JISC Preservation of Web Resources (PoWR) Handbook

Handbook of Web Preservation produced by the JISC-PoWR project which ran from April to November 2008. The handbook specifically addresses digital preservation issues that are relevant to the UK HE/FE web management community”. The project was undertaken jointly by UKOLN at the University of Bath and ULCC Digital Archives department

A New Bispectral Test for Nonlinear Serial Dependence

Bispectrum, nonlinearity, time series analysis

Intimate partner femicide in context: An examination of firearm type across the rural/urban divide

Previous research on intimate partner homicide (IPH) has established that intimate partner homicides are overwhelmingly committed with a firearm. Emerging research suggests the risk of partner violence turning lethal in rural America is often exacerbated by a higher prevalence of firearm ownership, as well as the limited availability of victim support services, economic disadvantages, and access to healthcare services. Given that IPH represents one of the most common types of homicide in rural areas, understanding the prevalence and associated risk and protective factors presents important policy implications. Using county-level data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Violent Death Reporting System for the years 2015-2016 and controlling for well-established structural correlates of IPH, this research examines the nature and prevalence of IPH across county context. We investigate whether leading predictors of IPH (firearm access, domestic violence support services, and economic disadvantage) are associated with firearm and non-firearm IPH incidents equally and whether these relationships hold when comparing rural and urban counties. We further examine the unique dynamics of firearm specific IPH, including a comparison of IPH incidents committed with handguns versus long guns, given their differing prevalence and cultural context in rural and urban communities. Findings reveal important differences across the rural-urban divide and weapon types. Implications for research and policy are discussed

Significant Properties of e-Learning Objects (SPeLOs)

Presentation describing the aims and results of the JISC Digital Preservation and Records Management Programme study into the significant properties for preservation of E-learning objects

Targeting Macrophages to Reduce Colorectal Cancer Metastasis: Diminished Effect in the Alcohol-injured Liver

https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/surp2022/1012/thumbnail.jp

Loss of DBC1 (CCAR2) affects TNFα-induced lipolysis and Glut4 gene expression in murine adipocytes

© 2018 Society for Endocrinology Published by Bioscientifica Ltd. STAT5A (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A) is a transcription factor that plays a role in adipocyte development and function. In this study, we report DBC1 (deleted in breast cancer 1 - also known as CCAR2) as a novel STAT5A-interacting protein. DBC1 has been primarily studied in tumor cells, but there is evidence that loss of this protein may promote metabolic health in mice. Currently, the functions of DBC1 in mature adipocytes are largely unknown. Using immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting techniques, we confirmed that there is an association between endogenous STAT5A and DBC1 proteins under physiological conditions in the adipocyte nucleus that is not dependent upon STAT5A tyrosine phosphorylation. We used siRNA to knockdown DBC1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to determine the impact on STAT5A activity, adipocyte gene expression and TNFα (tumor necrosis factor α)-regulated lipolysis. The loss of DBC1 did not affect the expression of several STAT5A target genes including Socs3, Cish, Bcl6, Socs2 and Igf1. However, we did observe decreased levels of TNFα-induced glycerol and free fatty acids released from adipocytes with reduced DBC1 expression. In addition, DBC1-knockdown adipocytes had increased Glut4 expression. In summary, DBC1 can associate with STAT5A in adipocyte nucleus, but it does not appear to impact regulation of STAT5A target genes. Loss of adipocyte DBC1 modestly increases Glut4 gene expression and reduces TNFα-induced lipolysis. These observations are consistent with in vivo observations that show loss of DBC1 promotes metabolic health in mice

