The rise in the availability of remotely sensed weather data has resulted in economists predicting different outcomes using rainfall as an explanatory or instrumental variable (IV). We analyze 174 papers to identify common rainfall metrics used as an instrument and show the extent of their ad hoc use in predicting a range of outcomes. We use agricultural productivity as a case study to examine the suitability of using different rainfall metrics as an IV. To that extent, we test the predictive power of the 14 most common rainfall metrics in the economics literature, calculated through six remote sensing products across six countries, on agricultural productivity. We find a large amount of heterogeneity in the performance of rainfall metrics. We also find concerning evidence about the validity of using rainfall metrics as an instrument, especially regarding possible exclusion restriction violations and weak instrument problems. Our findings emphasize the need for researchers to carefully select and justify their use of a particular rainfall metric to improve the reliability of their analysis.

Many intermittent and ephemeral washes drain metals-rich catchments, but the natural concentrations andtransport mechanisms of metals in their streamwater discharge are mostly unknown. In the 1960s, anomalously high metal content detected in southeastern Arizona streams led to the discovery of porphyry copper deposits in upstream areas of the Santa Rita Mountains. Although no large-scale mining operations have yet occurred, ground preparation activities have taken place in a catchment that is drained by the Barrel Canyon wash. Mine disturbances have the potential to not only impact water quality in Barrel Canyon, but also downstream in Davidson Canyon and in Cienega Creek Natural Preserve—sections of which are designated as “Outstanding Arizona Waters” by the State of Arizona. In addition to compiling historical records of trace metals concentrations in Davidson Canyon and CienegaCreek since 2002, this study also collected 128 new samples at four different sites between January 2021 and February 2024. Three of the four sites are connected in series via ephemeral surface washes and intermittent/perennial sections of streamflow, and could be potentially impacted by mobilized contaminants originating from the porphyry copper deposit in the Santa Rita Mountains. The fourth site is a perennial reach of Lower Cienega Creek, and is upstream of potential contamination originating from the Santa Rita Mountains. ISCO autosamplers were installed and used at each site to capture stormwater discharge brought on by heavy rains and monsoonal thunderstorms. Additionally, surface water baseflow at each site was frequently sampled throughout the study’s sample-collection period. Results from all four sites indicate that the concentrations of trace metals and major dissolved ions instormflow generally have opposite behaviors. When groundwater-fed baseflow is the primary contributor to streamflow, the concentrations of both particulate and dissolved trace metals are low, while the concentrations of major dissolved ions are high. During stormflow, when the stream is composed mostly of precipitation runoff, dissolved ion concentrations are low, while the concentrations of both particulate and dissolved trace metals are at their highest. These results suggest that the sources of trace metals in the Davidson Canyon and Cienega Creek subwatersheds are not from groundwater, but instead are being flushed out from the soil profile at relatively shallow depths during heavy rains. A seasonal cycle of dissolved arsenic concentrations increasing and decreasing in tandem withstreamwater temperature was observed at the three sites connected in series. Dissolved arsenic concentrations at the fourth site were generally higher but also more variable than at the other three sites. Possible reasons for these observed trends, such as the redox environment and the activity of iron-cycling microbes are discussed. Results from water quality analyses were compared to relevant federal and state water quality standardsspecific to trace metals. 14 of the 128 new samples exceeded at least one water quality standard, and many samples exceeded multiple different standards concurrently. 11 out of the 14 samples that exceeded thresholds were found in either Barrel Canyon or Davidson Canyon—the two sites closest to potential mine runoff. The five primary contaminants of concern were arsenic, lead, copper, iron, and zinc. This study found evidence that the concentrations of trace metals in Barrel Canyon wash, DavidsonCanyon, and Lower Cienega Creek have increased from their historic norms, beginning around late 2022. In particular, dissolved zinc concentrations in baseflow were found at unprecedented levels. It is possible that metals-rich soil from the Santa Rita Mountains was disturbed during mine preparation activities, and is now reacting with and/or being transported downstream by oxygenated rainwater, causing metals concentrations to increase along the drainage flow path. These results highlight the vital importance of continual water quality monitoring in areas that could be impacted by mining activities.

Preference for online social interaction (POSI) has primarily been studied as an aspect of problematic Internet use and as an antecedent to negative outcomes of Internet use. This study examines the potential that POSI alternatively or additionally contributes to positive outcomes. Two moderators are proposed for situations when POSI may contribute to negative and positive outcomes: compulsive Internet use and frequency of interaction with strangers and close partners. An online questionnaire was used to test these moderators. Although the results show no significant interaction effects, the study finds that POSI is associated with positive outcomes of Internet use (but not negative outcomes), compulsive Internet use contributes to negative outcomes, and more frequent online interaction with both strangers and close partners contributes to positive outcomes.

