Genome-informed breeding and new transformation approaches could improve disease resistance of the American chestnut tree.

Book review: Yolanda Youngs, <i>Framing Nature: The Creation of an American Icon at the Grand Canyon</i> Framing Nature: The Creation of an American Icon at the Grand Canyon. By YoungsYolanda. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. 2024. xxi + 361 pp. $35 paperback. ISBN: 9781496202185.

William Happer, born in Vellore (1939), Tamil Nadu, India is an American icon on Climate Physics. He is currently the Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics at Princeton University, New Jersey, USA. Amid numerous brilliant Climate Researchers, William Happer has distinguished himself as “The Consequential Climate Physicist” for the following reasons. 1. He has over 300 publications, which include (a) 18 Premier Climate Physics Articles, (b) 32 Articles, Commentaries, Interviews, Lectures, Testimonies, and Podcasts, and (c) 157 Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Publications. 2. He is not only an eminent Climate Physicist, but also a great communicator, inventor, educator, motivator, historian, humorist, and public servant under two American Presidents (George H. W. Bush and Donald J. Trump). 3. His seminal climate message is simply the following. Because of the heavy saturation of the CO2 absorption-emission bands of Earth’s atmosphere, additional CO2 can only have a very small effect on climate. Even doubling of CO2 will only amount to an increase of &lt;1○C in Temperature. 4. Importantly, William Happer’s single greatest gift to the world is his brilliant and uncanny ability to convert complex Climate-Physics knowledge into simple, easy-to-understand, narratives and communicate them to the masses via a plethora of print and digital media relentlessly. Consequently, Climate Researchers, with alternative viewpoints to Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW), have been successful not only in exposing the Climate Scam but also in rescuing humanity from a near extinction due to the insane Net-Zero nonsense.

An excerpt from the book "Framing Nature: The Creation of an American Icon at the Grand Canyon."

Framing Nature: The Creation of an American Icon at the Grand Canyon by Yolonda Youngs (review)

Framing Nature: The Creation of an American Icon at the Grand Canyon by Yolonda Youngs (review)

The most iconic superhero to grace comic book shelves and the silver screen, Superman has long been held as an American icon. Created in 1938, Superman became a symbol of hope, justice, and a pioneer of the American way. In a world on the verge of war, Superman became an ideal to strive for, and always fought for good. However, in the decades that followed, new iterations of Superman began to gain popularity across all forms of media, and these iterations were not always as virtuous. New versions of a ‘Superman’ figure are often created in times of political and social anxiety, with the ‘Superman’ becoming a conduit to express fears and frustrations over a multitude of issues including threats of war, extreme capitalism and consumer culture, and even existential dread. This article prioritises three iterations of superman: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s original Man of Steel, Alan Moore’s Dr Manhattan (Watchmen), and Garth Ennis’ Homelander (The Boys). Through these, alongside the examination of ideas put forward by James Truslow Adams, Richard Hofstadter and others, this article identifies that Superman and his successors are indicators of public faith in American ideals, and that the current trend shows that this faith is dwindling.

This study focuses on the character and characterization of Janeck and Tony Gardner in Kazuo Ishiguro’s short story “Crooner”. The short story is featured as the first short story in Ishiguro’s short story collection titled Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall. “Crooner” is a story of a “gypsy” or freelance musician named Janeck who helps an iconic American singer named Tony Gardner to serenade his wife. The story takes place in Venice, Italy. The data are gathered by conducting library research. The data are the short story “Crooner,” related theories and previous studies taken from books and journals. The data are analyzed using the theory of character, and the theory of characterization. The result of this study shows the characters of Janeck in the story are friendly, hospitable, enthusiastic, curious, and professional. Meanwhile, the characters of Tony Gardner in the story are kind, assertive, romantic, and realistic or sensible

This paper explores the banning history of the iconic American novel, The Catcher in the Rye (1951). Critics have scrutinised its portrayal of teenage rebellion and explicit language. This paper delves into the reasons behind the challenges, the historical context in which they occurred, and the impact of censorship attempts on the reception and study of the novel. Additionally, it discusses the ongoing debate surrounding the censorship of literature and the importance of preserving intellectual freedom in education and society. Despite its status as a literary classic, it has faced challenges and attempts at censorship due to its controversial theme and content. Challenges have led to its ban from being available in various educational settings and libraries. Critics have argued that the novel’s content is unsuitable for young readers and may promote negative behaviour or undermine traditional values. Despite its enduring popularity and critical acclaim, challenges to its content have persisted across the United States. Critics argue that the use of profanity and stereotypes is offensive to readers, particularly in educational settings. In spite of this, Salingers book remains a widely read and studied work of literature, sparking important discussions about censorship, freedom of expression, and the role of literature in addressing complex social issues. This paper attempts to examine the reasons behind the challenges the novel has faced, the historical context in which these challenges occurred, and the impact of censorship attempts on the reception and study of the novel. It focuses on the lack of genuineness on the part of the reader to assess the book. Additionally, it will discuss the ongoing debate surrounding the censorship of literature and the importance of preserving intellectual freedom in education and society. Through this analysis, we aim to shed light on the enduring significance of the work and its contribution to the literary landscape of America.

