Introduction - Exploring Foundations: Languages of Disability, Identity, and Culture

Produced by Hawai'i University Affiliated Program on Disabilities, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i, Frank Sawyer School of Management, Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts, and School of Social Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas for The Society for Disability Studies

Emerging applications of integrated optical microcombs for analogue RF and microwave photonic signal processing

We review new applications of integrated microcombs in RF and microwave photonic systems. We demonstrate a wide range of powerful functions including a photonic intensity high order and fractional differentiators, optical true time delays, advanced filters, RF channelizer and other functions, based on a Kerr optical comb generated by a compact integrated microring resonator, or microcomb. The microcomb is CMOS compatible and contains a large number of comb lines, which can serve as a high performance multiwavelength source for the transversal filter, thus greatly reduce the cost, size, and complexity of the system. The operation principle of these functions is theoretically analyzed, and experimental demonstrations are presented.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 136 References. Photonics West 2018 invited paper, expanded version. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1710.00678, arXiv:1710.0861

The COOH terminus of the c-Abl tyrosine kinase contains distinct F- and G-actin binding domains with bundling activity

The myristoylated form of c-Abl protein, as well as the P210bcr/abl protein, have been shown by indirect immunofluorescence to associate with F-actin stress fibers in fibroblasts. Analysis of deletion mutants of c-Abl stably expressed in fibroblasts maps the domain responsible for this interaction to the extreme COOH-terminus of Abl. This domain mediates the association of a heterologous protein with F-actin filaments after microinjection into NIH 3T3 cells, and directly binds to F-actin in a cosedimentation assay. Microinjection and cosedimentation assays localize the actin-binding domain to a 58 amino acid region, including a charged motif at the extreme COOH-terminus that is important for efficient binding. F-actin binding by Abl is calcium independent, and Abl competes with gelsolin for binding to F- actin. In addition to the F-actin binding domain, the COOH-terminus of Abl contains a proline-rich region that mediates binding and sequestration of G-actin, and the Abl F- and G-actin binding domains cooperate to bundle F-actin filaments in vitro. The COOH terminus of Abl thus confers several novel localizing functions upon the protein, including actin binding, nuclear localization, and DNA binding. Abl may modify and receive signals from the F-actin cytoskeleton in vivo, and is an ideal candidate to mediate signal transduction from the cell surface and cytoskeleton to the nucleus

A high pressure, high temperature gas medium apparatus to measure acoustic velocities during deformation of rock

A new set-up to measure acoustic wave velocities through deforming rock samples at high pressures (<1 GPa), temperatures (<1000$^\circ$C) and loads (<1.5 GPa) has been developed in a recently refurbished gas medium triaxial deformation apparatus. The conditions span a wide range of geological environments, and allow us to accurately measure stress and strains at conditions which are typically only accessible in solid medium apparatus. Calibrations of our newly constructed internal furnace up to 1 GPa and 400$^\circ$C demonstrate that hot zone position decreases with increasing pressure, so that sample position is adjusted to minimise temperature gradients. Ultrasonic velocity measurements are conducted in the direction of compression by the pulse-transmission method. Arrival times are corrected from delays in the sample assembly and relative measurements are obtained by cross-correlation. Delays in reflected load are nearly linearly dependent on applied load due to load dependent stiffness of interfaces between the spacers and the sample. Measurements of such delays can be used to infer sample load internally. We illustrate the working of the apparatus by conducting experiments on limestone at 200 MPa confining pressure and room temperature and 400$^\circ$C. Ultrasonic data clearly show that deformation is dominated by microcracking at low temperature and by intracrystalline plasticity at high temperature