Dementia prevalence is expected to more than double in the next three decades stressing numerous healthcare systems and caregivers across the globe. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a multi-factorial neurodegenerative disease without a cure due to the incomplete understanding of its complex progression. Our aim is to report hypothesis generating data for targeted functional studies to understand the mechanisms underlying differential expression and post-translational modifications in AD using the 5x-FAD murine model. The bulk proteome, S-nitrosylated proteome, phosphoproteome, and acetylome were assessed by unbiased tandem mass spectrometry and label-free quantitative proteomics. Affinity purification assays were utilized to enrich samples to evaluate S-nitrosylated proteins. Western blots analysis was performed on specific protein targets of interest from the bulk proteome and S-nitrosylated proteome to validate proteomic results. We observed 426 proteins with differential expression patterns across the whole proteome and 225 proteins with alterations in S-nitrosylation in 6-monthold female 5x-FAD mice. Additionally, 161 phosphopeptides and 23 acetylated peptides were found to be significantly different compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. Gene ontology (GO) analysis implicated enrichment of glutamateric signaling, oxidoreudctase activity, and cytoskeletal proteins, supporting current AD literature, while also elucidating the novel targeting that post translational modifications could have on the electron transport chain, transcription, and histone and mitochondrial acetylation. We further show primary validation of increased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression patterns, known to occur in AD patients, and revealed a conserved decrease in S-nitrosylation of myelin proteolipid protein. However, myelin-associated oligodendrocyte basic protein quantification did not allow for conclusive inferences to an under investigated aspect of AD. These proteomic data concur with well-documented protein changes, post-translational modifications, and enriched signaling pathways found in humans living with AD and animal models of the disease, linking specific proteins involved with cytoskeletal organization, mitochondrial ATP genesis, ion homeostasis, transcription, translation, and myelin sheath maintenance contributing to the multifactorial nature of AD.

Managing multispecies grazing on rangelands presents significant challenges, especially in distinguishing and balancing the specific forage utilization of wild and domestic species amid variable resource availability. Traditional grazing management primarily focuses on the quantity of animals in a pasture and the duration of their presence, yet assessing the intensity of grazing becomes complex when involving wild species like elk and feral horses. To improve our understanding and enhance grazing management practices, we deployed camera traps to observe cattle, elk, and horses within the critical habitat of the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (NMMJM). By applying animal use equivalents to these observations and comparing them with end-of-season utilization data, we gained detailed insights into species-specific forage use throughout the grazing season and across different life stages of the NMMJM. Additionally, we documented how cattle and elk abundance varied in response to season, fencing types, and presence of sympatric herbivore, with a particular focus on habitat use in relation to NMMJM critical habitat. Our findings indicate that cattle were more prevalent than elk, particularly near stream edges when accessible. Drier, resource limited conditions, further concentrated habitat use by cattle over the course of the grazing season and displaced elk into fenced portions of critical habitat. These dynamics underscore the complexity of managing grazing areas to support biodiversity, suggesting that adjustments in stocking rates, seasonal grazing schedules, and fencing maintenance are essential to mitigate the impacts of multispecies grazing and preserve critical habitats.

Com o objetivo de construir espaços de transformações igualitárias dentro do mercado de trabalho brasileiro, esta pesquisa teve como principal objetivo entender quais os motivos que levam as mulheres negras a estarem no mercado de trabalho informal em Salvador/BA. No campo, foram realizadas observação participante, entrevistas individuais e em grupo e grupo focal com o grupo “Mulheres Unidas", vinculado ao Instituto Odara. A pesquisa teve duração de 4 meses, entre maio e agosto de 2023. O local escolhido foi Salvador, considerada a cidade mais populosa de pessoas negras fora do continente africano, devido à herança escravagista da cidade. As consequências da colonização se perpetuam em Salvador, vinculadas às questões interseccionais, como gênero e classe. A partir dos resultados obtidos pude constatar que as políticas anti negritude no Brasil reverberam de forma sistêmica na vida destas mulheres, seja na solidão que enfrentam como consequência da invisibilidade social ao longo das suas vidas, como também dentro do mercado de trabalho brasileiro, seja ele formal ou informal, já que este perpetua a desumanização destas mulheres.

From the perspective of affection exchange theory (AET), the tendency to communicate affection is an evolved adaptation in humans. Whereas the health and social outcomes of affectionate communication have been explored, there is much to learn about the desirability of affectionate communication in romantic relationships. AET proposes that affectionate behavior is a desired quality in romantic and sexual partners as well as fit parents. This study sought to discern how desirable an individual might be based on their portrayal of how affectionate they are, as well as how others might assess their fitness to be a parent or partner. The study found partial support for AET’s subpostulate 3c, indicating that the assessment of fit parenthood or partnerhood is moderated by gender. No association between portrayal affection or physical attraction, social attraction, or dating desirability was identified.

