Drawing a line on the moral and legal permissibility of abortion.

Induced abortion continues to be a subject of ethical and moral debates, with the hope that reaching an agreement on what is deemed morally permissible will guide how the society ought to respond by legislating appropriate legal guidelines. The aim of this essay is to examine who constitutes moral privileges in society and more specifically, the criterion on which membership in the moral community is granted. In this paper, I will argue that membership to the human race is not in itself a well supported proposition for accessing moral privileges, but rather, there must be a criterion which forms the basis of this differential treatment. I will endeavour to show that whatever this criterion is set to be, there will be a stage during pregnancy where the fetus will lack that attribute. It is by this deductive reasoning I will demonstrate that terminating pregnancy, before the fetus fulfills the criterion required for gaining moral privileges, is morally permissible. Holding any philosophical position on the debate inherits the burden to reason how that view will be translated in determining the legal status of abortion. For this, I will demonstrate how it follows that different rational individuals can have varying criterion for determining access to moral community, all of which must be respected by the legal practice. The only way to legally respect these gradation of criteria, and by extension the individual who sets them, is by making all cases of abortion legally permissible

Defining The Role of Primary Cilia on Skin Derived Precursors.

Isolated in 2001, Skin Derived Precursors (SKPs) represent a novel population of multipotent stem cells1,2 residing at the base of hair follicle where they play a key role in defining the physiology and regeneration capacity of hair follicles and skin (Biernaskie et al. 2009). In order to understand how SKPs behavior is regulated in the skin, we asked whether primary cilia, microtubule bundles projected from the cell surface that transmit chemical signals between cells4, are present in the dermal papilla and dermal sheath in-vivo and in the population of isolated SKPs. In our investigation, we performed immunohistochemistry for acetylated tubulin and showed that SKPs do have cilia. We then tested whether these cilia can be elongated following treatments of lithium chloride on these dermal precursors. We then asked whether elongation of cilia has an effect on the self-renewal capacity of SKPs and whether drugs elongating cilia can work synergistically with Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), a growth factor that we have previously shown to improve cell growth and cell division. Experiments assessing the self-renewal capacity of SKPs suggested significant  increase in the diameter and the number of spherical presence when treated with lithium chloride and when lithium chloride is added in combination with PDGFβ when compared to PDGFβ alone. This suggests that signaling in cilia may influence PDGF signals causing an enhanced effect on SKP proliferation. Further experiments including knocking down primary cilia by blocking the transcription of ciliary protein using shRNA and in-vivo transplantations of lithium chloride and PDGF treated SKPs in a hair follicle formation assays will be executed to understand the key roles of primary cilia on SKPs. These studies will ultimately aim to answer whether drugs affecting cilia can function as potential therapeutic targets for autologous adult stem cell based therapies

Use of electronic waste plastic in asphalt mix with marble dust as filler

E-waste is becoming burgeoning global issue, which showcases the impacts of the same on environment and on humans. Marble cutting industries is another industry producing huge amount of marble dust as a waste which is degrading the environment. E-waste and waste marble dust can be utilized in construction industry in different forms thus helps in reducing its impact on environment. In this analysis, electronic waste plastic materials including recycled PCB’s and other PVC components of e-waste has been used as a partial replacement for coarse aggregates and marble dust is used as complete replacement for filler in asphalt mix for pavement. A significant increase of Marshall Stability and Flow Value has been observed as percentage of e-waste plastic increases. The plastic content of mix varies 0 %, 4 %, 8 % and 12 % by weight of aggregate. Plots of various Marshall Parameters such as Marshall Stability, Flow value, voids filled with bitumen, voids in mineral aggregates and unit weight against the bitumen content shows an improving trend of parameters with increasing the plastic replacement. Comparison with earlier published result shows that increasing the plastic replacement beyond 12% will have a negative influence on stability value. The recycling of e-waste plastic and marble dust in asphalt mix design for pavements provide us a better way of resource utilization in a cost-effective manner

