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\"It's a snowy day, perfect for ice-skating! Henry sees lots of amazing vehicles on his way to the rink, but the best vehicle of the day is around the corner.\"--Publisher.

Global magnesium production has doubled since 2000. Production is now dominated by China, which accounts for about 80% of the total. Production in the rest of the world has actually declined since 2000. Magnesium is a relatively low-cost option for achieving weight reduction beyond that attainable with aluminum. The price of magnesium has been relatively stable because of a price spike in 2008. Analysis of research papers published on magnesium alloys shows an order of magnitude increase in numbers since 2000. As is the case for magnesium metal production, the Asian contribution has had a large effect, with Chinese authors accounting for over 40% of all publications in the period of 2009 to 2013. The fields of study in magnesium alloys show significant deviations from existing commercial applications, with wrought-magnesium alloys having far greater representation in research papers compared to components, i.e., real items made of magnesium alloys used in commercial applications. Corrosion and corrosion protection remain as topical issues in magnesium research, representing the largest (by number) subtopic of magnesium research papers published since 1999.

\"On their way to a birthday party, Henry and his parents get stuck in traffic. A tree has fallen onto the road, and no one can get by. Luckily, there are plenty of emergency vehicles that are here to help! Police cars, fire engines, an ambulance, and a backhoe are all at the scene, and Henry gets to be part of the action.\"--Amazon.com.

Transplanting bone marrow from wild-type mice into MECP2-lacking mice results in wild-type microglial engraftment, extends lifespan and reduces symptoms of disease such as breathing and locomotor abnormalities, implicating microglia in the pathophysiology of Rett syndrome. Marrow implants in Rett syndrome The X-linked autism spectrum disorder known as Rett syndrome is predominantly linked to mutations in the MECP2 gene. It is typically associated with neuronal dysfunction, almost exclusively in girls, but new evidence suggests that restoring MECP2 function in other cell types may also arrest disease development. Here, the authors show in a mouse model that transplanting bone marrow from wild-type mice into mice lacking Mecp2 results in an invasion of donor-derived microglial cells into the brain, accompanied by increased lifespan and reduced signs of disease, including improved breathing and locomotion. The donor cells expressed normal MECP2 and high levels of the neurotrophic factor IGF-1. These results point to a crucial role for microglia in Rett syndrome, and open the possibility that bone-marrow implants might be of therapeutic benefit. Rett syndrome is an X-linked autism spectrum disorder. The disease is characterized in most cases by mutation of the MECP2 gene, which encodes a methyl-CpG-binding protein 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 . Although MECP2 is expressed in many tissues, the disease is generally attributed to a primary neuronal dysfunction 6 . However, as shown recently, glia, specifically astrocytes, also contribute to Rett pathophysiology. Here we examine the role of another form of glia, microglia, in a murine model of Rett syndrome. Transplantation of wild-type bone marrow into irradiation-conditioned Mecp2 -null hosts resulted in engraftment of brain parenchyma by bone-marrow-derived myeloid cells of microglial phenotype, and arrest of disease development. However, when cranial irradiation was blocked by lead shield, and microglial engraftment was prevented, disease was not arrested. Similarly, targeted expression of MECP2 in myeloid cells, driven by Lysm cre on an Mecp2 -null background, markedly attenuated disease symptoms. Thus, through multiple approaches, wild-type Mecp2 -expressing microglia within the context of an Mecp2 -null male mouse arrested numerous facets of disease pathology: lifespan was increased, breathing patterns were normalized, apnoeas were reduced, body weight was increased to near that of wild type, and locomotor activity was improved. Mecp2 +/− females also showed significant improvements as a result of wild-type microglial engraftment. These benefits mediated by wild-type microglia, however, were diminished when phagocytic activity was inhibited pharmacologically by using annexin V to block phosphatydilserine residues on apoptotic targets, thus preventing recognition and engulfment by tissue-resident phagocytes. These results suggest the importance of microglial phagocytic activity in Rett syndrome. Our data implicate microglia as major players in the pathophysiology of this devastating disorder, and suggest that bone marrow transplantation might offer a feasible therapeutic approach for it.

Basic and clinical observations suggest that the caudal hypothalamus comprises a key node of the ascending arousal system, but the cell types underlying this are not fully understood. Here we report that glutamate-releasing neurons of the supramammillary region (SuM vglut2 ) produce sustained behavioral and EEG arousal when chemogenetically activated. This effect is nearly abolished following selective genetic disruption of glutamate release from SuM vglut2 neurons. Inhibition of SuM vglut2 neurons decreases and fragments wake, also suppressing theta and gamma frequency EEG activity. SuM vglut2 neurons include a subpopulation containing both glutamate and GABA (SuM vgat/vglut2 ) and another also expressing nitric oxide synthase (SuM Nos1/Vglut2 ). Activation of SuM vgat/vglut2 neurons produces minimal wake and optogenetic stimulation of SuM vgat/vglut2 terminals elicits monosynaptic release of both glutamate and GABA onto dentate granule cells. Activation of SuM Nos1/Vglut2 neurons potently drives wakefulness, whereas inhibition reduces REM sleep theta activity. These results identify SuM vglut2 neurons as a key node of the wake−sleep regulatory system. Supramammillary nucleus (SuM) neurons have been studied in the context of REM sleep but their possible role in mediating wakefulness is not known. Here the authors elucidate the distinct functional contributions of three subpopulations in the SuM on electrographical and behavioral arousal in mice using genetically targeted approaches.

