to heart attacks and strokes caused by atherosclerosis: fatty plaque build-up within artery walls restricting blood flow. Atherosclerotic plaque can also build up in arteries supplying the extremities such as the arms and legs; this is called peripheral arterial disease and is the 3rd most common atherosclerotic disease following that of the coronary arteries and cerebral arteries. With no cure for chronic ischemic diseases, clinical management includes reducing risk factors and utilising drug therapies to help with ailments that exacerbate disease such as diabetes and hypertension. Surgical intervention is a last resort with a high number of peripheral arterial disease patients requiring limb amputation. To avoid this, many clinical trials have attempted to increase patients’ blood flow by targeting endothelial cells and stimulating angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. However, none of these attempts have led to a curative therapy yet. To prevent ischemic disease from escalating to amputation, heart attacks, or strokes, it is vital we find a way to combat them at early stages. Endothelial dysfunction, the aberrant or extended activation of adaptive endothelial behaviours, is an early event in atherosclerotic development, hence further understanding of endothelial molecular mechanisms is required. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate many cell functions but are not well characterised and are poorly understood due to their previous categorisation as ‘junk DNA’. Several lncRNAs have been identified in aspects of cardiovascular pathophysiology, however, the human genome is estimated to possess ~ 270,000 lncRNAs, ergo many remain undiscovered. High-throughput RNA-sequencing in a human embryonic stem cell to endothelial cell differentiation protocol identified the lncRNA LINC00961 as endothelial enriched. This locus houses a micropeptide, small peptide of amino acid regulation (SPAAR), and has a mouse homologue; unique factors suggesting an important and evolutionary conserved function. Therefore, this project sought to investigate the role of the LINC00961 locus in the endothelium. Knock down of LINC00961 expression by ~90% was achieved in human umbilical vein endothelial cells which significantly reduced several endothelial functions; tubule formation, proliferation, adhesion, migration, and barrier integrity. The LINC00961 locus knock out mouse line showed no lethality; however, a foetal growth restriction like phenotype was identified in male LINC00961-/- animals; these offspring were significantly smaller and lighter with an increased brain weight to body ratio at 9 weeks of age. Cardiac ultrasound at 8 weeks of age found no differences in cardiac output between female LINC00961-/- and wildtype controls. However, reduced left ventricular wall diameter, slower mitral valve deceleration, and isovolumetric contraction time were observed in these mice. This restricted heart filling and compromised myocardial relaxation indicates the early stages of diastolic dysfunction. Adult male LINC00961-/- and wild type control mice underwent surgically induced hind limb ischemia. Comparable to in vitro data, LINC00961 deletion caused transient changes to capillary number during early hypoxic injury, and a lack of mature α- smooth muscle actin vessels at baseline, indicating underlying issues with vessel physiology. Crucially, lentiviral overexpression cassettes showed LINC00961 acted independently of SPAAR in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and LINC00961 and SPAAR were linked to the actin binding proteins thymosin β-4 and SYNE1, respectively. LINC00961 and SPAAR are encoded by the same locus but have opposing effects on angiogenesis. Reduction of locus expression also affected other endothelial behaviours; thus, this locus contributes to maintaining proper endothelial function. This refinement of angiogenic control may be in part due to actin cytoskeletal regulation via thymosin β-4 and SYNE1 interactions. Murine LINC00961 contributes to blood vessel physiology and may also have a role in heart physiology given the altered parameters in LINC00961-/- hearts. Therefore, this locus has important roles in several aspects of cardiovascular biology and is a potential novel target for therapeutic regulation of angiogenesis in patients with compromised blood flow

Characters of Love: Propertius and Cynthia in 'Elegies' 1

In the Monobiblos, the characterizations of Cynthia and Propertius develop in traceable trajectories. The goal of this thesis is to provide a close analysis of specific poems in Propertius’ Elegies that contribute to and shape the development of characterization in the first book, as well as to show how Propertius’ and Cynthia’s characterizations interact with and build upon each another. In the first chapter I look at four poems that delineate the evolution of Propertius’ characterization from a victimized lover to a man who eventually accepts his situation and vows to love Cynthia for all time. In the second chapter I again examine four poems, this time with a view to Cynthia’s development. She begins as a master teacher and in the end becomes someone who has changed Propertius’ heart and tested him so that she is confident in his devotion to her

The challenge of defining wellbeing

Wellbeing is a growing area of research, yet the question of how it should be defined remains unanswered. This multi-disciplinary review explores past attempts to define wellbeing and provides an overview of the main theoretical perspectives, from the work of Aristotle to the present day. The article argues that many attempts at expressing its nature have focused purely on dimensions of wellbeing, rather than on definition. Among these theoretical perspectives, we highlight the pertinence of dynamic equilibrium theory of wellbeing (Headey & Wearing, 1989), the effect of life challenges on homeostasis (Cummins, 2010) and the lifespan model of development (Hendry & Kloep, 2002). Consequently, we conclude that it would be appropriate for a new definition of wellbeing to centre on a state of equilibrium or balance that can be affected by life events or challenges. The article closes by proposing this new definition, which we believe to be simple, universal in application, optimistic and a basis for measurement. This definition conveys the multi-faceted nature of wellbeing and can help individuals and policy makers move forward in their understanding of this popular term

