Daily Archives: May 7, 2017

Scientists reveal new and improved genome sequence of Daphnia … – ScienceBlog.com (blog)

Posted: May 7, 2017 at 11:24 pm

For many, experience with Daphnia, commonly known as water fleas, ends in high school. The organism is often used for science experiments exploring water toxicity, because of its sensitivity to environmental factors. But the tiny, transparent microcrustaceans have been studied intensively for more than 150 years, and new research published and featured on the cover of the journal G3 reveals scientists can now take a closer look at its genome.

Researchers have completed a new and improved genome sequence of Daphnia pulex (D. pulex), providing a clearer roadmap of the organisms genome so they can identify the genes and pathways that make this organism so successful in freshwater ecosystems.

Populations of Daphnia, barely visible to the naked eye, can be found in virtually every standing body of water on the planet, including Antarctica. They evolve quickly and are masters of responding to the conditions in their environment. Sensing the chemical cues of nearby predators, some species of Daphnia develop elaborate defensive structures such as spines and helmets that make them harder to eat. While scientists have gained a thorough understanding of what these tiny water fleas do to adapt to varying conditions, they dont yet know how they do it.

Thats why a system like this is so powerful, said Michael E. Pfrender, director of the Genomics & Bioinformatics Core Facility and associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Environmental Change Initiative at the University of Notre Dame. We need this genomic infrastructure to add to the ecological context we already have to gain a better understanding of how Daphnia adapt. Because we have an improved genome sequence, we can get a more accurate catalog of genes and when thinking about response to the environment and chemical cues, its the turning on and off of genes and pathways thats important. The picture is much more complete than it was before.

Calling it the Portland Arch genome after the Indiana Nature Preserve where the Daphnia was collected, the new assembly comes six years after the first sequence of D. pulex in 2011. The current study describes how scientists used the latest technology as part of a thorough and methodical process the result of which led to the identification of 18,440 genes.

D. pulex plays a vital role in Earths ecology. Feeding off of algae and phytoplankton in standing freshwaters, they are the primary grazer in those environments, the cows of lakes, said Pfrender. Theyre also primary forage, transferring all of that energy to the fish that eat them. By understanding how species of Daphnia respond to toxic elements like industrial contaminants, toxic algae blooms or thermal stress, scientists can look at how environmental changes caused by agriculture and road runoff or warming temperatures and climate change could impact populations in lakes, rivers and standing bodies of water.

What happens to this vital part of the ecosystem when conditions change very rapidly? What genes allow some populations to cope with these changes while others fail? Pfrender said. Thats what we want to find out. This genome sequence provides the toolkit.

Co-authors of the study include Pfrender, Jacqueline Lopez and Brent Harker of the Notre Dame Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility; Zhiqiang Ye, Ken Spitze, Xiaoqian Jiang, Matthew S. Ackerman and Michael Lynch at the Department of Biology at Indiana University; Sen Xu at the Department of Biology at Indiana University and the University of Texas at Arlington; Jana Asselman, Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology at Ghent University; R. Taylor Raborn at the Department of Biology and School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University; and W. Kelley Thomas and Jordan Ramsdell at the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies at the University of New Hampshire.

The study was funded through a grant from the National Institutes of Health to Michael Lynch at Indiana University, Bloomington and Notre Dame Research.

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Genome studies – The Hindu

Posted: at 11:24 pm

Genome studies
The Hindu
The majority of non-communicable diseases like mental retardation, cancer, cardiac diseases, diabetes, hypertension, neuromuscular disorders, and haemoglobinopathy are caused by abnormal DNA mutations in the functional gene. Modern medicine can ...

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Barley genome sequenced | University of California – University of California

Posted: at 11:24 pm

Looking for a better beer or single malt Scotch whiskey?

A team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside, may have you covered. They are among a group of 77 scientists worldwide who have sequenced the complete genome of barley, a key ingredient in beer and single malt Scotch. The research, 10 years in the making, was just published in the journal Nature.

This takes the level of completeness of the barley genome up a huge notch, said Timothy Close, a professor of genetics at UC Riverside. It makes it much easier for researchers working with barley to be focused on attainable objectives, ranging from new variety development through breeding to mechanistic studies of genes.

