Biomarker reveals HIV's hidden reservoir.

Determining the total amount of HIV DNA in people undergoing antiretroviral therapy could accelerate the development of novel therapies and potential cures for HIV infection

Why term limits may mean leaders are less likely to strike legislative deals.

For many, term limits are a way of checking the power of government executives. In new research, Alexandra G. Cockerham challenges these assumptions. Analyzing bargaining between the legislature and executive across states with and without gubernatorial term limits, she finds that such limits mean that governors are more likely to take unilateral action. By contrast, executives who are not term-limited are likely to be more experienced in bargaining and have a greater incentive to maintain a good relationship with the legislature

Why the extensive use of executive orders by state governors may not be a threat to democracy

Like the president, state Governors frequently make use of executive orders in order to pursue their agendas. But do these unilateral actions undermine democracy? No, argue Alexandra G. Cockerham and Robert E. Crew, Jr, who find that legislatures can be willing to delegate policy-making authority to governors if they are of the same party or if the legislature is fragmented

The Covid-19 pandemic shows the power and limits of American federalism

While there has been a great deal of attention paid to how President Trump has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic, Alexandra Cockerham and Robert E. Crew Jr. argue that, to get a true sense of the country’s response, we should look at the actions of state governors and mayors within states. While the federal government has tried to coordinate some efforts, federalism has meant that governors and local administrators have been able to adapt their responses, with the hardest hit states like New York setting a precedent for others

Transfer lubrication techniques in a stick slip situation.

The thesis describes a theoretical and experimental investigation into the transfer lubrication technique as a means of eliminating stick slip vibratory motion. The experimental apparatus consisted of a replaceable disc fastened to a rotor supported in air journal bearings. The disc was driven rotationally via an elastic member and radially loaded by two diametrically opposed pistons pneumatically pressed against the disc circumference. A metal piston pressed against the metal disc induced the stick slip motion whilst the other piston consisted of a dry lubricant compact providing for the transfer of solid lubricant to the metal junction. Instrumentation was incorporated in order to measure appropriate stick slip properties and the major parameters of the system were varied.Unlubricated stick slip experimental results have been compared with analyses based upon upper and lower bound linearised dynamic friction models. Corresponding theoretical stability relationships have been developed for transfer lubricated conditions and experimental comparison also made. In additiondetailed circumstances whereby stick slip motion is successfully eliminated by transfer lubrication have been defined including limiting load ratio and oil contamination conditions

Transfer lubrication techniques in a stick slip situation.

The thesis describes a theoretical and experimental investigation into the transfer lubrication technique as a means of eliminating stick slip vibratory motion. The experimental apparatus consisted of a replaceable disc fastened to a rotor supported in air journal bearings. The disc was driven rotationally via an elastic member and radially loaded by two diametrically opposed pistons pneumatically pressed against the disc circumference. A metal piston pressed against the metal disc induced the stick slip motion whilst the other piston consisted of a dry lubricant compact providing for the transfer of solid lubricant to the metal junction. Instrumentation was incorporated in order to measure appropriate stick slip properties and the major parameters of the system were varied.Unlubricated stick slip experimental results have been compared with analyses based upon upper and lower bound linearised dynamic friction models. Corresponding theoretical stability relationships have been developed for transfer lubricated conditions and experimental comparison also made. In additiondetailed circumstances whereby stick slip motion is successfully eliminated by transfer lubrication have been defined including limiting load ratio and oil contamination conditions

The Social and Political Dimensions of the Ebola Response: Global Inequality, Climate Change, and Infectious Disease

The 2014 Ebola crisis has highlighted public-health vulnerabilities in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea – countries ravaged by extreme poverty, deforestation and mining-related disruption of livelihoods and ecosystems, and bloody civil wars in the cases of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Ebola’s emergence and impact are grounded in the legacy of colonialism and its creation of enduring inequalities within African nations and globally, via neoliberalism and the Washington Consensus. Recent experiences with new and emerging diseases such as SARS and various strains of HN influenzas have demonstrated the effectiveness of a coordinated local and global public health and education-oriented response to contain epidemics. To what extent is international assistance to fight Ebola strengthening local public health and medical capacity in a sustainable way, so that other emerging disease threats, which are accelerating with climate change, may be met successfully? This chapter considers the wide-ranging socio-political, medical, legal and environmental factors that have contributed to the rapid spread of Ebola, with particular emphasis on the politics of the global and public health response and the role of gender, social inequality, colonialism and racism as they relate to the mobilization and establishment of the public health infrastructure required to combat Ebola and other emerging diseases in times of climate change

Extending the spectrum of Ellis van Creveld syndrome: a large family with a mild mutation in the EVC gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ellis-van Creveld (EvC) syndrome is characterized by short limbs, short ribs, postaxial polydactyly, dysplastic nails and teeth and is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. We report a family with complex septal cardiac defects, rhizomelic limb shortening, and polydactyly, without the typical lip, dental, and nail abnormalities of EvC. The phenotype was inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, with one instance of pseudodominant inheritance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Because of the phenotypic overlap with EvC, microsatellite markers were used to test for linkage to the <it>EVC/EVC2 </it>locus. The results did not exclude linkage, so samples were sequenced for mutations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified a c.1868T>C mutation in <it>EVC</it>, which predicts p.L623P, and was homozygous in affected individuals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that this <it>EVC </it>mutation is hypomorphic and that such mutations can cause a phenotype of cardiac and limb defects that is less severe than typical EvC. <it>EVC </it>mutation analysis should be considered in patients with cardiac and limb malformations, even if they do not manifest typical EvC syndrome.</p