gin 100 years of organised Aboriginal activism By www.sl.nsw.gov.au Published On :: Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:34 +0000 Centenary Forum for the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association 1924–2024. Full Article
gin A Systematic Structure-Function Characterization of a Human Mutation in Neurexin-3{alpha} Reveals an Extracellular Modulatory Sequence That Stabilizes Neuroligin-1 Binding to Enhance the Postsynaptic Properties of Excitatory Synapses By www.jneurosci.org Published On :: 2024-10-09T09:30:20-07:00 α-Neurexins are essential and highly expressed presynaptic cell-adhesion molecules that are frequently linked to neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite their importance, how the elaborate extracellular sequences of α-neurexins contribute to synapse function is poorly understood. We recently characterized the presynaptic gain-of-function phenotype caused by a missense mutation in an evolutionarily conserved extracellular sequence of neurexin-3α (A687T) that we identified in a patient diagnosed with profound intellectual disability and epilepsy. The striking A687T gain-of-function mutation on neurexin-3α prompted us to systematically test using mutants whether the presynaptic gain-of-function phenotype is a consequence of the addition of side-chain bulk (i.e., A687V) or polar/hydrophilic properties (i.e., A687S). We used multidisciplinary approaches in mixed-sex primary hippocampal cultures to assess the impact of the neurexin-3αA687 residue on synapse morphology, function and ligand binding. Unexpectedly, neither A687V nor A687S recapitulated the neurexin-3α A687T phenotype. Instead, distinct from A687T, molecular replacement with A687S significantly enhanced postsynaptic properties exclusively at excitatory synapses and selectively increased binding to neuroligin-1 and neuroligin-3 without changing binding to neuroligin-2 or LRRTM2. Importantly, we provide the first experimental evidence supporting the notion that the position A687 of neurexin-3α and the N-terminal sequences of neuroligins may contribute to the stability of α-neurexin–neuroligin-1 trans-synaptic interactions and that these interactions may specifically regulate the postsynaptic strength of excitatory synapses. Full Article
gin See the Wonders of Bird Engineering in These Photos of Intricate Nests By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0000 In a new book, a curator at England's Natural History Museum describes rare and interesting nests and eggs—from the house sparrow to the village weaver—and the lessons they hold for avian conservation Full Article
gin See a Film That Reimagines History on the Malaysian Island That Served as a Refugee Site After the Vietnam War By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:11:03 +0000 The work, now on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, tells the story of two characters on the island—the last people alive in the world Full Article
gin Council begins By www.fao.org Published On :: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT The Director-General opened the session this morning noting that FAO is on the right track, and that its sharpened focus needs to translate to concrete benefits at [...] Full Article
gin Launch of The State of Food and Agriculture 2017 – Leveraging food systems for inclusive rural transformation By www.fao.org Published On :: Fri, 06 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT Since the 1990s, rural transformations have helped millions of people exit poverty while remaining in rural areas. This underscores an important fact: revitalising rural economies helps create jobs for rural [...] Full Article
gin FAO titles in e-reader format – bringing knowledge to you By www.fao.org Published On :: Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT How do you prefer to read? On your phone, on your tablet, on your computer, or in print? And maybe the way you do it today is not the same [...] Full Article
gin AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform - Creating a movement for change through engaging multiple actors and voices By www.fao.org Published On :: Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT The Tripartite organizations (FAO, OIE, WHO) invite partners to join public discussion on the establishment of the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform. Full Article
gin FAO in Review: Leveraging partner strengths to transform agrifood systems By www.fao.org Published On :: Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT Read the series on how FAO increased efficiency, effectiveness and transparency to better support its Members in the transformation of agrifood systems. Full Article
gin Ask Smithsonian: Can Chimps Be Genetically Engineered to Be Like Humans? By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Human beings and chimps share as much as 98 percent of their DNA. If our species are so similar, can chimps be genetically engineered to be more like us? Full Article
gin A Gingerbread Smithsonian Castle By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0000 The Smithsonian Castle is recreated in gingerbread by Charles Froke, executive pastry chef of Washington's Four Seasons (Produced by: Abby Callard) Full Article
gin Christopher Gray's Scholly App Is Bringing Millions of Dollars to College Students in Need By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Christopher Gray | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Youth Achievement Christopher Gray is the founder and CEO of Scholly, the groundbreaking web and mobile app that matches current or future college students who need financial support with scholarships that can help them. Scholly has been downloaded 850,000 times and has connected college students with some $50 million in scholarships. Philadelphia-based Gray, an ABC “Shark Tank” winner and recipient of a $100,000 grant from philanthropist Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest competition, sees his digital platform as a 21st-century tool for helping countless young Americans achieve their college dreams without piling on crushing debt. Full Article
