Klipsun Magazine, 2002, Volume 32, Issue 03 - March

ALTERNATIVES Throughout history, information has helped move our society forward. It has brought us new technology, cures to our ailments and more knowledge about the world around us. As an extremely curious person, I often find myself sorting through options and asking myself — what will work best for me? Three stories are featured in this issue exploring alternative methods. Our cover story, “A small assistant,” (page 16) looks at a less conventional therapy for arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis patients. Bee Venom Therapy is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but this homeopathic treatment has proven to help people in pain. In “Brand new barriers,” (page 12) our reporter examines new methods of birth control. Time Magazine recently recognized the NuvaRing, a contraceptive discussed, as one of the top inventions of 2001 and it will be available to women soon. “Taking in the trash,” (page 8) may appeal to college student and those who are thrifty. Our reporter discovered Bellingham residents who go the extra mile and search through Dumpsters. Who knows, your trash may be their treasure. These stories exemplify the importance of options. I hope you enjoy these stories and the rest of the stories featured in this issue. If you have some extra time, please fill out the survey on the back page. Our editorial staff is interested in what you have to say about the magazine. We want to know what type of stories interest our readers — so let’s communicate.https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine/1212/thumbnail.jp

Eradication of HIV and Cure of AIDS, Now and How?

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of eradication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cure of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, a pivotal point that the patient immunity controls HIV reactivation after highly active anti-retroviral therapy [HAART or combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART)] remains less well addressed. In spite of the fact that both innate and adaptive immunities are indispensable and numerous cells participate in the anti-HIV immunity, memory CD4 T-cells are indisputably the key cells organizing all immune actions against HIV while being the targets of HIV. Here we present a view and multidisciplinary approaches to HIV/AIDS eradication and cure. We aim at memory CD4 T-cells, utilizing the stem cell properties of these cells to reprogram an anti-HIV memory repertoire to eliminate the viral reservoir, toward achieving an AIDS-free world

Corporate Inversion: A Symbol Of A Changing Paradigm Of Corporate Behavior? Balancing Global Competitiveness, Fiduciary Duty, And Ethical Behavior

Global competitiveness is affecting U.S Companies in a variety of ways.  One is tax policy.  U.S. federal tax policy in a global environment causes many U.S.-based companies to operate at a disadvantage to some foreign competitors.   Current U.S. tax laws require domestic residents to pay income taxes on worldwide income.  However, many countries have tax systems that exempt from domestic taxation profits earned by foreign subsidiaries.   In addition, U.S. corporations with foreign-source income may be subject to tax by the country in which the income is earned.  In an effort to eliminate this competitive burden, a growing number of U.S.-based companies have engaged in corporate inversion transactions.  U.S.-based companies need to reconcile their fiduciary duty to shareholders with fundamental ethical issues as well as federal tax policy in justifying moving to another country solely for its beneficial tax system

Klipsun Magazine, 2002, Volume 32, Issue 04 - April

At Klipsun, we don’t assign stories to our reporters. We editors toss out ideas and suggest ways to focus or expand stories, but our reporters are pretty much free to write about anything. Hence, we never know if dominant themes will exist until we pick seven or eight for publication and look at them together. Sometimes themes are obvious and sometimes it takes a little work and imagination to see them. As hard as I looked, I just couldn’t find any grand unifying themes in these stories. Sorry. What I can say is that they’re all about interesting people doing interesting things in and around Bellingham (Yes, the artificial reef story centers on Nanaimo, British Columbia, but it’s still fairly close. Give me a break. I’m trying.). For a relatively small city, Bellingham is blessed with an incredible variety of stories. Perhaps it has to do with being a college town or its proximity to an international border or its juxtaposition between the mountains and the water. Whatever the reason, this is a great town in which to be a writer. Several of these stories caught me by surprise. I’ve driven by Joe’s Garden countless times without ever thinking about the people who work there. It was my loss. I had no idea I could find out about my past lives or have my aura smoothed at the Church of Divine Man. I haven’t paid as much attention to Western’s sculpture collection as I should have. The folks living in Bellingham’s co-housing community are redefining domestic life just a few miles from my house and I didn’t know anything about them. I obviously need to get out more. Come to think of it, maybe Bellingham doesn’t have any more good stories than any other town. Maybe interesting people and stories are anywhere you really look for them. Either way, it bodes well for our magazine.https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine/1213/thumbnail.jp