Effects of NGF, NT-3 and GDNF family members on neurite outgrowth and migration from pelvic ganglia from embryonic and newborn mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pelvic ganglia are derived from the sacral neural crest and contain both sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons. Various members of the neurotrophin and GDNF families of neurotrophic factors have been shown to play important roles in the development of a variety of peripheral sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons; however, to date, the role of these factors in the development of pelvic ganglia has been limited to postnatal and older ages. We examined the effects of NGF, NT-3, GDNF, neurturin and artemin on cell migration and neurite outgrowth from explants of the pelvic ganglia from embryonic and newborn mice grown on collagen gels, and correlated the responses with the immunohistochemical localization of the relevant receptors in fixed tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cell migration assays showed that GDNF strongly stimulated migration of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) cells of pelvic ganglia from E11.5, E14.5 and P0 mice. Other factors also promoted TH cell migration, although to a lesser extent and only at discrete developmental stages. The cells and neurites of the pelvic ganglia were responsive to each of the GDNF family ligands – GDNF, neurturin and artemin – from E11.5 onwards. In contrast, NGF and NT-3 did not elicit a significant neurite outgrowth effect until E14.5 onwards. Artemin and NGF promoted significant outgrowth of sympathetic (TH+) neurites only, whereas neurturin affected primarily parasympathetic (TH-negative) neurite outgrowth, and GDNF and NT-3 enhanced both sympathetic and parasympathetic neurite outgrowth. In comparison, collagen gel assays using gut explants from E11.5 and E14.5 mice showed neurite outgrowth only in response to GDNF at E11.5 and to neurturin only in E14.5 mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data show that there are both age-dependent and neuron type-dependent differences in the responsiveness of embryonic and neo-natal pelvic ganglion neurons to growth factors.</p

Stable Water Isotopes Reveal Effects of Intermediate Disturbance and Canopy Structure on Forest Water Cycling

Forests play an integral role in the terrestrial water cycle and link exchanges of water between the land surface and the atmosphere. To examine the effects of an intermediate disturbance on forest water cycling, we compared vertical profiles of stable water vapor isotopes in two closely located forest sites in northern lower Michigan. At one site, all canopy‐dominant early successional species were stem girdled to induce mortality and accelerate senescence. At both sites, we measured the isotopic composition of atmospheric water vapor at six heights during three seasons (spring, summer, and fall) and paired vertical isotope profiles with local meteorology and sap flux. Disturbance had a substantial impact on local water cycling. The undisturbed canopy was moister, retained more transpired vapor, and at times was poorly mixed with the free atmosphere above the canopy. Differences between the disturbed and undisturbed sites were most pronounced in the summer when transpiration was high. Differences in forest structure at the two sites also led to more isotopically stratified vapor within the undisturbed canopy. Our findings suggest that intermediate disturbance may increase mixing between the surface layer and above‐canopy atmosphere and alter ecosystem‐atmosphere gas exchange.Plain Language SummaryForests play an important role in the climate system and link water fluxes between the land surface and the atmosphere. Here we compare water vapor isotopes in two adjacent forest sites in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan to understand the effects of intermediate disturbance and canopy structure on forest water cycling. One site is dominated by aspen and birch and has a thick, closed canopy. All of the aspen and birch were killed at the second site. As a result, the disturbed site has a more open‐canopy structure. From our comparison, we found that both the species of tree and the spacing around trees are important controls on forest water cycling. With more space between trees, air mixes more freely into the canopy, which dries the forest air. Alternatively, air may be poorly mixed within and above thick, closed canopies.Key PointsIntermediate disturbance can change the contribution of entrained, evaporated, and transpired water vapor to forest canopiesCanopy gaps increase hydrologic mixing between the surface layer and the free atmosphereThe assumption of a well‐mixed canopy atmosphere may be violated in the case of thick, homogeneous forest canopiesPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152563/1/jgrg21482_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152563/2/jgrg21482.pd

Human hypocretin and melanin-concentrating hormone levels are linked to emotion and social interaction.

The neurochemical changes underlying human emotions and social behaviour are largely unknown. Here we report on the changes in the levels of two hypothalamic neuropeptides, hypocretin-1 and melanin-concentrating hormone, measured in the human amygdala. We show that hypocretin-1 levels are maximal during positive emotion, social interaction and anger, behaviours that induce cataplexy in human narcoleptics. In contrast, melanin-concentrating hormone levels are minimal during social interaction, but are increased after eating. Both peptides are at minimal levels during periods of postoperative pain despite high levels of arousal. Melanin-concentrating hormone levels increase at sleep onset, consistent with a role in sleep induction, whereas hypocretin-1 levels increase at wake onset, consistent with a role in wake induction. Levels of these two peptides in humans are not simply linked to arousal, but rather to specific emotions and state transitions. Other arousal systems may be similarly emotionally specialized