Understanding and control of cooperative associations

1 online resource (PDF, 2 pages)This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu

Some legal requirements for cooperative associations

33 pages. This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu

Modulation of Th17 Cell Populations by Vitamin D: Exploring Therapeutic Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis

In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system is aberrantly activated and gives rise to damage, pain, fatigue and functional disability in patients. The imbalance in the immune system is illustrated by the increased abundance and activity of T-helper-17 (Th17) cell populations. In this thesis we studied the possibility to suppress the pathogenicity of Th17 cell populations through vitamin D. Next to discerning the molecular effects of vitamin D on these Th17 cell populations, the potential clinical benefits of using vitamin D as an add-on in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are explored

The dairy situation - highlights

8 pagesThis archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu

Perceived inclusion in youth soccer teams:The role of societal status and perceived motivational goal climate

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the link between youth soccer players’ perceptions of the coach-initiated motivational goal climate within their team and their perceptions of inclusion as a function of societal status. Societal status refers to one’s national background which numerically forms the majority or a minority in a particular society. Design and methods: Survey data was collected among 245 male youth soccer players (M = 12.9 years, SD = 1.60), who all played in culturally diverse teams in the Netherlands. The societal status of 94 players (38.4%) was majority, and 151 players (61.6%) were classified as minority. To test our main hypothesis, perceived inclusion as the dependent variable was hierarchically regressed on coach-initiated mastery goal climate perceptions, per- formance goal climate perceptions, societal status, and their interactions. Results: Overall, mastery goal perceptions and performance goal perceptions of intra-team competition were positively and negatively related, respectively, to perceived team inclusion. As hypothesized, only among players with a societal minority status, perceptions of inclusion were higher when mastery goal climate perceptions were higher and performance goal climate perceptions were lower. Discussion and conclusion: Our findings suggest that a coach-initiated mastery-oriented team climate may enhance an inclusive soccer environment in culturally and nationally diverse teams. For societal minority players, intra- team competition should be de-emphasized by the coach in order to strengthen the experience of inclusion

Evolution of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins with a disulfide bond between gp120 and gp41

BACKGROUND: We previously described the construction of an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein complex (Env) that is stabilized by an engineered intermolecular disulfide bond (SOS) between gp120 and gp41. The modified Env protein antigenically mimics the functional wild-type Env complex. Here, we explore the effects of the covalent gp120 – gp41 interaction on virus replication and evolution. RESULTS: An HIV-1 molecular clone containing the SOS Env gene was only minimally replication competent, suggesting that the engineered disulfide bond substantially impaired Env function. However, virus evolution occurred in cell culture infections, and it eventually always led to elimination of the intermolecular disulfide bond. In the course of these evolution studies, we identified additional and unusual second-site reversions within gp41. CONCLUSIONS: These evolution paths highlight residues that play an important role in the interaction between gp120 and gp41. Furthermore, our results suggest that a covalent gp120 – gp41 interaction is incompatible with HIV-1 Env function, probably because this impedes conformational changes that are necessary for fusion to occur, which may involve the complete dissociation of gp120 from gp41

Marketing eggs

1 online resource (PDF, 2 pages)This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu

Triple-marker cardiac MRI detects sequential tissue changes of healing myocardium after a hydrogel-based therapy

Regenerative therapies based on injectable biomaterials, hold an unparalleled potential for treating myocardial ischemia. Yet, noninvasive evaluation of their efficacy has been lagging behind. Here, we report the development and longitudinal application of multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate a hydrogel-based cardiac regenerative therapy. A pH-switchable hydrogel was loaded with slow releasing insulin growth factor 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor, followed by intramyocardial injection in a mouse model of ischemia reperfusion injury. Longitudinal cardiac MRI assessed three hallmarks of cardiac regeneration: angiogenesis, resolution of fibrosis and (re)muscularization after infarction. The multiparametric approach contained dynamic contrast enhanced MRI that measured improved vessel features by assessing fractional blood volume and permeability*surface area product, T1-mapping that displayed reduced fibrosis, and tagging MRI that showed improved regional myocardial strain in hydrogel treated infarcts. Finally, standard volumetric MRI demonstrated improved left ventricular functioning in hydrogel treated mice followed over time. Histology confirmed MR-based vessel features and fibrotic measurements. Our novel triple-marker strategy enabled detection of ameliorated regeneration in hydrogel treated hearts highlighting the translational potential of these longitudinal MRI approaches