gin Ask Smithsonian: Where Does Space Begin? By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Watch to get the answer that surprised the heck out of us Full Article
gin Why Engineering Will Be Vital in a Changing Climate By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough offers personal insights on the realities of climate change and the best ways for society to adapt Full Article
gin Spark!Lab Ignites the Imagination By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Interpretive exhibits coordinator Steven Madewells demonstrates a few experiments at Spark!Lab, an interactive exhibit at the National Museum of American History. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/theres-nothing-like-a-sparklab-to-ignite-the-imagination-1-180949007/ Full Article
gin 3D Imaging of the Apollo 11 Capsule - Outside By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Full Article
gin Is Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin the Future of Space Exploration? By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Jeff Bezos | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Technology The Princeton-educated Amazon founder, Washington Post owner and new-economy pioneer also helms an innovative spaceflight company, Blue Origin, which he founded in 2000. This year it became the first aerospace manufacturer to launch, land and relaunch a rocket into space—an essential leap toward our extraterrestrial future. Bezos aims to revolutionize travel and work in space by making spaceflight so inexpensive that entrepreneurs will rush to create new businesses that have not even been imagined yet. Blue Origin’s achievement has been described as comparable to the shift from the sail to the steam engine. Read more about Bezos’ work: http://smithmag.co/GICDO2 | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqy Full Article
gin With "Master of None," Aziz Ansari Has Created a True American Original By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Aziz Ansari | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Performing Arts The actor, comedian and author is being honored for his starring role as Dev Shah in “Master of None,” the Netflix series that he created with Alan Yang. Like the character he plays, Ansari is the son of Indian immigrant parents, and his smart, surprising take on life, love, technology and cultural identity in the United States has helped make the show “the year’s best comedy straight out of the gate,” as the New York Times put it. Among Ansari’s other accomplishments are his unforgettable portrayal of the loopy Tom Haverford on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” his best-selling book about dating in the internet age, Modern Romance (co-authored with Eric Klinenberg), and his blockbuster stand-up act that sold out Madison Square Garden. Read more about Ansari’s work: http://smithmag.co/jvdAaL | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqy Full Article
gin Is Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin the Future of Space Exploration? By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 No one had ever launched, landed and relaunched a rocket into space until the company's historic achievement. Full Article
gin Restaging the Greensboro Counter Sit-in By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Learn how to stage a sit-in right next to the Greensboro lunch counter, the location of one of the civil rights movement's most famous protests (Video by: Katy June-Friesen). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Courage-at-the-Greensboro-Lunch-Counter.html Full Article
gin Smithsonian Second Opinion: Forging the Future By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Smithsonian Institution Secretary Dr. David Skorton joins some of the world’s leading thinkers in a spirited discussion about our ever changing planet Full Article
gin The Changing Colors of Deciduous Leaves By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 As foliage darkens in the fall, the pigments within the plant matter break down and transform Full Article
gin Stan Lee: The Beginning By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 The legendary Stan Lee, creator of the Avengers, Spiderman and Iron Man, has partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to launch the first global online course about superheroes to fans around the world. Full Article
gin Bringing Back the Olympia Oysters By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Oysters were Mark Twain's favorite food: http://j.mp/LCWpx8 What the tiny shellfish lacks in size, it makes up for in taste. Meet the farmers who are counting on the Olympia's success Full Article
gin Transporting a Live Elephant Is Exactly as Difficult as You Would Imagine By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 The team at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy needs to transport Kinani, a blind male elephant, to a 4,000-acre compound where he'll be able to roam freely without disturbing other wildlife. Weighing in at nearly eight tons, it'll take careful maneuvering and custom equipment to bring the animal to his new sanctuary. Full Article
gin Mae Jemison Reads the Letter Written by John Glenn to Honor Jeff Bezos for Blue Origin By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Two weeks before he died, the legendary astronaut wrote a letter in recognition of Jeff Bezos' work, read at the 2016 American Ingenuity Awards Smithsonian magazine American #IngenuityAwards Full Article
