Special Issue Introduction: Writing Infrastructure

This article is the introduction to the second of two Communication and Design Quarterly special issues focused on conceptualizations of infrastructure. While there are more continuities than differences between the themes and methodologies of articles in the first and second issues, this second issue leans towards articles that have taken up infrastructure as it pertains to writing and rhetoric. This introduction frames the value of infrastructure as a metaphor for making visible how writing and rhetoric structure and enact much of our world, especially for writing pedagogy. In addition, this article concludes by introducing the six contributions in this issue

Immunometabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans

Here, we discuss 5 concepts that have emerged in studies of metabolic and immune interactions in C. elegans. The major emerging theme is that the immune response and the ability to survive pathogen infection is heavily influenced by pathogen-induced changes in host metabolism

Ecological Storytelling In Traditional And Modern Resource Management Systems In Maine

The intent of this thesis is to explore the role that social norms and values play in natural resource management systems and to see how communities may spread their social norms through ecological storytelling. The Maine lobster industry and Wabanaki communities in Maine are used as two examples for resource management systems. The Maine lobster fishery is known for being one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world. Their history is examined for how their environmental values and social norms influenced their behavior and what led to the establishment of their strong conservation ethic. Wabanaki groups in Maine are known for their traditional ecological knowledge and their use of storytelling to share environmental values. The groups are examined for their shared use of social norms in resource management and how their differing backgrounds and worldviews may influence those social norms and the effectiveness of them. The Maine lobster industry is found to have several key strengths and weaknesses—determining that ecological storytelling may serve as a method to enhance their community and avoid future conflict

Lung cancer deaths from indoor radon and the cost effectiveness and potential of policies to reduce them

Objective To determine the number of deaths from lung cancer related to radon in the home and to explore the cost effectiveness of alternative policies to control indoor radon and their potential to reduce lung cancer mortality

Additive and Transcript-Specific Effects of KPAP1 and TbRND Activities on 3′ Non-Encoded Tail Characteristics and mRNA Stability in Trypanosoma brucei

Short, non-encoded oligo(A), oligo(U), or A/U tails can impact mRNA stability in kinetoplastid mitochondria. However, a comprehensive picture of the relative effects of these modifications in RNA stability is lacking. Furthermore, while the U-preferring exoribonuclease TbRND acts on U-tailed gRNAs, its role in decay of uridylated mRNAs has only been cursorily investigated. Here, we analyzed the roles of mRNA 3′ tail composition and TbRND in RNA decay using cells harbouring single or double knockdown of TbRND and the KPAP1 poly(A) polymerase. Analysis of mRNA abundance and tail composition reveals dramatic and transcript-specific effects of adenylation and uridylation on mitochondrial RNAs. Oligo(A) and A-rich tails can stabilize a proportion of edited and never-edited RNAs. However, non-tailed RNAs are not inherently unstable, implicating additional stability determinants and/or spatial segregation of sub-populations of a given RNA in regulation of RNA decay. Oligo(U) tails, which have been shown to contribute to decay of some never-edited RNAs, are not universally destabilizing. We also show that RNAs display very different susceptibility to uridylation in the absence of KPAP1, a factor that may contribute to regulation of decay. Finally, 3′ tail composition apparently impacts the ability of an RNA to be edited

Development of reverse-transcription PCR techniques to analyse the density and sex ratio of gametocytes in genetically diverse Plasmodium chabaudi infections

We have developed cross-genotype and genotype-specific quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays to detect and quantify the number of parasites, transmission stages (gametocytes) and male gametocytes in blood stage Plasmodium chabaudi infections. Our cross-genotype assays are reliable, repeatable and generate counts that correlate strongly (R(2)s > 90%) with counts expected from blood smears. Our genotype-specific assays can distinguish and quantify different stages of genetically distinct parasite clones (genotypes) in mixed infections and are as sensitive as our cross-genotype assays. Using these assays we show that gametocyte density and gametocyte sex ratios vary during infections for two genetically distinct parasite lines (genotypes) and present the first data to reveal how sex ratio is affected when each genotype experiences competition in mixed-genotype infections. Successful infection of mosquito vectors depends on both gametocyte density and their sex ratio and we discuss the implications of competition in genetically diverse infections for transmission success

The Lived Experience of Caregiving and Perception of Service Provision among Family-Caregivers of People with Late-Stage Parkinson’s: A Qualitative Study

Background. The complex nature of late-stage Parkinson’s requires multiagency support and leads to an increased burden on family members who assume a multiplicity of responsibilities. The aim of this study is to further understand the lived experiences of family-caregivers and their perception of, and satisfaction with, service provision. Methods. This qualitative substudy was a part of the European multicentre Care of Late-Stage Parkinsonism (CLaSP) project. Purposive sampling resulted in a sample of eleven family-caregivers of people with late-stage Parkinson’s, who were interviewed using semistructured open-ended questions. Thematic analysis followed. Findings. Three overarching themes were developed from the data: ensuring continuous support is vital to providing care at home, perceiving unmet service provision needs, and advocating and co-ordinating all aspects of care take their toll. These themes include not only experience of services that caregivers find supportive in order to deliver care but also of disjointed care between multiple agencies, a perceived lack of Parkinson’s expertise, and there was a lack of anticipatory future planning. The constancy and scope of the family-caregiver role is described, including the need to project manage multiple aspects of care with multiple agencies, to be an advocate, and to assume new roles such as managing finances. Multiple losses were reported, which in part was mitigated by gaining expertise through information and support from professionals and organised and informal support. Conclusion. The intricacies and consequences of the family-caregivers’ role and their experience of service provision indicate the need to acknowledge and consider their role and needs, fully involve them in consultations and provide information and joined-up support to improve their well-being, and ensure their continuous significant contribution to the ongoing care of the person with Parkinson’s