Use of electronic waste plastic in asphalt mix with marble dust as filler

36-45E-waste is becoming burgeoning global issue, which showcases the impacts of the same on environment and on humans. Marble cutting industries is another industry producing huge amount of marble dust as a waste which is degrading the environment. E-waste and waste marble dust can be utilized in construction industry in different forms thus helps in reducing its impact on environment. In this analysis, electronic waste plastic materials including recycled PCB’s and other PVC components of e-waste has been used as a partial replacement for coarse aggregates and marble dust is used as complete replacement for filler in asphalt mix for pavement. A significant increase of Marshall Stability and Flow Value has been observed as percentage of e-waste plastic increases. The plastic content of mix varies 0 %, 4 %, 8 % and 12 % by weight of aggregate. Plots of various Marshall Parameters such as Marshall Stability, Flow value, voids filled with bitumen, voids in mineral aggregates and unit weight against the bitumen content shows an improving trend of parameters with increasing the plastic replacement. Comparison with earlier published result shows that increasing the plastic replacement beyond 12% will have a negative influence on stability value. The recycling of e-waste plastic and marble dust in asphalt mix design for pavements provide us a better way of resource utilization in a cost-effective manner

Factors Within the Endoneurial Microenvironment Act to Suppress Tumorigenesis of MPNST

Background: Deciphering avenues to adequately control malignancies in the peripheral nerve will reduce the need for current, largely-ineffective, standards of care which includes the use of invasive, nerve-damaging, resection surgery. By avoiding the need for en bloc resection surgery, the likelihood of retained function or efficient nerve regeneration following the control of tumor growth is greater, which has several implications for long-term health and well-being of cancer survivors. Nerve tumors can arise as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) that result in a highly-aggressive form of soft tissue sarcoma. Although the precise cause of MPNST remains unknown, studies suggest that dysregulation of Schwann cells, mediated by the microenvironment, plays a key role in tumor progression. This study aimed to further characterize the role of local microenvironment on tumor progression, with an emphasis on identifying factors within tumor suppressive environments that have potential for therapeutic application.Methods: We created GFP-tagged adult induced tumorigenic Schwann cell lines (iSCs) and transplanted them into various in vivo microenvironments. We used immunohistochemistry to document the response of iSCs and performed proteomics analysis to identify local factors that might modulate divergent iSC behaviors.Results: Following transplant into the skin, spinal cord or epineurial compartment of the nerve, iSCs formed tumors closely resembling MPNST. In contrast, transplantation into the endoneurial compartment of the nerve significantly suppressed iSC proliferation. Proteomics analysis revealed a battery of factors enriched within the endoneurial compartment, of which one growth factor of interest, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) was capable of preventing iSCs proliferation in vitro.Conclusions: This dataset describes a novel approach for identifying biologically relevant therapeutic targets, such as CNTF, and highlights the complex relationship that tumor cells have with their local microenvironment. This study has significant implications for the development of future therapeutic strategies to fight MPNSTs, and, consequently, improve peripheral nerve regeneration and nerve function

Cystatin C is glucocorticoid responsive, directs recruitment of Trem2+ macrophages, and predicts failure of cancer immunotherapy

Cystatin C (CyC), a secreted cysteine protease inhibitor, has unclear biological functions. Many patients exhibit elevated plasma CyC levels, particularly during glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. This study links GCs with CyC’s systemic regulation by utilizing genome-wide association and structural equation modeling to determine CyC production genetics in the UK Biobank. Both CyC production and a polygenic score (PGS) capturing predisposition to CyC production were associated with increased all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. We found that the GC receptor directly targets CyC, leading to GC-responsive CyC secretion in macrophages and cancer cells. CyC-knockout tumors displayed significantly reduced growth and diminished recruitment of TREM2+ macrophages, which have been connected to cancer immunotherapy failure. Furthermore, the CyC-production PGS predicted checkpoint immunotherapy failure in 685 patients with metastatic cancer from combined clinical trial cohorts. In conclusion, CyC may act as a GC effector pathway via TREM2+ macrophage recruitment and may be a potential target for combination cancer immunotherapy.publishedVersio

