Bard College

This three-way conversation reflects on practice-based research and the thinking-making of artist, composer, and academic Suzanne Kite (Oglála Lakȟóta), in the context of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) transnational research project on sensory new media. Departing from Kite’s award-winning collaborative article ‘Making Kin with Machines,’ the sculpture Ínyan Iyé (Telling Rock) and its different iterations, the dialogue explores questions related to ethical and epistemological engagements with humans and non-human beings, including family members, machines, stars, and stones. What does Kite’s Oglála Lakȟóta inspired ‘listening without ears’ mean and do? What can this kind of listening teach us about the relationships between humans and technologies? What critique of otherwise assumed universal or neutral ethics of machine-based learning and digital models of knowledge come from her listening to and creating with non-human beings? How do these practices speak to current debates on Indigenous Data Sovereignty? The article speculates on transformations in sensory and embodied primacies of ontologies of perception in Kite’s thinking-making practice, offering clues as to how differential capacities for engaging with AI, digital knowledge, and machines in hyper-localised modalities might emerge.

In this column, we share how we have come to see the cypher not only as a musical practice but also as a foundational metaphor for teaching. We draw on hip-hop’s global influence and its commitments to authenticity, reciprocity, and community to show how the cypher can serve as a culturally sustaining approach to general music education. For us, the cypher is far more than an improvisatory activity where students’ cultural identities and artistic practices are placed at the center, validated, and sustained. When we invite students into circles of co-creation, we shift the classroom dynamic from learning about hip-hop to living within its practices, opening a space where belonging is built through recognition and affirmation.

Genes are increasingly understood to influence behavior. Research-generally conducted among convenience samples- has suggested that genetic influences tend to be perceived as playing a greater role in positive (e.g. prosocial) behaviors than in negative (e.g. antisocial) behaviors. Several potential bases for this asymmetry have been explored previously. We examined, in a U.S. sample, whether an asymmetry in genetic attributions between prosocial and antisocial behavior would be observed, and if so, what might help to explain it. Results revealed that the asymmetry did occur and appeared to be robustly mediated by an asymmetry between how "natural" prosocial and antisocial behavior are perceived to be. Genetic attributions were also lower on average when the individual was described as African American, especially as an African American man. These findings provide further evidence that genetic attributions are endorsed selectively, in ways that appear to reflect pre-existing psychological motivations and views about human nature.

The unique microbial communities present on fruit surfaces significantly influence the fermentation process and product quality of artisanal cider production, constituting a microbial terroir analogous to that recognized in viticulture. In this study, we investigated the microbial composition and diversity associated with the apple varietals (Empire, Golden Delicious, and Idared) cultivated by two different orchard producers in the Hudson River Valley of New York. Using 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing, we identified distinct bacterial and fungal communities that varied significantly according to the apple varietal and orchard location. Notably, the orchard was the dominant factor shaping both the bacterial and fungal communities on the apples’ surfaces, with the varietal differences also playing a significant, albeit secondary, role. For example, we found that the bacterial genera Acidophilim sp. and 1174-901-12 sp., as well as the fungus Sporobolmyces patagonicus, were important markers of the orchard in which the apples were cultivated. These microbial signatures persisted into the early stages of cider fermentation, suggesting their potential influence on the cider quality and flavor profile. Our findings underscore the critical importance of the microbial terroir in cider production, and suggest that targeted management practices can leverage regional microbial diversity to enhance the distinctiveness and marketability of artisanal cider products.

Abstract This chapter introduces Sasanian art and its visual context with special attention to the challenges of interpreting such material. There are interconnected problems of decontextualized artifacts and the historical paucity of controlled scientific excavations of Sasanian archaeological sites, caused primarily by a historical lack of Western interest in Sasanian material: it doesn’t fit well with traditional academic and museological taxonomies, and sites are often inaccessible because of modern armed conflict. The methodologies commonly deployed to bridge the lack of secure contextual information are also discussed. Following the cautionary and methodological notes, the remainder of the chapter provides an overview of the different genres of Sasanian artistic production. Special consideration is given to multi-media imperial and sacred visual environments featuring stucco, wall painting, mosaic, and carpets; rock relief; court silver; and quotidian arts such as ceramic and glass.

ABSTRACTSpace commercialization stands as the next frontier in global political economy. In this context, this paper uses the internally consistent world‐building of the science fiction phenomenon The Expanse to explore the complexities of space trade governance. It identifies policy models within the narrative with a focus on three core themes: commercialization, criminality, and policy coordination. The analysis reveals how corporate dominance, weak regulation, and disjointed cooperation threaten equitable space development. By grounding these dynamics in the global political economy, this study aims to catalyze policy discussions on globalization, governance, and the future of space trade.

Acute leukemia, a severe hematological malignancy marked by abnormal white blood cell proliferation, often resists conventional therapies. The growing interest in natural therapeutics has spotlighted marine-derived compounds for their unique bioactivities. This study explores the therapeutic potential of Ascophyllum nodosum extract, focusing on Laminine, in modulating key leukemia-associated proteins, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PIK3), using in silico and in vitro approaches. Molecular docking was performed to assess Laminine's binding interactions with LDH and PIK3. An in vitro leukemia model was adopted using N-Nitroso-N-ethylurea-treated Wistar rats. Efficacy was evaluated through LDH release, PIK3 activity, hematological parameters, and clinical signs of leukemia. Docking studies revealed moderate binding affinities (-6.5kcal/mol) of Laminine with LDH and PIK3, suggesting potential therapeutic interactions. In vitro, the extract demonstrated dose-dependent cytoprotective effects, reducing LDH release and restoring PIK3 activity. Leukemia-induced hematological abnormalities, including elevated white blood cell counts, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, were partially reversed. The highest dose (50µM) showed maximal efficacy in reducing cytotoxicity and modulating signaling pathways. A. nodosum extract, particularly Laminine, shows potential as a therapeutic candidate against leukemia by targeting metabolic and signaling pathways. Further research is needed to optimize its clinical utility and elucidate its mechanisms.

Here, we present amplicon sequences from sourdough starter cultures that have been treated with a chlorine concentration gradient mirroring public water distribution systems. Data derived present insights into the effect of important environmental factors that may influence the formation of microbial communities in food biomes.