Mycoplasma bovis is a bacterial pathogen endemic to cattle. In the early 2000s, M. bovis emerged as a cause of respiratory disease in American bison (Bison bison), causing significant morbidity and mortality. Bison herds that experience an outbreak of M. bovis are at higher risk for subsequent outbreaks, suggesting that chronic, subclinical infections can be established. Antemortem testing is therefore crucial to disease management; however, the precise sampling method to maximize detection of M. bovis in bison is unknown. We evaluated two sample types-superficial nasal swabs and deep nasopharyngeal swabs-collected from apparently healthy or symptomatic bison from January 2021 through December 2022. We used real-time PCR to detect M. bovis in 76/938 bison (8.1%) from 11 herds. For bison testing positive on at least one swab type, M. bovis was detected in 63/76 (82.8%) deep nasopharyngeal swabs and 29/73 (38.1%) superficial nasal swabs. Agreement between swabs for positive bison was 21% (n=16, kappa coefficient 0.319). We conclude that deep nasopharyngeal swabbing is more sensitive than superficial nasal swabbing for detection of M. bovis in bison and that low agreement between methods may be related to stage of infection. We further tested pooled samples by PCR and found that pooling of up to five samples can be effective to increase throughput and minimize costs. Management of wild bison relies on the ability to relocate animals to maintain gene flow and healthy populations. Sensitive and specific diagnostic tests are needed to inform decisions and minimize risk of transmission, especially from subclinical carriers. This study provides valuable insight that will inform best practices for M. bovis testing, thereby supporting the conservation of bison as healthy wildlife, which in turn promotes ecological restoration, safeguards cultural practices of Tribal Nations, and upholds the bison as a unique American icon.

Abstract In the 1920s, Henry Ford opened the Henry Ford Trade School, adjacent to his world-famous Dearborn factory, to over one thousand hand-picked international students from more than thirty countries, including China, India, and Mexico. These elite young men were tasked with returning to their home countries after completion of the course to build Ford franchises and dealerships from the ground up. Using an intersectional lens, this article adds to gender, business, and immigration histories by arguing that Ford sought to export his own notions of American manhood as much as he sought to develop an automotive monopoly in the global market. The international students who came to Detroit understood that they were part of the “Ford Plan” to turn them into “Ford Men.” Their actions and behaviors in Detroit and then abroad affected the global dissemination of Fordism and Ford's Americanization plans too, often by unmasking the weaknesses in Ford's ideology. This interplay between international students and Ford executives offers a rare glimpse into the struggles for control over immigration policy, personal identity, modern masculinities, and workplace values during the creation of an iconic American business empire.

Tiffany, an iconic American jewelry brand established in 1837, has become emblematic of luxury and sophistication. As the digital age has ushered in new modes of communication, luxury markets face increased competition, necessitating a deep understanding of consumer needs, preferences, and motivations. This paper delves into Tiffany's consumer demographics and psychology, revealing that the majority of its buyers are females aged 25-34. Yet, the over-45 demographic struggles to adapt to Tiffany's online marketing approaches, perhaps due to their unfamiliarity with online luxury shopping. To cater to younger consumers, Tiffany has revamped its marketing strategies, choosing younger brand ambassadors and launching youth-centrism products. Despite the brand's rejuvenation, it maintains its high-end luxury profile, targeting mid to upper-income groups, many of whom prioritize product quality over price. David Dubois's concept of the psychology of luxury consumption highlights the tensions between personal interpretations and societal definitions of luxury. This dynamic is evident in Tiffany's strategic use of narratives and interactive digital campaigns to foster deep consumer connections. To further distinguish itself from competitors, Tiffany emphasizes product craftsmanship and uniqueness. The brand can expand its reach through regionalization, tailoring its marketing strategies to resonate with local cultures and values. Employing consumer psychology insights, such as encouraging customer storytelling and leveraging modern technology for personalized shopping experiences, can further solidify Tiffany's position in the luxury market.

The political lives of our founding fathers and mothers have been examined in great detail by many historians, but their experiences with medicine, health, and disease have generally received only cursory attention from most biographers. Yet focusing a lens on their often dramatic encounters with epidemics, disease, and medical treatments of their time lends them a corporeal presence that is absent from most historical accounts and serves to humanize them as flesh and blood individuals. James and Dolley Madison serve as prime examples of American icons who both dealt frequently with health challenges in the trajectory of their daily lives. This essay reflects the "health biographies" of James and Dolley Madison, which opens a revealing window into eighteenth century society and medicine, demonstrating graphically that even the elite, who had access to the best of contemporary medicine and physicians, were far from immune to debilitating illness.