X-Ray Structure Determination Of A Dimeric Hemoglobin From Caudina arenicola

The X-ray structure of a dimeric, cyanomet-liganded hemoglobin D-chain (Hb-D) from Caudina arenicola has been determined by the molecular-replacement method. The search model was a concatenated model of three hemoglobin structures superimposed on the backbone of monomeric, hemichrome hemoglobin C-chain (Hb-C) from the same organism. Hb-D crystallizes in space group P4(1)2(1)2 with cell constants a = b = 77.0 and c = 61.5 Angstrom with one subunit in the asymmetric unit. The dimer twofold axis corresponds to a crystallographic twofold along one of the body diagonals of the unit cell. Rotation and translation searches as well as model refinement were carried out in X-PLOR with the final model having an R value of 0.19 using the data from 5.0 to 2.9 Angstrom resolution (R = 0.26 for 10.0 to 2.9 Angstrom resolution). The homodimeric structure of Caudina Hb-D features close heme-heme contacts with an Fe-Fe distance of 19.0 Angstrom. The subunit-subunit interface involves both the E and F helices from each subunit with the E helices oriented antiparallel at 50 degrees with respect to one another, similar to the quaternary structure observed for the homodimeric hemoglobin from Scapharca inaequivalvis.NIH GM 30105Robert A. Welch FoundationChemistryBiochemistr

Photonic RF and microwave reconfigurable filters and true time delays based on an integrated optical Kerr frequency comb source

We demonstrate advanced transversal radio frequency (RF) and microwave functions based on a Kerr optical comb source generated by an integrated micro-ring resonator. We achieve extremely high performance for an optical true time delay aimed at tunable phased array antenna applications, as well as reconfigurable microwave photonic filters. Our results agree well with theory. We show that our true time delay would yield a phased array antenna with features that include high angular resolution and a wide range of beam steering angles, while the microwave photonic filters feature high Q factors, wideband tunability, and highly reconfigurable filtering shapes. These results show that our approach is a competitive solution to implementing reconfigurable, high performance and potentially low cost RF and microwaveComment: 15 pages, 11 Figures, 60 Reference

Dose-finding study of a 90-day contraceptive vaginal ring releasing estradiol and segesterone acetate.

ObjectiveTo evaluate serum estradiol (E2) concentrations during use of 90-day contraceptive vaginal rings releasing E2 75, 100, or 200&nbsp;mcg/day and segesterone acetate (SA) 200&nbsp;mcg/day to identify a dose that avoids hypoestrogenism.Study designWe conducted a multicenter dose-finding study in healthy, reproductive-aged women with regular cycles with sequential enrollment to increasing E2 dose groups. We evaluated serum E2 concentrations twice weekly for the primary outcome of median E2 concentrations throughout initial 30-day use (target ≥40&nbsp;pg/mL). In an optional 2-cycle extension substudy, we randomized participants to 2- or 4-day ring-free intervals per 30-day cycle to evaluate bleeding and spotting based on daily diary information.ResultsSixty-five participants enrolled in E2 75 (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;22), 100 (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;21), and 200 (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;22)&nbsp;mcg/day groups; 35 participated in the substudy. Median serum E2 concentrations in 75 and 100&nbsp;mcg/day groups were &lt;40&nbsp;pg/mL. In the 200&nbsp;mcg/day group, median E2 concentrations peaked on days 4-5 of CVR use at 194&nbsp;pg/mL (range 114-312&nbsp;pg/mL) and remained &gt;40&nbsp;pg/mL throughout 30&nbsp;days; E2 concentrations were 37&nbsp;pg/mL (range 28-62&nbsp;pg/mL) on days 88-90 (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;11). Among the E2 200&nbsp;mcg/day substudy participants, all had withdrawal bleeding following ring removal. The 2-day ring-free interval group reported zero median unscheduled bleeding and two (range 0-16) and three (range 0-19) unscheduled spotting days in extension cycles 1 and 2, respectively. The 4-day ring-free interval group reported zero median unscheduled bleeding or spotting days.ConclusionsEstradiol concentrations with rings releasing E2 200&nbsp;mcg/day and SA 200&nbsp;mcg/day avoid hypoestrogenism over 30-day use.ImplicationsA 90-day contraceptive vaginal ring releasing estradiol 200&nbsp;mcg/day and segesterone acetate 200&nbsp;mcg/day achieves estradiol concentrations that should avoid hypoestrogenism and effectively suppresses ovulation

Over-the-counter analgesics during pregnancy : a comprehensive review of global prevalence and offspring safety

Funding This work was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/EASTBIO studentship to A.Z. (Grant Number: 1942576). RTM is supported by UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (MR/S017151/1). The MRC Centre for Reproductive Health is supported by MRC Centre Grant (MR/N022556/1).Peer reviewedPostprin