#Yo Soy 132 and Occupy: Social Movements and the Media

I am comparing the tactics of Mexican youth movement #Yo Soy 132 and Occupy to better understand how these groups work against the hegemonic views presented by mass media. I aim to understand the media structures in Mexico and the United States through the lens of these social groups and consider how they are similar or different. I also take into consideration societal structures, such as varying levels of Internet access, that influence the way these groups function. These movements are in constant flux and their interaction with the public is changing everyday, but I hope to provide some insight into their tactics and strategies and whether or not they are successful in achieving their established goals

Conservation Biology & U.S. Forest Service Views of Ecosystem Management and What They Imply About Policies Needed to Achieve Sustainability of Biodiversity

53 p. ; 28 cmhttps://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies/1046/thumbnail.jp

A Leu to Ile but not Leu to Val change at HIV-1 reverse transcriptase codon 74 in the background of K65R mutation leads to an increased processivity of K65R+L74I enzyme and a replication competent virus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The major hurdle in the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) includes the development of drug resistance-associated mutations in the target regions of the virus. Since reverse transcriptase (RT) is essential for HIV-1 replication, several nucleoside analogues have been developed to target RT of the virus. Clinical studies have shown that mutations at RT codon 65 and 74 which are located in β3-β4 linkage group of finger sub-domain of RT are selected during treatment with several RT inhibitors, including didanosine, deoxycytidine, abacavir and tenofovir. Interestingly, the co-selection of K65R and L74V is rare in clinical settings. We have previously shown that K65R and L74V are incompatible and a R→K reversion occurs at codon 65 during replication of the virus. Analysis of the HIV resistance database has revealed that similar to K65R+L74V, the double mutant K65R+L74I is also rare. We sought to compare the impact of L→V <it>versus </it>L→I change at codon 74 in the background of K65R mutation, on the replication of doubly mutant viruses.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Proviral clones containing K65R, L74V, L74I, K65R+L74V and K65R+L74I RT mutations were created in pNL4-3 backbone and viruses were produced in 293T cells. Replication efficiencies of all the viruses were compared in peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells in the absence of selection pressure. Replication capacity (RC) of mutant viruses in relation to wild type was calculated on the basis of antigen p24 production and RT activity, and paired analysis by student t-test was performed among RCs of doubly mutant viruses. Reversion at RT codons 65 and 74 was monitored during replication in PBM cells. In vitro processivity of mutant RTs was measured to analyze the impact of amino acid changes at RT codon 74.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Replication kinetics plot showed that all of the mutant viruses were attenuated as compared to wild type (WT) virus. Although attenuated in comparison to WT virus and single point mutants K65R, L74V and L74I; the double mutant K65R+L74I replicated efficiently in comparison to K65R+L74V mutant. The increased replication capacity of K65R+L74I viruses in comparison to K65R+L74V viruses was significant at multiplicity of infection 0.01 (p = 0.0004). Direct sequencing and sequencing after population cloning showed a more pronounced reversion at codon 65 in viruses containing K65R+L74V mutations in comparison to viruses with K65R+L74I mutations. In vitro processivity assays showed increased processivity of RT containing K65R+L74I in comparison to K65R+L74V RT.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The improved replication kinetics of K65R+L74I virus in comparison to K65R+L74V viruses was due to an increase in the processivity of RT containing K65R+L74I mutations. These observations support the rationale behind structural functional analysis to understand the interactions among unique RT mutations that may emerge during the treatment with specific drug regimens.</p

The Effects of Haptic Feedback on Postural Sway

Purpose: Effectiveness of haptic feedback on reducing postural sway Hypothesis: Haptic input improves static standing stability. Individuals with increased variability in sway may have an increased risk for falls. Therefore, our haptic feedback device may have the ability to reduce risk of falling. Postural control is a dynamic system involving vision, vestibular system, proprioception, and musculoskeletal system. Postural control enables people to maintain their balance, reduce their sway, and keep an upright posture. Haptic feedback is tactile or vibratory cues that assist a subject in determining where they are in space