gin Ouija Board: The Mysterious Origins of a Cultural Obsession By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 The Ouija board might seem like a simple game that sparks spooky childhood memories, but have you ever pondered its mysterious history? Even more importantly, does it actually…work? Uncover the fascinating truth behind the game and its unusual origins. ___ A little more information: In the late 19th century, Americans were captivated by Spiritualism, the belief that the dead could communicate with the living. Charles Kennard saw the commercial potential in this trend, leading to the creation of the Ouija board. Yet, the backstory behind its invention, its rules, and even its name are all wrapped up in uncertainty. One thing is certain: the more turbulent the times, the more popular the game became – particularly during World War II and the social upheaval of the late 1960s. Ultimately, the allure of the Ouija board lies in its ability to tap into human imagination and curiosity. Whether regarded as a nostalgic artifact or a mystical tool, the Ouija board is here to stay. #OuijaBoard #Ouija #history #Smithsonianmagazine Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Read more about the history of the Ouija Board here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-strange-and-mysterious-history-of-the-ouija-board-5860627/ Did you know that US Navy Officers rely on a system called the “ouija board” to track the movement of airplanes on a carrier? Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/how-things-work-the-ouija-board-10048217/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Director of Programming: Nicki Marko Manager of Programming: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor: Adam Benavides Full Article
gin This Truffle Dog Is Facing a Really Challenging Truffle Hunt By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Lola, a Lagotto Romagnolo trained to sniff out and dig up black truffles in her native Washington, is ready for a challenge: to find truffles out of season on a hot day where their distinctive odor dissipates really quickly. Video courtesy of Smithsonian Channel. Full Article
gin 3-D Scanning: Bringing History Back to Life By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 More on 3D scanning: http://j.mp/JM43KD Specialists are using new technology to unravel a mystery in the Smithsonian collections. Full Article
gin 3D Imaging of the Apollo 11 Capsule - Inside By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Full Article
gin Ask Smithsonian: What Is the Origin of Applause? By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Put your hands together for our host, Eric Schulze, as he dives into history to answer your questions. Full Article
gin How NASA Captured Asteroid Dust to Find the Origins of Life By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000 Capturing a piece of an asteroid and bringing it to Earth is even more difficult than it is time-consuming. After four years in space, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx craft made a brief landing on the asteroid Bennu to collect samples of the ancient rock. Six months later, part of the spacecraft began its journey home to Earth, and earlier this fall, that sample collection canister landed, via parachute, in Utah. Scientists will be studying those samples of Bennu for decades in the hope of unlocking the mystery of how life on Earth began — but they’ve already learned enough to get them excited. In this episode, we speak with Linda Shiner, the former editor of Air & Space / Smithsonian magazine, about the challenges and triumphs of the OSIRIS-REx mission, and what scientists hope it will teach us about how life on Earth began. Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music. Full Article
gin A Thief Replaced This Iconic Churchill Portrait With a Fake. Two Years Later, the Original Has Been Recovered By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:03:15 +0000 Investigators discovered that the original print of "The Roaring Lion" had been sold to a buyer in Italy Full Article
gin Virginia State Parks Install Viewfinders for People With Colorblindness, Just in Time for Leaf-Peeping Season By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 23 Sep 2024 20:40:01 +0000 The viewfinders are outfitted with special lenses that help people with red-green colorblindness distinguish between hues Full Article
gin Heart Tissue Shows Signs of Aging After Just One Month in Space, Study Finds By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:35:17 +0000 Scientists sent bioengineered heart tissue samples to the ISS to study how to keep astronauts safe during future long-term space travel Full Article
gin Immerse Yourself in the 'Hyperwall,' NASA's New Visual Showcase of a Changing Earth By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Oct 2024 21:19:14 +0000 A new exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History combines satellite observations and historical data to offer a "larger-than-life look" at our planet's climate today Full Article
gin Archaeologists Discover Intricately Decorated Coffins Belonging to the Only Daughter of an Ancient Egyptian Governor By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 18:44:54 +0000 The 4,000-year-old burial chamber featured hieroglyphs referring to the woman, known as Idi, as the "lady of the house" Full Article
gin Astronomers Uncover the Origin of Most of Earth's Meteorites, Shedding Light on Our Solar System's Past By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:25:51 +0000 Prior to the new research, scientists had traced the source of just 6 percent of the known meteorites that fell on our planet Full Article
gin Four Unreleased Jimi Hendrix Demo Recordings Billed as 'Better Than the Originals' Are Going Up for Sale By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:48:35 +0000 Created in London in the 1960s, the tracks are heading to auction as part of a larger collection of memorabilia connected to the famous American guitarist Full Article
gin Jill Biden Unveils a Reimagined White House Tour, Which Invites Visitors to 'Touch, Hear and See' History By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:36:06 +0000 The public tours of the historic residence hadn't been overhauled in decades. For two years, the first lady's office has been working to make them more interactive and educational Full Article
gin A Rare Triassic Fossil Found in Brazil Could Shed Light on the Origin of Dinosaurs By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2024 19:06:28 +0000 The 237-million-year-old remains are among the oldest silesaurid fossils ever found, adding to paleontologists' understanding of this still-mysterious group of prehistoric reptiles Full Article