The research also will aid scientists working with other cereal crops, including rice, wheat, rye, maize, millet, sorghum, oats and even turfgrass, which like the other food crops, is in the grass family, Close said.

Barley has been used for more than 10,000 years as a staple food and for fermented beverages, and as animal feed.

It is found in breakfast cereals and all-purpose flour and helps bread rise. Malted barley gives beer color, body, protein to form a good head and the natural sugars needed for fermentation. And single malt Scotch is made from only water and malted barley.

The report in Nature provides new insights into gene families that are key to the malting process. The barley genome sequence also enabled the identification of regions of the genome that have been vulnerable to genetic bottlenecking during domestication, knowledge that helps to guide breeders to optimize genetic diversity in their crop improvement efforts.

Ten years ago, the International Barley Genome Sequencing Consortium, which is led by Nils Stein of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Germany, set out to assemble a complete reference sequence of the barley genome.

This was a daunting task, as the barley genome is almost twice the size of the human genome and 80 percent of it is composed of highly repetitive sequences, which cannot be assigned accurately to specific positions in the genome without considerable extra effort.

Multiple novel strategies were used in this paper to circumvent this fundamental limitation. Major advances in sequencing technology, algorithmic design and computing made it possible. Still, this work kept teams around the world in Germany, Australia, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States occupied for a decade. This work provides knowledge of more than 39,000 barley genes.

Alcoholic beverages have been made from malted barley since the Stone Age, and some even consider this to be a major reason why humankind adopted plant cultivation, at least in the Fertile Crescent, where barley was domesticated.

During malting, amylase proteins are produced by germinated seeds to decompose energy-rich starch that is stored in dry grains, yielding simple sugars. These sugars then are available for fermentation by yeast to produce alcohol. The genome sequence revealed much more variability than was expected in the genes that encode the amylase enzymes.

Barley is grown throughout the world, with Russia, Germany, France, Canada, and Spain being among the top producers. In the United States, barley is mainly grown in the northwest. Idaho, Montana and North Dakota are the leading producers.

The Nature paper is called A chromosome conformation capture ordered sequence of the barley genome.

In addition to Close, the following current and former UC Riverside researchers are co-authors of the paper: Mara MuozAmatrian, a project scientist and Steve Wanamaker, a programmer, both in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences; Stefano Lonardi, a professor of computer science in the Bourns College of Engineering; and Rachid Ounit, who earned his Ph.D. earlier this year in computer science after working in Lonardis lab.

The UC Riverside teams contributions were supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and annual support through the UC Riverside Agricultural Experiment Station.

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Eczema | National Eczema Association

Posted: at 11:23 pm

Chances are, youre here to look for answers and find support.

You might have first noticed an itchy, red patch on your babys cheeks, chin, or chest that she or he scratched until it became even more irritated. Sound familiar? Or maybe you experienced something similar on your own neck, inner elbows, or behind your knees.

Thats probably when you made an appointment with your doctor, who looked at it, talked to you about your symptoms, asked you questions about your family history and the types of products you use on your skin and in your home. Then your doctor told you it was eczema.

So what exactly is eczema? Who can get it and why? And what should you do, now that you or your child has been diagnosed?

Learning more about what kind of eczema you have and what may have triggered it, is the best starting point to treating and managing it, so that your eczema doesnt get in the way of your everyday life.

The good news is youve come to the right place. Were here to help guide you with all of the tools and support youll need every step of the way.

Eczema is very common. And in many cases, its also manageable. In fact, over 30 million Americans have some form of eczema.

Its most common for babies and children to develop eczema on their face (especially the cheeks and chin), but it can appear anywhere on the body and symptoms may be different from one child to the next. More often than not, eczema goes away as a child grows older, though some children will continue to experience eczema into adulthood.

Adults can develop eczema, too, even if they never had it as a child.

The most important thing to remember is that eczema and its symptoms are different for everyone. Your eczema may not look the same on you as it does on another adult, or on your child. It may even appear in different areas of the body at different times.

