Financial Aid Problems for Dependent Students From Low Income Families

Students from low income families have relatively poor prospects for earning a baccalaureate degree from college. Furthermore, while the prospects for students from higher income families improved during the 1980s, students from families earning less than $20,000 per year lost both in terms of access to higher education and completion of degree programs. This paper examines three financial aid policies that work against dependent students from low income families: (1) zeroing-out calculated negative parental contributions, (2) requiring a minimum self help expectation from students from low income families, and (3) substituting expensive financial aid (loans) for free aid (grants). These policies make college a substantially more expensive investment decision for low income students, thus denying many of them the education their higher income counterparts can afford

The genomic landscape of balanced cytogenetic abnormalities associated with human congenital anomalies

Despite the clinical significance of balanced chromosomal abnormalities (BCAs), their characterization has largely been restricted to cytogenetic resolution. We explored the landscape of BCAs at nucleotide resolution in 273 subjects with a spectrum of congenital anomalies. Whole-genome sequencing revised 93% of karyotypes and demonstrated complexity that was cryptic to karyotyping in 21% of BCAs, highlighting the limitations of conventional cytogenetic approaches. At least 33.9% of BCAs resulted in gene disruption that likely contributed to the developmental phenotype, 5.2% were associated with pathogenic genomic imbalances, and 7.3% disrupted topologically associated domains (TADs) encompassing known syndromic loci. Remarkably, BCA breakpoints in eight subjects altered a single TAD encompassing MEF2C, a known driver of 5q14.3 microdeletion syndrome, resulting in decreased MEF2C expression. We propose that sequence-level resolution dramatically improves prediction of clinical outcomes for balanced rearrangements and provides insight into new pathogenic mechanisms, such as altered regulation due to changes in chromosome topology

Tom Mortenson: The impact of financial decisions on access and opportunity

Tom Mortenson: The impact of financial decisions on access and opportunity is a podcast interview with Tom Mortenson, Senior Scholar at the Pell Institute and Editor/Publisher of Postsecondary Education Opportunity. Mortenson notes how high school performance, transition to college, persistence in college, and the transition to the working world are contributing factors to access. He is particularly concerned about access to higher education for low-income students and male students. Mortenson discusses how changes in policy since 1980 have had a negative effect on the United States competitive standing with other developed democracies with regard to attaining higher education. Citing data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), he discusses this decline and its relationship to a lack of state support for higher education along with a shift in federal aid from need-based grants to loans. Additionally, Mortenson notes how exclusivity as a value within higher education is contributing to a persistent class-gap in the United States. Interview facilitation, commentary and discussion presented by Kathryn Dodge, Alison Griffin, and Elise Scanlon of Radio Higher Ed

Pragati, Nepal: Progress

In January 2011, ETL members traveled to Nepal to examine human trafficking issues. The newest film features Padhma Creations, an innovative social venture that empowers human trafficking victims by providing knitting and business training. Pragati, which means progress in Nepali, truly showed the progress occurring in Nepal, and generated discussions around human trafficking on campus, encouraged our community to buy Padhma products, and engaged CSB/SJU students in several volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations throughout Minnesota. Inspired action: Padhma Creations products are available in CSB/SJU bookstores starting in Fall 2011; interns at Padhma Creations were recruited through CSB/SJU Career Services network. In 2011, ETL\u27s work with Padhma Creations was also featured on Dosomething.org and in The New York Times

Structure-Activity and Structure-Conformation Relationships of Aryl Propionic Acid Inhibitors of the Kelch-like ECH-Associated Protein 1/Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (KEAP1/NRF2) Protein-Protein Interaction.

The KEAP1-NRF2-mediated cytoprotective response plays a key role in cellular homoeostasis. Insufficient NRF2 signaling during chronic oxidative stress may be associated with the pathophysiology of several diseases with an inflammatory component, and pathway activation through direct modulation of the KEAP1-NRF2 protein-protein interaction is being increasingly explored as a potential therapeutic strategy. Nevertheless, the physicochemical nature of the KEAP1-NRF2 interface suggests that achieving high affinity for a cell-penetrant druglike inhibitor might be challenging. We recently reported the discovery of a highly potent tool compound which was used to probe the biology associated with directly disrupting the interaction of NRF2 with the KEAP1 Kelch domain. We now present a detailed account of the medicinal chemistry campaign leading to this molecule, which included exploration and optimization of protein-ligand interactions in three energetic "hot spots" identified by fragment screening. In particular, we also discuss how consideration of ligand conformational stabilization was important to its development and present evidence for preorganization of the lead compound which may contribute to its high affinity and cellular activity

Fragment-Based Discovery of 6‑Azaindazoles As Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Ligase

Herein we describe the application of fragment-based drug design to bacterial DNA ligase. X-ray crystallography was used to guide structure-based optimization of a fragment-screening hit to give novel, nanomolar, AMP-competitive inhibitors. The lead compound <b>13</b> showed antibacterial activity across a range of pathogens. Data to demonstrate mode of action was provided using a strain of <i>S. aureus</i>, engineered to overexpress DNA ligase

Quality characteristics, chemical composition, and sensory properties of butter from cows on pasture versus indoor feeding systems

peer-reviewedThis study evaluated the effects of 3 widely practiced cow feeding systems in the United States, Europe, and Southern Hemisphere regions on the characteristics, quality, and consumer perception of sweet cream butter. Fifty-four multiparous and primiparous Friesian cows were divided into 3 groups (n = 18) for an entire lactation. Group 1 was housed indoors and fed a total mixed ration diet (TMR) of grass silage, maize silage, and concentrates; group 2 was maintained outdoors on perennial ryegrass-only pasture (GRS); and group 3 was maintained outdoors on a perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture (CLV). Mid-lactation butter was manufactured in triplicate with milk from each group in June 2015 (137 ± 7 d in milk) and was analyzed over a 6-mo storage period at 5°C for textural and thermal properties, fatty acid composition, sensory properties, and volatile compounds. The nutritional value of butters was improved by pasture feeding, and butter from pasture-fed cows had significantly lower thrombogenicity index scores compared with butters from TMR-fed cows. In line with these results, pasture-derived milks (GRS and CLV) produced butter with significantly higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9,trans-11) and trans-β-carotene than TMR butter. Alterations in the fatty acid composition of butter contributed to significant differences in textural and thermal properties of the butters. Total mixed ration–derived butters had significantly higher hardness scores at room temperature than those of GRS and CLV. Onset of crystallization for TMR butters also occurred at significantly higher temperatures compared with pasture butters. Volatile analysis of butter by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 25 compounds present in each of the butters, 5 of which differed significantly based on feeding system, including acetone, 2-butanone, 1-pentenol, toluene, and β-pinene. Toluene was very significantly correlated with pasture-derived butter. Sensory analysis revealed significantly higher scores for GRS-derived butter in several attributes including “liking” of appearance, flavor, and color over those of TMR butter. Partial least square regression plots of fatty acid profiles showed clear separation of butter derived from grazed pasture-based perennial ryegrass or perennial rye/white clover diets from that of a TMR system, offering further insight into the ability of fatty acid profiling to verify such pasture-derived dairy products.Science Foundation Irelan