Climatic and anthropogenic pressures, such as extreme weather and urban heat island, are felt now and will continue to worsen in the future. Such effects exacerbate urban environments that suffer considerably from environmental degradation as well as reduce ecosystem services. On a global scale, nature based solutions, like green infrastructure (GI) are argued to reduce these societal pressures in addition to restoring ecosystem functioning and resilience. While there are many benefits derived from green infrastructure, an intended element of the feature is enhanced soil health. Although a restorative function, the relationship between green infrastructure and soil health is understudied. Historically, the study of soils is an established discipline, yet soil assessments and indicators remain unclear, uninterpretable, and uncreative. We clarify these gaps by analyzing soil health correlations as well as the influence of seasonal precipitation regimes, GI treatments, and site on important and innovative indicators of physical, biological, and chemical soil health properties. At three locations, we sampled rain garden basins soils across semi-arid Tucson during the pre and post monsoon seasons. We hypothesized that variations in physical, biological and chemical indicators would be discernible across various seasonal regime inputs, treatment, and site. Results showed that biological and chemical indicators drove significant variation in overall soil health. Seasonal precipitation regimes significantly influenced biological indicators, while GI treatments only influenced change in carbon stabilization and decomposition, suggesting that rain gardens are regulators of soil nutrient cycling and respiration. Site effects strongly influenced differences in all three component soil health properties, highlighting the importance of site land management impacts. Though newly introduced indicators of soil health proved feasible, more research should be granted to better interpret their role and solidify their induction.

Oxidative stress impairs vascular function in the brain and has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Peroxynitrite is an oxidant produced in the cerebral vasculature via the reaction between superoxide and nitric oxide. A major target of oxidants is the thiol-containing residues of ion channels in the vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to impairment in their function. One of such targets is Ca2+-activated, large-conductance K+ channel (BKCa), which plays a vital role in maintaining cerebral vascular control and is impaired in the 5x-FAD mouse model of AD. However, the direct effects of peroxynitrite on BKCa function remain unknown. We hypothesized that peroxynitrite will decrease BKCa currents in a reversible manner in wild-type and 5x-FAD mice. Cerebral arteries of 5-6 month-old C57BL/6J and 5x-FAD mice were isolated and underwent a mild enzymatic digestion to obtain single smooth muscle cells for patch-clamp electrophysiology experiments. Data are means ± SEM, all curves analyzed by 2-way ANOVA with Sidak correction for multiple comparisons, bar graphs by Student’s t-test. Using the inside-out patch clamp electrophysiology configuration, BKCa channel activity was assessed through single channel open probability (Po) after chemical intervention or stepwise increases in membrane voltage. We observed that peroxynitrite (10 µM) did not alter BKCa voltage sensitivity (PoVehicle = 0.0102 ± 0.0001 vs. PoPeroxynitrite = 0.0105 ± 0.0058, 60 mV, 1 µM Ca2+, P=0.7413). However, peroxynitrite significantly decreased BKCa sensitivity to Ca2+ (in 10 μM Ca2+: PoVehicle = 0.0082 ± 0.0033 vs. PoPeroxynitrite = 0.0013 ± 0.0004, 40 mV, 10 µM Ca2+, P=0.0312). Partial recovery of channel activity was achieved via reducing agent DTT (10 µM, PoPeroxynitrite = 0.0080 ± 0.0020 vs PoPeroxynitrite+DTT = 0.0169 ± 0.0062, 60 mV, 10 µM Ca2+, P=0.0197). Next, we assessed BKCa function in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells from male 5x-FAD mice, and observed that single channel activity is similar to WT littermates (PoWild-type =0.0430 ± 0.0143 vs Po5x-FAD = 0.0258 ± 0.0058, P = 0.217, 60 mV, 10 µM Ca2+), despite a reported vascular BKCa dysfunction (% Vasoconstriction following iberiotoxin application: Wild-type = 6.600 ± 1.300 vs 5x-FAD = 1.551 ± 0.4645, P=0.0051). Further, in male 5x-FAD mice, channel activity was not improved with DTT treatment (PoVehicle=0.0203 ± 0.0051 vs PoDTT=0.0204 ± 0.0062, 60 mV, 10 µM Ca2+, P=0.9865). We conclude that peroxynitrite reversibly oxidizes BKCa channels by decreasing the channel’s Ca2+-sensitivity, independent of voltage, and that reversible oxidation or other channel modifications are not the root cause of BKCa impairment in male 5x-FAD mice

The solubility and bioavailability of Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class IV drugs, characterized by their low solubility and low permeability pose significant challenges for oral drug delivery. Drugs such as venetoclax, olaparib, and vemurafenib exhibit limited therapeutic efficacy due to their poor bioavailability. This thesis explores the potential of amphiphilic carnitine-fatty acid ionic liquids for enhancing drug solubility via self-nanoemulsifying systems (SNES). Thermally stable ionic liquids were synthesized with a relatively unexplored biocompatible quaternary ammonium cation called carnitine and several fatty acids as counter ions. The ionic liquids demonstrated improved solubility of several highly insoluble drugs. The development of SNES was conducted with a series of rigorous screening and optimization experiments, leading to formation of stable nano emulsions. The drug loaded SNES formulations showed reduced globule sizes (<150 nm) and uniform dispersion in various pH buffers, equivalent to the environment of the gastrointestinal tract. A comprehensive pharmacokinetics study compared traditional drug (venetoclax) suspension with drug (venetoclax) loaded SNES with one of the selected emulsion formulations, revealing a notable increase in drug absorption and prolonged drug action. This work underscores the potential of ionic liquids and SNES in revolutionizing drug delivery systems, enhancing drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability, leading to more efficient and effective treatments.