Eczema is usually itchy. For many people, the itch is usually only mild, or moderate. But in some cases it can become much worse and you might develop extremely inflamed skin. Sometimes the itch gets so bad that people scratch it until it bleeds, which can make your eczema worse. This is called the itch-scratch cycle.

What to look for:

You might have all of these symptoms of eczema or only just a few. You might have some flare ups or your symptoms could go away entirely. But the only way to know if you have eczema for sure, is to visit your doctor so he or she can look at your skin and ask you about your symptoms.

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Eczema – Eucerin Skincare Products

Posted: at 11:23 pm

Eczema is the term for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become irritated and inflamed. Atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema, is known as the itch that rashes. It usually appears on the face, hands, and limbs, and is accompanied by an intense itch.

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. It affects approximately 15% of infants and children and 3% of adults in the U.S. Many people outgrow the condition during childhood, although some suffer with it throughout life.

Atopic dermatitis affects the skins barrier functionits ability to keep moisture in and irritants out. It also disturbs the formation of natural skin oils and reduces sweat secretion. As a result, skin loses moisture and can eventually become so dry that it cracks and fissures develop, allowing bacteria and irritants to penetrate the skin and possibly cause infection. While the exact cause of the disease is unknown, the good news is that it can be managed and treated with a good daily skincare regimen.

Eczema is a condition that can be managed with a physicians assistance. Your dermatologist or pediatrician may prescribe medications to help you manage your eczema or atopic dermatitis, but he or she will also tell you that daily moisturizing is your first line of defense against flare-ups and can help reduce itch.

To prevent skins natural moisturizers from being stripped away, try to take only one warm (not hot) bath or shower per day, and limit it to 10 minutes. Avoid soaps and instead, wash with a gentle soap-free and fragrance-free cleanser. After bathing, gently pat away excess water with a soft, absorbent towel and apply moisturizer while skin is still damp, to help seal in moisture.

Hydrating the skin is essential in helping to reestablish skins natural barrier, which keeps moisture in and irritants out. Use moisturizers at least twice a day or even more often if you feel that you need it. Choose a fragrance-free moisturizer thats safe for sensitive skin.

On http://www.easeeczcema.org, youll find helpful resources and information for people who suffer from eczema or atopic dermatitis. Among the suggestions they offer is to wash all new clothes before wearing to remove formaldehyde and other potentially irritating chemicals that are used during production and packing of clothing as these ingredients can irritate skin. Also use mild detergents that are dye-free and fragrance-free, as dyes and fragrances can irritate skin. Also look for Over-the Counter skin protectant with colloidal oatmeal to moisturizer skin and help relieve minor irritation and itching of eczema

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin 2. Improve the appearance of the skin 3. Achieve healthier-looking skin

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Reasons for eczema susceptibility uncovered – Science Daily

Posted: at 11:23 pm


Hindustan Times
Reasons for eczema susceptibility uncovered
Science Daily
Atopic eczema is one of the commonest skin conditions in the UK, affecting up to 10% of adults and 20% of children in the UK. It's more common in children, often developing before their first birthday and often persists into adulthood with severe ...
What causes eczema? Scientists blame it on lack of a protein skin barrierHindustan Times
What Causes Eczema? Lack of Protein In Skin May Lead To Painful Inflammatory ConditionMedical Daily
Eczema caused by deficiency of protein in skin, confirm scientistsNews Nation

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Understanding genetic variations in black women could improve cancer outcomes – ScienceBlog.com (blog)

Posted: at 11:22 pm

Although the odds of developing breast cancer are nearly identical for black and white women, black women are 42 percent more likely to die from the disease. This mortality gapdriven by social and environmental, as well as biological factorscontinues to persist.

A large, multi-institutional study, published May 4 in JAMA Oncology, was designed to understand this gap by beginning to unravel the germline genetic variations and tumor biological differences between black and white women with breast cancer. This is the first ancestry-based comprehensive analysis of multiple platforms of genomic and proteomic data of its kind, the authors note.

Findings from this study could lead to more personalized risk assessment for women of African heritage and hasten the development of novel approaches designed to diagnose specific subtypes of aggressive breast cancers early and treat them effectively.

