Increased intake of omega-6 rich plant oils such as soybean and corn oil over the past few decades has inadvertently tripled the amount of n-6 linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) in the diet. Although LA is nutritionally essential, very little is known about how it affects the brain when present in excess. This review provides an overview on the metabolism of LA by the brain and the effects of excess dietary LA intake on brain function. Pre-clinical evidence suggests that excess dietary LA increases the brains vulnerability to inflammation and likely acts via its oxidized metabolites. In humans, excess maternal LA intake has been linked to a typical neurodevelopment, but underlying mechanisms are unknown. It is concluded that excess dietary LA may adversely affect the brain. The potential neuroprotective role of reducing dietary LA merits clinical evaluation in future studies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/s41538-019-0061-9.].

This report investigates the air pollution reduction benefits associated with mitigating urban heat islands in three U.S. cities. The effects of these measures in Salt Lake City, Baton Rouge, and Sacramento were evaluated through mesoscale meteorological and air quality modeling. The simulations indicate that for these three U.S. cities, adopting heat island reduction measures can result in various meteorological and air quality changes. The meteorological simulations suggest that each of the three pilot cities benefits from reduced ambient air temperatures. Decreases typically range from 1 to 2K (1.8 - 3.6?F) over modified areas. In Salt Lake City, reductions in ambient air temperatures reach up to 2K (3.6?F) at 1600 LST. The city achieves reductions in ozone concentrations of up to 3 or 4 ppb, the equivalent of about 3.5% if it were compared to an urban peak of 95 ppb. In Baton Rouge, reductions in ambient air temperatures of 0.75K (1.4?F) are possible and ozone ! reductions reach up to 4 or 5 ppb, the equivalent of about 4% if compared to an urban peak of 113 ppb. Finally, Sacramento enjoys reductions of 1.2K (2.2?F) as a result of heat island mitigation measures. Although these temperature reductions are not as large as those experienced in Salt Lake City, for example, their impacts on ozone are relatively larger, with reductions of up to 10 ppb from peak ozone concentrations (about 7% of the peak of 139 ppb). Sacramento enjoys larger reductions in ozone as a result of its larger geographical area. The modeling work shows that each of the three regions discussed in this report can benefit from implementing heat island mitigation measures. Clearly, the extent to which urban areas can effectively improve local air quality through heat island mitigation depends on numerous factors. These include meteorology and climate, geography, scale, topography, basin morphology, proximity to water bodies, land-use patterns, precursor emission rates and mix, baseline albedo and vegetative fraction distributions, and potential for modification (increase in albedo and vegetative fraction). Based on our modeling efforts, we found that the larger the modified area, the larger the impacts on meteorology and air quality.

A language shift occurs in a minority language if the dominant language is widely used in various domains. A shift has occurred, and is still occurring, in Fadija Nobiin because of contact with the Arabic language, which is used by the majority. In this paper, I will investigate language shift in the Nobiin language, particularly lexical change in Fadija Nobiin. More specifically, this paper analyzes heavy lexical borrowing from Arabic into Fadija Nobiin, using a Nobiin folk song as an example. Factors that influence language maintenance and shift are discussed to reflect on the Arabic language influence on a minority language. Nubians, including the speakers of Fadija and other vernaculars, are concerned about their language endangerment and many are showing commitment and cooperation to revitalize it and save it from extinction.