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Divergent paths in the evolutionary history of maternally transmitted clam symbionts
No full textVertical transmission of bacterial endosymbionts is accompanied by virtually irreversible gene loss that results in a progressive reduction in genome size. While the evolutionary processes of genome reduction have been well described in some terrestrial symbioses, they are less understood inmarine systems where vertical transmission is rarely observed. The association between deep-sea vesicomyid clams and chemosynthetic Gammaproteobacteria is one example of maternally inherited symbioses in the ocean. Here, we assessed the contributions of drift, recombination and selection to genome evolution in two extant vesicomyid symbiont clades by comparing 15 representative symbiont genomes (1.017-1.586 Mb) to those of closely related bacteria and the hosts\u27 mitochondria. Our analyses suggest that drift is a significant force driving genome evolution in vesicomyid symbionts, though selection and interspecific recombination appear to be critical formaintaining symbiont functional integrity and creating divergent patterns of gene conservation. Notably, the two symbiont clades possess putative functional differences in sulfide physiology, anaerobic respiration and dependency on environmental vitamin B12, which probably reflect adaptations to different ecological habitats available to each symbiont group. Overall, these results contribute to our understanding of the eco-evolutionary processes shaping reductive genome evolution in vertically transmitted symbioses
College Students’ Attitudes toward the Textile Manufacturing Industry and Willingness to Work in the Industry
Get PDFSold out or bought in? Complexities of the X Swatch as subcultural accessory for the straight edge scene
Get PDFThis research explores lifestyle consumerism and inquires into a subcultural community’s use of a mainstream fashion object to express alternative values. The ‘X-rated Swatch Watch’ is extremely popular within straight edge, a clean-living punk offshoot in which participants abstain from alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. Swatch first released the watch in 1987 with a black band and white face featuring a large black ‘X’, a prominent symbol in the straight edge scene visible on clothing, in tattoos and drawn on hands. The limited-edition watch became highly collectable on the second-hand market and was re-released by Swatch in 2018 with design changes, including larger size and more colour options. The first and second incarnations of the watch, as well as knockoffs, indicate aesthetic trends in the fashion cycle, evolutions as well as stagnations in subcultural individual and community expression, and the complexities of a mass market item that has multiple cultural meanings within the same time period. In this article, we use qualitative mixed methods to explore the significance of the watch for United States straight edgers who own or express interest in the watch. Primary data collection included surveys, social media discussions, participant observation and archive visits. Results indicate that wearers utilize this watch to strengthen their straight edge identity and communal connections to similar individuals and to the historic lineage of their lifestyle. X Swatch consumers are not overly concerned with the duality of subcultural and mainstream meanings as they compartmentalize their community from wider society
Hybrid Lattice-Boltzmann-Potential Flow Simulations of Turbulent Flow around Submerged Structures
Get PDFWe report on the development and validation of a 3D hybrid Lattice Boltzmann Model (LBM), with Large Eddy Simulation (LES), to simulate the interactions of incompressible turbulent flows with ocean structures. The LBM is based on a perturbation method, in which the velocity and pressure are expressed as the sum of an inviscid flow and a viscous perturbation. The far- to near-field flow is assumed to be inviscid and represented by potential flow theory, which can be efficiently modeled with a Boundary Element Method (BEM). The near-field perturbation flow around structures is modeled by the Navier–Stokes (NS) equations, based on a Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) with a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of the turbulence. In the paper, we present the hybrid model formulation, in which a modified LBM collision operator is introduced to simulate the viscous perturbation flow, resulting in a novel perturbation LBM (pLBM) approach. The pLBM is then extended for the simulation of turbulence using the LES and a wall model to represent the viscous/turbulent sub-layer near solid boundaries. The hybrid model is first validated by simulating turbulent flows over a flat plate, for moderate to large Reynolds number values, Re ∈ [3.7×104;1.2×106]; the plate friction coefficient and near-field turbulence properties computed with the model are found to agree well with both experiments and direct NS simulations. We then simulate the flow past a NACA-0012 foil using a regular LBM-LES and the new hybrid pLBM-LES models with the wall model, for Re = 1.44 x 106. A good agreement is found for the computed lift and drag forces, and pressure distribution on the foil, with experiments and results of other numerical methods. Results obtained with the pLBM model are either nearly identical or slightly improved, relative to those of the standard LBM, but are obtained in a significantly smaller computational domain and hence at a much reduced computational cost, thus demonstrating the benefits of the new hybrid approach