One new finding is that black women with hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative breast cancer had a higher risk-of-recurrence score than white women. The study also confirmed that black patients were typically diagnosed at a younger age and were more likely to develop aggressive breast-cancer subtypes, including basal-like or triple-negative cancerstumors lacking estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2as well as other aggressive tumor subtypes.

People have long associated breast cancer mortality in black women with poverty, or stress, or lack of access to care, but our results show that much of the increased risk for black women can be attributed to tumor biological differences, which are probably genetically determined, said study author Olufunmilayo Olopade,the Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor in Medicine and Human Genetics at the University of Chicago.

The good news, she said, is that as we learn more about these genetic variations, we can combine that information with clinical data to stratify risk and better predict recurrencesespecially for highly treatable cancersand develop interventions to improve treatment outcomes.

This is a great example of how team science and investments in science can accelerate progress in identifying the best therapies for the most aggressive breast cancers, said co-author Charles Perou, a member of the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor of genetics, and pathology & laboratory medicine at the UNC School of Medicine.

In the largest dataset to date that has good representation of tumors from black women, we did not find much difference between the somatic mutations driving tumors in black and white women, he added. Yet black women were more likely to develop aggressive molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Now we provide data showing that differences in germline genetics may be responsible for up to 40 percent of the likelihood of developing one tumor subtype versus another.

The study used DNA data collected from 930 women154 of predominantly African ancestry and 776 of European ancestryavailable through The Cancer Genome Atlas, established by the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute. The researchers combed through the data methodically, looking for racial differences in germline variations, somatic mutations, subtypes of breast cancers, survival time, as well as gene expression, protein expression and DNA methylation patterns.

Most significantly, explained first author Dezheng Huo, associate professor of public health sciences at the University of Chicago, we observed a higher genetic contribution to estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer in blacks.

Black women were more likely to get these highly aggressive cancers. This is one of the first studies to connect genetics to this racial difference in tumor subtype frequencies.

The study also revealed 142 genes that showed differences in expression levels according to race. One gene, CRYBB2, was consistently higher in tumors from black patients within each breast cancer subtype, as well as in normal tissues, suggesting it may be a race-specific gene.

The researchers also found somatic mutations in 13 genes or DNA segments that differed in frequency in tumors from black and white women. One of them, a mutated gene called TP53, was more common in black women than white women and was a strong predictor of disease recurrence.

Despite the relatively short follow-up time in the TCGA dataset, we were able to detect a significant racial disparity in patient survival using breast cancer-free interval as the endpoint between patients of African and European ancestries, said co-first author Hai Hu, vice president for research at the Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine at Windber. Most of the worst outcomes came from basal-like subtype breast cancer patients of African Ancestry.

Black women in all categories, including the most common breast cancers, were likely to have a worse prognosis, Olopade said.

Understanding the basic, underlying genetic differences between black and white women, the higher risk scores and the increased risk of recurrence should lead us to alternative treatment strategies, said Perou.

The crucial long-term benefit of this study, according to Olopade, is that it is a step toward the development of polygenic biomarkers, tools that can help us better understand each patients prognosis and, as we learn more, play a role in choosing the best treatment.

Genes matter, she added. This is a foot in the door for precision medicine, for scientifically targeted treatment.

This study now outlines a path for us to personalize breast cancer risk assessment and develop better strategies to empower all women, especially black women, to know their genetics and be more proactive in managing their risk, Perou said.

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Prince Philip’s honesty may be politically incorrect, but it was also his greatest strength – The Independent

Posted: at 11:21 pm

It takes a lot to knock Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn off the front headlines on both the day of major local elections and in the midst of a general election. Yet Prince Phillip did it.

But despite all the attention rightly given to his landmark decision to step down from his royal duties, in many ways he has been the opposite of high profile. In reality, he is notable for his low visibility, either working alongside the Queen, but always two paces behind, or quietly making visits of his own on a daily basis. Even the forthright quotes that make juicy reading only work out at an average of one every three years.

Even when Prince Phillip has been outspoken, there has always been an element of truth to his remarks, which may have offended some sensitivities, but which also highlighted a serious point.

