Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 17

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

The morphology and biochemistry of nanostructures provide evidence for synthesis and signaling functions in human cerebrospinal fluid

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contacts many brain regions and may mediate humoral signaling distinct from synaptic neurotransmission. However, synthesis and transport mechanisms for such signaling are not defined. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether human CSF contains discrete structures that may enable the regulation of humoral transmission.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Lumbar CSF was collected prospectively from 17 participants: with no neurological or psychiatric disease, with Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, or migraine; and ventricular CSF from two cognitively healthy participants with long-standing shunts for congenital hydrocephalus. Cell-free CSF was subjected to ultracentrifugation to yield supernatants and pellets that were examined by transmission electron microscopy, shotgun protein sequencing, electrophoresis, western blotting, lipid analysis, enzymatic activity assay, and immuno-electron microscopy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over 3,600 CSF proteins were identified from repeated shotgun sequencing of cell-free CSF from two individuals with Alzheimer's disease: 25% of these proteins are normally present in membranes. Abundant nanometer-scaled structures were observed in ultracentrifuged pellets of CSF from all 16 participants examined. The most common structures included synaptic vesicle and exosome components in 30-200 nm spheres and irregular blobs. Much less abundant nanostructures were present that derived from cellular debris. Nanostructure fractions had a unique composition compared to CSF supernatant, richer in omega-3 and phosphoinositide lipids, active prostanoid enzymes, and fibronectin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Unique morphology and biochemistry features of abundant and discrete membrane-bound CSF nanostructures are described. Prostaglandin H synthase activity, essential for prostanoid production and previously unknown in CSF, is localized to nanospheres. Considering CSF bulk flow and its circulatory dynamics, we propose that these nanostructures provide signaling mechanisms <it>via </it>volume transmission within the nervous system that are for slower, more diffuse, and of longer duration than synaptic transmission.</p

Ken Wilber's Spectrum Model: Identifying Alternative Soteriological Perspectives

I identify two problematic strands of Wilber's transpersonal theory. First, I question Wilber's claim that his spectrum model is supported by the materials of all the world's major mystical traditions. I argue that his integral, hierarchical perspective privileges some traditions but distorts others. Drawing heavily upon Andrew Rawlinson's recent, taxonomic study of mystical traditions, which identifies four authentic routes to spiritual emancipation (Cool Structured, Cool Unstructured, Hot Structured and Hot Unstructured), I argue that while Wilber's model, itself Cool (the source of spiritual liberation lies within oneself) and Structured (developmental, hierarchical), provides a valuable cartography of transpersonal structures and states of consciousness, it cannot adequately handle the materials of the alternative, soteriological paths of Hot traditions (emphasizing the numinous, and as other than oneself) and Unstructured traditions (affirming that there can be no gradual, or progressive, spiritual development at all). Second, and more cursorily, I argue that it is Wilber's Cool Structured perspective that informs his categorisation of Jung as an elevationist. I try to demonstrate that Jung's psychic model of the conjunction of opposites is a Hot Structured one, which provides an alternative, soteriological path for persons whose spiritual needs are different from those addressed by Wilber

Building Trust with Agricultural and Rural Decision-Makers through Engaged Climate Educational Models in the Rural U.S. Central Great Plains

Potential climate change impacts on Central Great Plains (CGP) agricultural production are profound and highly likely to affect both national and global food supplies and related social and economic systems. Predicted climate changes include increasing temperatures with more variability including, greater precipitation events, longer and more frequent heat waves. These changes will impact agricultural production, water supply, and human health. Three annual crops, corn, sorghum, and wheat, which collectively account for 81 million hectares of agricultural land in the U.S., are concentrated in the Midwest and Central Great Plains. These crops are the mainstay for U.S. agriculture and account for $30.1 billion of agricultural production annually. The CGP also has been identified as one of the few regions around the globe that has a high degree of coupling of climate to soil moisture conditions, suggesting that any changes in precipitation will amplify climate feedbacks. This increases the level of uncertainty regarding the effects of climate change on production agriculture. Despite the fact that both Nebraska and Kansas are heavily dependent upon agriculture for their economic well-being, rural citizens’ responses to climate change remain mixed. Regional research has found that most rural Nebraskans felt at least fairly well informed about climate change (71%), believed climate change was happening (58%), and were concerned or very concerned about climate change impacting the U.S. (60%), but other research indicates that sizable numbers of producers say that weather and climate forecasts do not influence their agricultural decisions (e.g., ranging from 9% to 42% depending on the specific forecast product and agricultural decision). Focus groups from our Phase I partnership conducted with three sets of stakeholders (agricultural producers, rural community members, and agriculture/science educators representing future agricultural producers/rural community members) suggest these stakeholder group members were eager to learn more about climate and how it might change, but that their purposes, goals and attitudes toward the information vary widely. Different stakeholder groups want access to different types of information as well as how to use that information for different purposes. Moreover, they want increased access to data such that it allows them to decide for themselves how the data could be useful to them. Despite these differences, all the focus group stakeholders desire information that they can trust, is frequently and quickly updated, and easy to access. Most of all, they want locally relevant information. Conclusions from Phase I emphasize locally relevant, inquiry-based approaches with multiple points of access to the development and delivery of educational programs on climate change. We have developed a larger research and implementation framework outlining these multiple points of entry for different stakeholder audiences and a plan for programming across the three stakeholder groups based on this framework. Information about project personnel, partners, and other project information can be found at the project website: www.ksu.edu/cgp-cce