The Formin FMNL3 Assembles Plasma Membrane Protrusions that Participate in Cell–Cell Adhesion

FMNL3 is a vertebrate-specific formin protein previously shown to play a role in angiogenesis and cell migration. Here we define the cellular localization of endogenous FMNL3, the dynamics of GFP-tagged FMNL3 during cell migration, and the effects of FMNL3 suppression in mammalian culture cells. The majority of FMNL3 localizes in a punctate pattern, with \u3e95% of these puncta being indistinguishable from the plasma membrane by fluorescence microscopy. A small number of dynamic cytoplasmic FMNL3 patches also exist, which enrich near cell–cell contact sites and fuse with the plasma membrane at these sites. These cytoplasmic puncta appear to be part of larger membranes of endocytic origin. On the plasma membrane, FMNL3 enriches particularly in filopodia and membrane ruffles and at nascent cell–cell adhesions. FMNL3-containing filopodia occur both at the cell–substratum interface and at cell–cell contacts, with the latter being 10-fold more stable. FMNL3 suppression by siRNA has two major effects: decrease in filopodia and compromised cell–cell adhesion in cells migrating as a sheet. Overall our results suggest that FMNL3 functions in assembly of actin-based protrusions that are specialized for cell–cell adhesion

Predatory Bacteriovorax Communities Ordered by Various Prey Species

The role of predation in altering microbial communities has been studied for decades but few examples are known for bacterial predators. Bacteriovorax are halophilic prokaryotes that prey on susceptible Gram-negative bacteria. We recently reported novel observations on the differential selection of Bacteriovorax phylotypes by two different prey, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus. However, the conclusion is restricted by the limited number of prey tested. In this study, we have conducted two independent investigations involving eight species of prey bacteria while using V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolytics as reference strains. Water samples collected from Dry Bar, Apalachicola Bay were used to establish microcosms which were respectively spiked with prey strains Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas putida to examine the response of native Bacteriovorax to freshwater bacteria. Indigenous Vibrio sp., Pseudoalteromonas sp., Photobacterium sp. and a clinical strain of V. vulnificus were also tested for the impact of saltwater prey on the Bacteriovorax community. At 24 hour intervals, optical density of the microcosm samples and the abundance of Bacteriovorax were measured over five days. The predominant Bacteriovorax plaques were selected and analyzed by 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. In addition, the impacts of prey on predator population and bacterial community composition were investigated using culture independent denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Strikingly, Cluster IV was found consistently as the predominant phylotype produced by the freshwater prey. For all saltwater prey, subgroups of Bacteriovorax phylotype IX were the major predators recovered. The results suggest that prey is an important factor along with temperature, salinity and other environmental parameters in shaping Bacteriovorax communities in aquatic systems

Magnetic and thermodynamic properties of cobalt doped iron pyrite: Griffiths Phase in a magnetic semiconductor

Doping of the band insulator FeS$_2$ with Co on the Fe site introduces a small density of itinerant carriers and magnetic moments. The lattice constant, AC and DC magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and specific heat have been measured over the $0\le x\le 0.085$ range of Co concentration. The variation of the AC susceptibility with hydrostatic pressure has also been measured in a small number of our samples. All of these quantities show systematic variation with $x$ including a paramagnetic to disordered ferromagnetic transition at $x=0.007\pm 0.002$. A detailed analysis of the changes with temperature and magnetic field reveal small power law dependencies at low temperatures for samples near the critical concentration for magnetism, and just above the Curie temperature at higher $x$. In addition, the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat are non-analytic around H=0 displaying an extraordinarily sharp field dependence in this same temperature range. We interpret this behavior as due to the formation of Griffiths phases that result from the quenched disorder inherent in a doped semiconductor.Comment: 22 pages including 27 figure