When on a school visit, he asked one of the pupils what he wanted to do when he grew up. On being told that the lad intended to be a space explorer, he blurted out: "But youre too fat to be an astronaut!" Was that an unjust remark that caused a brutal blow to the childs ego, or a helpful piece of advice that would change his lifestyle and improve his future?

Prince Philip jokes he can 'barely stand up'

He was equally capable of challenging the high and mighty. When discussing the plight of Englands uplands, which had become depopulated in recent years, a leading expert started pontificating on how important it was to get people to settle there.

"Why talk about it?" asked the Prince. "If you want people to do that, go there yourself and get people to follow your lead!" The man fell silent.

On another occasion, during a discussion on prison reform and how to improve the condition of prisons, he interjected: "Nonsense, we need to do the exact opposite, make prisons as horrible as possible, so much so that people in them arent keen to go back."

This would certainly displease those who want prison to be a place of education and rehabilitation, but would strike a chord with those who feel it should have a strong deterrent effect.

But whether one agreed or disagreed with particular comments, his bluntness was the product of a fundamental honesty that stands in stark contrast to those who just mouth platitudes, utter slogans or engage in verbal gymnastics.

Of course, the vast majority of his work has been away from the cameras, not consorting with the wealthy but meeting ordinary people in factories, or research laboratories, or day-care centres, or youth-training hostels, who work hard and do good, but who never receive publicity and appreciate his interest. He shows they matter to the national life and those visited feel he sprinkles fairy dust over what they do.

Equally hidden from view is his passion for engineering. The Prince Philip Designer Prize has encouraged many to develop their skills, including Ronal Hickman who went on to develop the all-purpose workshop bench known as "Workmate", while another contestant, Andrew Ritchie, designed the folding bicycle. Few people using either of them realise they have the Prince to partially thank.

Whereas the first Queen Elizabeth never married, apparently worried that a husband would take over and become a rival, the current monarch has found that having a husband meant she had a very dutiful "workmate" of her own. The Prince may be slowing down, but hopefully he will continue in good health and go on to receive the centenary letter that his wife sends out.

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain is minister of Maidenhead Synagogue and author of Confessions of a Rabbi

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Maher needed to put away his notebook and be present at Chicago Theatre – Chicago Tribune

Posted: at 11:21 pm

What a missed opportunity.

A little over 100 days into the presidency of Donald J. Trump and political satirists are riding high on the fact that so many of their viewers are feeling very low. Comedian Bill Maher currently in the midst of his 15th season on HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher" has certainly been the beneficiary of increased viewership due to Trumpophobia. In fact, this season he's enjoying some of his highest ratings ever.

This is a moment for Maher to take his brand of politically incorrect liberalism the guy literally hosted a show titled "Politically Incorrect," for crying out loud and bring it to the stage. People want to laugh even if especially if they're terrified. They're also ready to be challenged.

But despite a full house and an eager audience, the cynical liberal fire he brings to his show was mostly absent Saturday night at the Chicago Theatre, where Maher treated his hourlong, opener-less show like a complete afterthought, running through a number of softly familiar punchlines in a frequently distracted set.

Much of the distraction stemmed from a notebook Maher brought with him and propped on a metal stand beside him to refer to throughout the show. Presumably the notebook was meant to keep him on track it's not uncommon for a comedian to reference some kind of set list but Maher's overreliance on it pulled his energy, hampered his delivery and kept him from ever truly connecting with the material or the audience.

He's a busy guy recording a new episode of "Real Time" every Friday and performing on a number of weekends but a few more rehearsals were in order here.

Despite landing a number of solid jabs directed at the current president, his family, his cabinet and the entire Republican party (and even a few at overly PC liberals), Maher was decidedly distant for most of his set.

"Does anyone ever tell Trump these executive orders he signs aren't laws?" he asked rhetorically. "Because I think he thinks they are."

As most people buying tickets to a Bill Maher show would expect, the vast majority of his barbs took this form and were aimed at Trump and his voters, with Maher at one point saying that a liberal tea party is brewing, "but of course with more teeth and less misspellings on the signs."