Studies on the spatial variability of phytoplankton physiology and biomass in the Oregon upwelling system

The Oregon upwelling system is a region of high biomass and primary productivity as well as strong mesoscale variability. In order to examine the interaction of physical forcing and ecosystem dynamics, four 3-week sampling cruises were conducted in the Oregon upwelling system as part of the Northeast Pacific Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics (NEP GLOBEC). During each of the four cruises, which took place in June and August of 2000 and 2002, a series of crossshelf transects was completed in the region between 41.5° N to 45° N and -124° W to -126.5° W. Sea surface temperature, salinity, phytoplankton fluorescence, and Fᵥ/Fₘ, the theoretical maximum quantum yield of photosynthesis, were measured continuously from an underway flow-through system with an intake at 5 m depth. During all four cruises, temperature increased offshore, and salinity was high nearshore and low offshore, corresponding to upwelling conditions. Overall trends in Fᵥ/Fₘ were similar to patterns defined by temperature and salinity. Fᵥ/Fₘ was high near the coast and decreased further offshore, suggesting that phytoplankton were healthiest in recently upwelled water. Closer examination of individual transects revealed additional, small-scale variability in all parameters. Decorrelation analysis of 25-km transect sections indicated that this variability eccurred over 3 km on average. However, the scales of variability of Fᵥ/Fₘ were slightly shorter than those of temperature, salinity, or phytoplankton fluorescence. Overall, there were no trends relating the short scale variability of Fᵥ/Fₘ to that of any other parameter within a given transect, suggesting that short-scale variability in Fᵥ/Fₘ is not driven by temperature, salinity, or phytoplankton biomass, but by some other parameter or combination of parameters. Additional comparisons between ph ytopl ankton fluorescence and Fᵥ/Fₘ show high Fᵥ/Fₘ associated with high phytoplankton biomass and variable Fᵥ/Fₘ when phytoplankton biomass is low. This pattern is also reflected in comparisons between nutrient levels and Fᵥ/Fₘ, with Fᵥ/Fₘ high when levels of available nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica are high, and variable when nutrient levels are low, supporting the theory that nutrient limitation affects Fᵥ/Fₘ. These results suggest that both ecosystem dynamics and physical forcing drive variability in biomass distribution and primary productivity in the Oregon upwelling system. However, they do not provide the means to determine which forcing mechanism is dominant

The Child and Adult Care Food Program: Who is Served and What are Their Nutritional Outcomes?

This paper addresses three basic questions about an under-studied food subsidy program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): (1) Does CACFP reach targeted low-income children? (2) How do eligible families and child care providers who participate differ from those who do not participate? (3) What is the association between attending CACFP-participating child care and children's food intake, weight, and food security? We use the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort to examine these questions for a representative sample of young children and their providers. We find that program eligibility rules leave many poor children outside the CACFP program. Yet, among poor preschoolers in center-based care, participation in the program is correlated with positive outcomes such as increased consumption of milk and vegetables, and healthier weight (BMI). We discuss the implications of our findings, especially in relation to other food and child care subsidy programs.

Preferential utilization of inorganic polyphosphate over other bioavailable phosphorus sources by the model diatoms Thalassiosira spp.

Polyphosphates and phosphomonoesters are dominant components of marine dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP). Collectively, DOP represents an important nutritional phosphorus (P) source for phytoplankton growth in the ocean, but the contribution of specific DOP sources to microbial community P demand is not fully understood. In a prior study, it was reported that inorganic polyphosphate was not bioavailable to the model diatoms Thalassiosira weissflogii and Thalassiosira pseudonana. However, in this study, we show that the previous finding was a misinterpretation based on a technical artefact of media preparation and that inorganic polyphosphate is actually widely bioavailable to Thalassiosira spp. In fact, orthophosphate, inorganic tripolyphosphate (3polyP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine monophosphate supported equivalent growth rates and final growth yields within each of four strains of Thalassiosira spp. However, enzyme activity assays revealed in all cultures that cell‐associated hydrolysis rates of 3polyP were typically more than ~10‐fold higher than degradation of ATP and the model phosphomonoester compound 4‐methylumbelliferyl phosphate. These results build on prior work, which showed the preferential utilization of polyphosphates in the cell‐free exudates of Thalassiosira spp., and suggest that inorganic polyphosphates may be a key bioavailable source of P for marine phytoplankton