College students’ perspectives of bias in their news consumption habits
Get PDFThis article builds off prior work on news consumption habits and perception of bias in the news by focusing on college students’ self-generated definitions of bias, and the strategies they employ to guard against how their personal bias potentially affects what news they choose to believe and consume. Through interviews with undergraduate students, findings show that while participants acknowledged they had personal bias to a degree, the majority still defined bias as an external issue imposed on them by others than as an internal issue shaping their thoughts about the sources they consumed. Some students attempted to mitigate any perceived bias they had by reading multiple or opposite perspectives than their own, while others believed it enough to be “aware” of their bias and continue to consume news as they pleased. A few students didn’t check their bias at all. Some saw bias as a positive under certain circumstances
Analyzing the distinction between protectionism and empowerment as perspectives on media literacy education
Get PDFIt has become a common practice to categorize the different perspectives on media education as following either a protectionist approach or an empowerment approach. However, the way scholars write about these two categories can be confusing and sometimes misleading. A critical analysis is presented where these writings are examined along 10 analytical dimensions that include how authors conceptualize the power differential between the media and audiences, purpose of media education, nature of instruction (scope, stance, extent, and content), role of the instructor, and outcome assessment (type of measures, timing, and indicators of success). The findings from this critical analysis indicate that the labels used for the two categories tend to highlight the similarities more so than differences across the two approaches to media education
Barriers to family history collection among Spanish-speaking primary care patients: a BRIDGE qualitative study
Get PDFObjects:
Family history is an important tool for assessing disease risk, and tailoring recommendations for screening and genetic services referral. This study explored barriers to family history collection with Spanish-speaking patients.
Methods:
This qualitative study was conducted in two US healthcare systems. We conducted semi-structured interviews with medical assistants, physicians, and interpreters with experience collecting family history for Spanish-speaking patients.
Results:
The most common patient-level barrier was the perception that some Spanish-speaking patients had limited knowledge of family history. Interpersonal communication barriers related to dialectical differences and decisions about using formal interpreters vs. Spanish-speaking staff. Organizational barriers included time pressures related to using interpreters, and ad hoc workflow adaptations for Spanish-speaking patients that might leave gaps in family history collection.
Conclusions:
This study identified multi-level barriers to family history collection with Spanish-speaking patients in primary care. Findings suggest that a key priority to enhance communication would be to standardize processes for working with interpreters.
Innovation:
To improve communication with and care provided to Spanish-speaking patients, there is a need to increase healthcare provider awareness about implicit bias, to address ad hoc workflow adjustments within practice settings, to evaluate the need for professional interpreter services, and to improve digital tools to facilitate family history collection
Nutrition in URI Athletes vs. Non-Athletes
Get PDFBeing a student athlete and growing up in sports has had both positive and negative effects on my life. Children often take part in sports at a young age to teach them important life skills such as dedication, hard work, and discipline. While sports are very effective for physical fitness and being a part of a team may be crucial in a kid’s life, there may also be some negative effects. Some sports such as gymnastics, hockey, soccer, etc., have an intensely high demand, both physically and mentally. Athletes are stereotyped to be the fittest, healthiest group of people and have expectations depending on their sport as to how they should look, what they should eat, how often they should workout, etc. These high demands may lead to negative effects such as body image and mental health issues. I conducted a ten question, anonymous survey where I collected responses from 103 University of Rhode Island students. Of these 103 participants, roughly one-half of respondents identified as collegiate athletes. Through this research, I concluded that 87.4% of these participants have struggled with body image issues or felt pressured to lose weight; 62.4% rated their level of concern about their body shape as a 6 or above; 60.2% said they exercise with the sole purpose of losing weight, and 56% said that they don’t eat enough food each day or are not sure. Clearly, these are concerning statistics as sports should not lead to this sort of mentality and can lead to depression and other mental health issues. As a result of my findings, I will strive to bring about greater awareness of body image and sports