Discovery of Griffiths phase in itinerant magnetic semiconductor Fe_{1-x}Co_xS_2

Critical points that can be suppressed to zero temperature are interesting because quantum fluctuations have been shown to dramatically alter electron gas properties. Here, the metal formed by Co doping the paramagnetic insulator FeS$_2$, Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$S$_2$, is demonstrated to order ferromagnetically at $x>x_c=0.01\pm0.005$ where we observe unusual transport, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties. We show that this magnetic semiconductor undergoes a percolative magnetic transition with distinct similarities to the Griffiths phase, including singular behavior at $x_c$ and zero temperature.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Pharmacists' Roles and Factors Affecting Patient Care in Korea

Objectives: This study was conducted to explore Korean community pharmacists' perceptions of their roles in providing care to patients after the implementation of the Separation of Prescribing and Dispensing Act (SPD Act) and to investigate pharmacists' perceptions about factors that impact their patient care. Methods: Eight community pharmacists participated in semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews in Korea. A snowball sampling technique was used to obtain participants. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Interviews were analyzed using a summative content analysis procedure. Key findings: Participants' perceptions of their roles centered on dispensing prescriptions, educating and counseling patients, and helping patients with OTC products. Participants perceived time constraints due to prescription volume and patient expectations as factors influencing their provision of patient care. Conclusion: This study suggests that the SPD Act was successful in changing pharmacists' roles in the Korean health care system. None of the participants perceived their role to include prescribing, while all of the participants indicated that their primary role was to dispense medications. Future research should examine the pervasiveness of the themes identified in this study across Korean community pharmacy practice in order to generalize the impact of the SPD Act.   Type: Original Researc

Pharmacists' Roles and Factors Affecting Patient Care in Korea

Objectives: This study was conducted to explore Korean community pharmacists' perceptions of their roles in providing care to patients after the implementation of the Separation of Prescribing and Dispensing Act (SPD Act) and to investigate pharmacists' perceptions about factors that impact their patient care. Methods: Eight community pharmacists participated in semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews in Korea. A snowball sampling technique was used to obtain participants. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Interviews were analyzed using a summative content analysis procedure. Key findings: Participants' perceptions of their roles centered on dispensing prescriptions, educating and counseling patients, and helping patients with OTC products. Participants perceived time constraints due to prescription volume and patient expectations as factors influencing their provision of patient care. Conclusion: This study suggests that the SPD Act was successful in changing pharmacists' roles in the Korean health care system. None of the participants perceived their role to include prescribing, while all of the participants indicated that their primary role was to dispense medications. Future research should examine the pervasiveness of the themes identified in this study across Korean community pharmacy practice in order to generalize the impact of the SPD Act.   Type: Original Researc

Masculinity as Governance: police, public service and the embodiment of authority, c. 1700-1850

About the book: Public Men offers an introduction to an exciting new field: the history of masculinities in the political domain and will be essential reading for students and specialists alike with interests in gender or political culture. By building upon new work on gender and political culture, these new case studies explore the gendering of the political domain and the masculinities of the men who have historically dominated it. As such, Public Men is a major contribution to our understanding of the history of Britain between the Eighteenth and the Twentieth centuries

Lessons Learned in the Early Stages of a Community-Academic Partnership to Address Health Disparities in a Rural Community

In rural Georgia, African American men are burdened by chronic health diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Community-academic partnerships that leverage community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles can facilitate the adaptation and translation of multilevel programs to address chronic disease prevention and management in rural areas. The objective of this study was to explore key components of the CBPR process that bolstered the early stages of a partnership established between rural-residing community leaders and academic partners in Georgia. Qualitative methodology was used to collect and assess data regarding the initial engagement between the community and academic partners. Findings indicate that five components supported initial engagement: utilizing the public service and outreach arm of the university to connect with rural communities; creating synergy around identified community health needs; encouraging community members to provide input into the research design to ensure the research goals reflect community values; enhancing the capacity of community partners; and following the lead of the community. Findings provide insights into how to begin engaging rural communities in the southeast in order to strengthen the adaptation and translation of initiatives to improve cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease outcomes