The cultural construction of Barbie in American Discourses explains how Barbie as an American popular product is seen, talked about, and understood by the public. Barbie, a fashion doll that has successfully developed into an American icon, has been a subject of discussion since its first publication in 1959. The fact that it supposedly played the role of a simple children’s toy yet can capture the adults’ interests shows that there is something particular in Barbie that might also be deemed relevant by the adults. Thus, this study aims to break down the structure of Barbie as an American popular product in American discourses using Norman Fairclough’s theory of Critical Discourse Analysis. Using Barbie itself as the data taken from Barbie’s official Instagram account, this study applies qualitative methods. The result shows that in American discourses, Barbie is seen as the face of the American Dream and a reflection of Idealized American women. Through the depiction of Barbie’s appearance, the narration of Barbie’s abundant leisure activities, the description of Barbie’s lavish possessions, and their socialite peers, Barbie has symbolically served as an icon in the American Dream. Additionally, Barbie’s position in reflecting the image of American women is seen as the idealized epitome of beauty and success. However, she is also perceived as an icon who brings mixed messages. Even though she aims to promote female empowerment, her representation is also presumed to be problematic and unrealistic.

Genomic characterization of ex situ plant collections optimizes the utilization of genetic resources by identifying redundancies among accessions, capturing cryptic variation, establishing reference collections, and ultimately assisting pre-breeding and breeding efforts. Yet, the integration of evolutionary genomic analyses is often lacking when studying the biodiversity of crop gene pools. Such is the case in the avocado, Persea americana Mill., an iconic American fruit tree crop that has seen an unprecedented expansion worldwide because of its nutritional properties. However, given a very restricted number of commercial clones, avocado plantations are becoming more vulnerable to diseases and climate change. Therefore, exploring new sources of evolutionary novelty and genetic diversity beyond the commercial varieties derived from traditional genetic pools in Mexico and Central America is imperative. To fill this gap, we aimed to characterize the genomic diversity of Colombian avocado trees. Specifically, we constructed reduced representation genomic libraries to genotype by sequencing 144 accessions from the Colombian National genebank and 240 materials from local commercial orchards in the Colombian northwest Andes. We merged the resulting reads with available sequences of reference genotypes from known avocado groups (also named as races), Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian, to discover 4931 SNPs. We then analyzed the population structure and phylogenetic diversity, and reconstructed evolutionary scenarios, possibly leading to new genetic groups in Colombian germplasm. We detected demographic stratification despite evidence of intergroup gene flow. Besides the classical three avocado groups, we found an exclusive Colombian group with a possible genetic substructure related to the geographical origin (Andean and Caribbean). Phylogenetic and ABC demographic modeling suggested that the Colombian group evolved in the Pleistocene before human agriculture started, and its closest relative from the three recognized races would be the West Indian group. We conclude that northwest South America offers a cryptic source of allelic novelty capable of boosting avocado pre-breeding strategies to select rootstock candidates well adapted to specific eco-geographical regions in Colombia and abroad.

Emily Bingham, <i>My Old Kentucky Home: The Astonishing Life and Reckoning of an Iconic American Song</i>

Blonde (2022)

Jeans and their Fashionable Meanings: Revisiting Beverly Gordon's Cultural Conceptual Framework

Re-Bisoning the West: Restoring an American Icon to the Landscape

In the 1960s two Italian filmmakers, Mario Bava and Sergio Leone, released a string of notable films that directly challenged and re-framed the revered American genres of horror and the western respectively. Their revisualization and ultimate reinterpretation of these traditional genres reached its zenith with the release of Bava’s Black Sabbath (1963) and Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). They marked the dawn of a “spaghettification” of the American cinematic form.&#x0D; This paper argues that the “spaghettification” of the horror and western genres within Black Sabbath and Once Upon a Time in the West redefined the visual calculus of these American genres and revitalized their core tenets, cementing a new cinematic approach to them. Their use of cinematic close-ups, operatic scores, technicolour cinematography, and subversion of the American icon through the casting of Boris Karloff and Henry Fonda established a bold new cinematic style that reshaped the classic American form. This analysis will also note that the motivation behind this visual reformulation was wholly divergent, as Bava embraced his low-budget circumstances to relish the absurdity inherent in the horror genre, while Leone sought to establish a “New West” that was emblematic of the violence and bigotry of the American frontier. The cinematic style of these two films were primarily motivated by a love for the American classics and their revitalization of these classic genres would permeate in the minds of many budding auteurs such as Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, who in turn would go on to further rejuvenate the American cinematic landscape.&#x0D; Keywords: Sergio Leone, Mario Bava, Western, Horror, Italian, American, Cinema