Jokes like this make an audience feel both reassured and superior, and both on his TV show and in this show, Maher wields them with smugly deadpan aplomb.

But even on an off night, Maher isn't complacent enough to pander to standard left-wing ideologies. Toward the middle of his set he launched into a biting criticism of Islam a topic he's been very vocal and very adamant about that sucked the air out of the room, in a way he clearly intended.

"Don't start with me," he said as laughter turned to uncomfortable silence. "It's a religion of peace," he said facetiously. "There's a piece of you over there. There's a piece of you over there."

And here is the type of moment that Maher revels in: a confrontation. His show is set up to provide a platform for people with differing opinions to duke it out, with Maher making it clear whose side he's on. Here it was him against the audience.

"Liberals are supposed to be against oppression," he said, in a condemnation of burqas. "If we agree Donald Trump is not normal it's also not normal to throw a tarp over a human like a motorboat."

Throughout this section the laughter was sparse, but, oddly, there were a number of cheers and applause for some of his statements (for example, "I'm not anti-Muslim. I'm anti-bad idea."). And when he transitioned from mocking Islam to mocking the Catholic church, the laughter returned in an immediate, almost relieved way. "Now we're back to making fun of white people, thank God," Maher quipped.

Maher has never been one to shy away from a controversial opinion or a joke that could be classified as offensive, and that's to his benefit, but here his often muted delivery undermined the points he was making.

"I'm a little tired of 'Check your white male privilege,' " he said toward the end. "I checked. Yes, I'm still privileged."

Maher has earned the privilege of a national platform and the name recognition that goes with it he now needs to earn the kind of audience investment that will carry his set through the tough spots. He could start with a few more rehearsals.

Zach Freeman is a freelance writer.

ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ZachRunsChicago

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Networks accused of ‘censorship’ for refusing to air pro-Trump ad … – Washington Times

Posted: at 11:21 pm

Four major television networks ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN have come under fire from the Trump camp for censorship after refusing to air a political ad over its reference to fake news.

Jamestown Associates, which produced the 30-second spot touting President Trumps record during his first 100 days in office, said Friday that the networks decision to reject the paid ad is unprecedented.

No matter your ideology, the notion of censorship should send a chill up your spine, said the Republican political consulting firm.

The First Amendment is first for a reason no right is more fundamental and inherently American than freedom of speech, said the Jamestown statement. Yet, CNN, CBS, ABC, and NBC decided you cannot see it on their airwaves. To our knowledge, this has never happened before.

Presidential daughter-in-law Lara Trump, a consultant for Donald J. Trump for President, which paid for the ad, denounced the move as an unprecedented act of censorship in America that should concern every freedom-loving citizen.

Apparently, the mainstream media are champions of the First Amendment only when it serves their own political views, said Ms. Trump, who is married to the presidents son Eric. Faced with an ad that doesnt fit their biased narrative, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC have now all chosen to block our ad.

At issue is a clip showing five prominent television news personalities overlaid with the words FAKE NEWS.

The voice-over says that America has rarely seen such success, but you wouldnt know it from watching the news.

Two networks NBC and CNN released statements saying that they would run the ad only if the phrase fake news were removed. CBS declined a request for comment.

Consistent with our policies, we have agreed to accept the ad if the inaccurate graphic which refers to journalists as fake news is corrected, said an NBCUniversal spokesperson.

In its statement, CNN said that the mainstream media is not fake news, and therefore the ad is false. Per our policy, it will be accepted only if that graphic is deleted. Those are the facts.

The ad ran afoul of ABCs guidelines prohibiting ads that include personal attacks and requiring political ads to be sourced and verified.

We rejected the ad because it did not meet our guidelines, said an ABC spokesperson. We have previously accepted Trump ads and are open to doing so in the future.

The five personalities shown in the ad MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell and Rachel Maddow, CNNs Wolf Blitzer, ABCs George Stephanopoulos and CBS Scott Pelley are among Mr. Trumps most visible critics in the media.

Fox News has aired the ad, said Jamestown creative director Len Khodorkovsky.

The $1.5 million television and digital ad campaign launched Monday.

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