The corrosion susceptibility of Mg and its alloys in humid and aqueous environments limits their widespread application. The performance of several conversion coating technologies is reviewed herein. In addition to the assessment of performance based on the literature to date, thermodynamic analysis has been used to compare coating processes. Ongoing research reveals that the search for appropriate conversion coatings to replace toxic Cr-based coatings continues. It is seen that the variability between coatings of the same technology was greater than the averages between coating technologies. Additionally, coating pretreatment also appears to be more significant than the choice of coating technology itself.

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) contains central respiratory chemoreceptors (retrotrapezoid nucleus, RTN) and the sympathoexcitatory, hypoxia-responsive C1 neurons. Simultaneous optogenetic stimulation of these neurons produces vigorous cardiorespiratory stimulation, sighing, and arousal from non-REM sleep. To identify the effects that result from selectively stimulating C1 cells. A Cre-dependent vector expressing channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) fused with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein or mCherry was injected into the RVLM of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-Cre rats. The response of ChR2-transduced neurons to light was examined in anesthetized rats. ChR2-transduced C1 neurons were photoactivated in conscious rats while EEG, neck muscle EMG, blood pressure (BP), and breathing were recorded. Most ChR2-expressing neurons (95%) contained C1 neuron markers and innervated the spinal cord. RTN neurons were not transduced. While the rats were under anesthesia, the C1 cells were faithfully activated by each light pulse up to 40 Hz. During quiet resting and non-REM sleep, C1 cell stimulation (20 s, 2-20 Hz) increased BP and respiratory frequency and produced sighs and arousal from non-REM sleep. Arousal was frequency-dependent (85% probability at 20 Hz). Stimulation during REM sleep increased BP, but had no effect on EEG or breathing. C1 cell-mediated breathing stimulation was occluded by hypoxia (12% FIO2), but was unchanged by 6% FiCO2. C1 cell stimulation reproduces most effects of acute hypoxia, specifically cardiorespiratory stimulation, sighs, and arousal. C1 cell activation likely contributes to the sleep disruption and adverse autonomic consequences of sleep apnea. During hypoxia (awake) or REM sleep, C1 cell stimulation increases BP but no longer stimulates breathing.

This essay addresses the rise in sexual and gender-fluid characters in scripted US television targeting the Gen Z audience (born 1997–2012), based on their moniker as the “queerest” generation, with over 20% of younger US and international respondents identifying as LGBTQ in polls, the majority as sexually fluid (bi/pansexual) or non-binary (genderfluid/genderqueer). By analyzing six series (2019–2023) marketed as “authentically” Gen Z, I argue this shift invests in Gen Z’s “hip” attitude towards such fluidity the same way Caldwell argues that 1990’s diversification of the televisual audience produced a “programming agenda…that cultivates and rewards distinction in ethnic, racial, and class terms” (2020, p. 376). Caldwell’s (2020) theory of boutique programming, described as “a selective, signature world where artistic sensitivity went hand in hand with social relevance and viewer discrimination” (p. 164), exposes how these recent series rely on “visual flourishes…and narrative embellishments” (p. 377) but move beyond cinematic techniques by combining palatial settings and extravagant lifestyles with shockingly explicit sexual situations. Caldwell’s (2020, p. 377) assertion that “stardom and gossip defeat the dramatic obligation or need for narrative coherence” is reflected in the 21st century’s reliance on social media promotions with hypersexual imagery and expensive designer outfits for its high school-age characters and an entertainment media which highlights their “edgy,” “sexy,” “explicit,” and “provocative” content. Therefore, I argue that, like Caldwell, we should avoid “overestimat[ing] the political value” (2020, p. 376) of these presentations when these non-binary identities are shown as inaccessible, depoliticized, and hypersexualized, which maintains rather than challenges entrenched binary ideals of gender and sexuality.

Acute kidney injury is highly prevalent and associated with high morbidity and mortality, and there are no approved drugs for its prevention and treatment. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) alleviates inflammatory diseases including kidney disease; however, neural circuits involved in VNS-induced tissue protection remain poorly understood. The vagus nerve, a heterogeneous group of neural fibers, innervates numerous organs. VNS broadly stimulates these fibers without specificity. We used optogenetics to selectively stimulate vagus efferent or afferent fibers. Anterograde efferent fiber stimulation or anterograde (centripetal) sensory afferent fiber stimulation both conferred kidney protection from ischemia–reperfusion injury. We identified the C1 neurons–sympathetic nervous system–splenic nerve–spleen–kidney axis as the downstream pathway of vagus afferent fiber stimulation. Our study provides a map of the neural circuits important for kidney protection induced by VNS, which is critical for the safe and effective clinical application of VNS for protection from acute kidney injury.

Understanding how tropical systems have responded to large-scale climate change, such as glacial-interglacial oscillations, and how human impacts have altered those responses is key to current and future ecology. A sedimentary record recovered from Lake Junín, in the Peruvian Andes (4085 m elevation) spans the last 670,000 years and represents the longest continuous and empirically-dated record of tropical vegetation change to date. Spanning seven glacial-interglacial oscillations, fossil pollen and charcoal recovered from the core showed the general dominance of grasslands, although during the warmest times some Andean forest trees grew above their modern limits near the lake. Fire was very rare until the last 12,000 years, when humans were in the landscape. Here we show that, due to human activity, our present interglacial, the Holocene, has a distinctive vegetation composition and ecological trajectory compared with six previous interglacials. Our data reinforce the view that modern vegetation assemblages of high Andean grasslands and the presence of a defined tree line are aspects of a human-modified landscape. A 670,000-year vegetation and climate history from Lake Junín, Peru, showed that the last interglacial was the warmest while the current interglacial had uniquely high fire frequencies that were caused by humans; fundamentally altering the ecosystem.