Facilitated Study Groups for Undergraduate Organic Chemistry: Experience from a Large Public Canadian University

Undergraduate organic chemistry courses have a reputation for being difficult among students in biological and physical sciences programs. Due to the extensive problem-solving, visualization, and depiction of chemical structures/reactions required, students may perceive learning such content as similar to learning a new language. Several interventions such as course-integrated tutorials or discussion sessions have aimed to assist students. Another effective approach that chemistry educators might consider is Supplemental Instruction (SI), a well-established program that emphasizes student-driven learning whereby student SI leaders facilitate discussions to help students arrive at solutions while also developing effective communication and study skills. A type of SI, Facilitated Study Groups (FSG), established by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) in 2009, were introduced regularly into organic chemistry courses in 2012. This program provides semester-long optional small-group peer learning sessions, each of which corresponds to a course lecture. The aim of this paper is to provide comprehensive coverage detailing the structure of the organic chemistry FSG program, peer facilitation strategies employed, quantitative/qualitative synthesis of student outcomes indicating program uptake. We consistently find significantly higher grades and significantly lower attrition rates for students who regularly attend FSG sessions in comparison to those who do not (n=16 semesters). Given the growing diversity of undergraduate classes in terms of approaches to learning, language, and cultural barriers (international students, English second-language learners, learning and psychosocial disabilities), our FSG sessions seek to foster inclusion amongst our heterogeneous pool of attendees. Here, we describe strategies that tailored FSG sessions to a diverse group of undergraduate students as suggested by a sizable percentage of the class availing themselves of this resource and by a narrative synthesis of end-of-term surveys. Together, we demonstrate successful adoption of an SI-based model for organic chemistry and present a practical framework that includes pedagogically informed session strategies and cost estimates to guide design of similar programs for post-secondary students at other institutions

Groupes d’études facilités (Facilitated Study Groups) en chimie organique au premier cycle : expérience menée dans une grande université publique canadienne