gin An All-Female Crew Sailed 1,000 Miles in a Traditional Voyaging Canoe to Help Save Humpback Whales By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:50:52 +0000 The team traveled from New Zealand to Tonga along a humpback highway to collect environmental DNA and raise awareness of the plight of the marine mammals Full Article
gin Whole-Brain Calcium Imaging in Drosophila during Sleep and Wake By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-09-03T07:12:25-07:00 Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) allow for the noninvasive evaluation of neuronal activity in vivo, and imaging GECIs in Drosophila has become commonplace for understanding neural functions and connectivity in this system. GECIs can also be used as read-outs for studying sleep in this model organism. Here, we describe a methodology for tracking the activity of neurons in the fly brain using a two-photon (2p) microscopy system. This method can be adapted to perform functional studies of neural activity in Drosophila under both spontaneous and evoked conditions, as well as during spontaneous or induced sleep. We first describe a tethering and surgical procedure that allows survival under the microscopy conditions required for long-term recordings. We then outline the steps and reagents required for optogenetic activation of sleep-promoting neurons while simultaneously recording neural activity from the fly brain. We also describe the procedure for recording from two different locations—namely, the top of the head (e.g., to record mushroom body calyx activity) or the back of the head (e.g., to record central complex activity). We also provide different strategies for recording from GECIs confined to the cell body versus the entire neuron. Finally, we describe the steps required for analyzing the multidimensional data that can be acquired. In all, this protocol shows how to perform calcium imaging experiments in tethered flies, with a focus on acquiring spontaneous and induced sleep data. Full Article
gin Visualization of Apoptotic Ovarian Follicles during Aedes aegypti Mosquito Egg Maturation by Fluorescent Imaging Studies By cshprotocols.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-10-01T07:08:54-07:00 In insects, oocyte resorption (oosorption) or follicular atresia is one of the key physiological processes and evolutionary strategies used to optimize reproductive fitness. Mosquitoes are ideal model organisms for studying egg maturation in arthropods, as their follicle development is initiated only following the ingestion of a blood meal, followed by a carefully orchestrated series of hormonally regulated events leading to egg maturation. A cohort of approximately 100 follicles per mosquito ovary begin developing synchronously. However, a significant fraction of follicles ultimately undergo apoptosis and oosorption, especially when available resources from the blood meal are limited. Therefore, simple, rapid, and reliable techniques to accurately evaluate follicular atresia are necessary to understand mechanisms underlying follicle development in insects. This protocol describes how to detect apoptotic follicle cells within the Aedes aegypti mosquito ovaries using a commercially available fluorescent-labeled inhibitor of caspases (FLICA). Caspases are key players in animal apoptosis. In this assay, the FLICA reagent enters the intracellular compartment of follicles in dissected mosquito ovaries and covalently binds to active caspases. The bound reagent remains within the cell and its fluorescent signal can be observed by confocal microscopy. Although this method was specifically developed for visualizing apoptotic ovarian follicles during Ae. aegypti mosquito egg development, it should be applicable to other mosquito tissues that undergo caspase-mediated program cell death in a time-dependent manner. Full Article
gin The Smithsonian Gets Experimental and Field-Tests a New Forum for Bringing Artists to the Public By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Wed, 08 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000 A Two-Day Festival in the historic Arts & Industries Building brings community, artists and scholars together for a “Culture Lab” Full Article
gin Europe’s Megalithic Monuments Originated in France and Spread by Sea Routes, New Study Suggests By www.smithsonianmag.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Feb 2019 20:20:56 +0000 The ancient burial structures, strikingly similar all across Europe and the mediterranean, have puzzled scientists and historians for centuries Full Article
gin China Pastry in Regina has a 30-year legacy By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Sun, 10 Nov 2024 07:00:00 EST Many of the buns sold at China Pastry are classics you would find in bakeries in Hong Kong and Chinatowns all over the world. It's taken decades of hard work, but owners Sally and Tony Wong say they've established a nice flow together over the years. Full Article
gin Big projects — with big price tags — central to Regina municipal election campaigns By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 EST Inflation, an increase to the debt limit, and a series of mega-projects have been focuses of the municipal election in Regina. Full Article News/Canada/Saskatchewan
gin Legion branches struggle to keep doors open with rising costs, aging membership By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 08:14:23 EST Even as they fundraise for other community organizations, some legions across Canada are having trouble keeping their own lights on amid rising inflation and maintenance costs. Full Article News/Canada/Montreal
gin Ginoogaming First Nation declares state of emergency over bridge deterioration By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Wed, 06 Nov 2024 17:42:59 EST Ginoogaming First Nation has declared a state of emergency after an engineering inspection showed the bridge leading to the community should be closed to traffic. Full Article News/Canada/Thunder Bay