Undergraduate organic chemistry courses have a reputation for being difficult among students in biological and physical sciences programs. Due to the extensive problem-solving, visualization, and depiction of chemical structures/reactions required, students may perceive learning such content as similar to learning a new language. Several interventions such as course-integrated tutorials or discussion sessions have aimed to assist students. Another effective approach that chemistry educators might consider is Supplemental Instruction (SI), a well-established program that emphasizes student-driven learning whereby student SI leaders facilitate discussions to help students arrive at solutions while also developing effective communication and study skills. A type of SI, Facilitated Study Groups (FSG), established by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) in 2009, were introduced regularly into organic chemistry courses in 2012. This program provides semester-long optional small-group peer learning sessions, each of which corresponds to a course lecture. The aim of this paper is to provide comprehensive coverage detailing the structure of the organic chemistry FSG program, peer facilitation strategies employed, quantitative/qualitative synthesis of student outcomes indicating program uptake. We consistently find significantly higher grades and significantly lower attrition rates for students who regularly attend FSG sessions in comparison to those who do not (n=16 semesters). Given the growing diversity of undergraduate classes in terms of approaches to learning, language, and cultural barriers (international students, English second-language learners, learning and psychosocial disabilities), our FSG sessions seek to foster inclusion amongst our heterogeneous pool of attendees. Here, we describe strategies that tailored FSG sessions to a diverse group of undergraduate students as suggested by a sizable percentage of the class availing themselves of this resource and by a narrative synthesis of end-of-term surveys. Together, we demonstrate successful adoption of an SI-based model for organic chemistry and present a practical framework that includes pedagogically informed session strategies and cost estimates to guide design of similar programs for post-secondary students at other institutions.Les cours de chimie organique au niveau du premier cycle ont la réputation d’être difficiles parmi les étudiants et les étudiantes inscrits dans des programmes de biologie et de sciences physiques. À cause des exigences en matière de résolution approfondie de problèmes, de visualisation et de représentation de structures et de réactions chimiques, les étudiants et les étudiantes peuvent percevoir l’apprentissage d’un tel contenu comme étant semblable à l’apprentissage d’une nouvelle langue. Plusieurs interventions telles que des tutoriels intégrés ou des séances de discussion visent à aider les étudiants. Une autre approche efficace que les enseignants et les enseignantes de chimie peuvent envisager est l’Instruction supplémentaire (IS), un programme bien établi qui souligne l’apprentissage guidé par l’étudiant, où des leaders étudiants en IS facilitent les discussions afin d’aider les étudiants et les étudiantes à en arriver à des solutions tout en développant des compétences efficaces en communication et en apprentissage. Un type de IS, les groupes d’études facilités (Facilitated Study Groups - FSG), ont été établis par le Centre d’enseignement et d’apprentissage à l’Université de Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) en 2009 et introduits régulièrement dans les cours de chimie organique en 2012. Ce programme offre des séances facultatives d’apprentissage par les pairs en petits groupes, d’une durée d’un semestre, dont chaque séance correspond à un cours magistral. L’objectif de cet article est de fournir une explication complète détaillant la structure du programme FSG en chimie organique, des stratégies de facilitation par les pairs employées, des synthèses quantitatives et qualitatives des résultats des étudiants et des étudiantes indiquant l’adhésion au programme. Nous trouvons toujours que les notes obtenues sont considérablement plus élevées et les taux d’attrition considérablement plus bas parmi les étudiants et les étudiantes qui ont participé régulièrement aux séances de FSG, par rapport à ceux et celles qui n’y ont pas participé (n=16 semestres). Étant donné la diversité grandissante dans les cours de premier cycle en termes d’approches à l’apprentissage, de langue et de barrières culturelles (étudiants internationaux et étudiantes internationales, apprenants et apprenantes d’anglais langue seconde, handicaps d’apprentissage et psychologiques), nos séances de FSG visent à favoriser l’inclusion parmi les bassins hétérogènes de participants et de participantes. Ici, nous décrivons les stratégies qui adaptent les séances de FSG à des groupes divers d’étudiants et d’étudiantes de premier cycle, tel que le suggèrent le fort pourcentage d’étudiants et d’étudiantes qui ont choisi de profiter de cette ressource ainsi que la synthèse narrative des questionnaires remplis après le cours. Ensemble, nous démontrons l’adoption réussie d’un modèle de IS pour la chimie organique et présentons un cadre pratique qui comprend des stratégies de séance à caractère pédagogique et des estimations de coût pour guider la conception de programmes similaires à l’intention d’étudiants et d’étudiantes en enseignement supérieur dans d’autres établissements

Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates for burn-related heterotopic ossification

Introduction: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a rare but debilitating complication of burn injuries. Previous studies reported non-nitrogen containing bisphosphonates such as etidronate for burn-related HO not to be useful. Waiting till HO maturity before surgical resection may lead to an extended period of disability. This case series reviews one centers’ use of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates as an adjunct treatment to surgical intervention for burn-related HO. Methods: A one-year retrospective review of patients at an American Burn Association verified burn center with burns and heterotopic ossification treated with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate was undertaken. Records were examined for injury characteristics, investigations, outcomes of treatment, and adverse events. Results: Heterotopic ossification treated with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates were identified in five subjects. Four subjects were treated with Pamidronate and one subject was treated with Alendronate. HO was removed without recurrence in one subject, and in the other four, HO was brought to maturity quickly and early resection was planned. No adverse events such as osteonecrosis of the jaw was reported in the patients reviewed. Discussion: Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates may have an adjunctive role in the surgical treatment of burn-related HO. Specifically, they may be useful for hastening maturity of burn-related HO. It is not known if peri-operative dosing may be useful around the time of surgical resection. These drugs have been used in the ICU, acute care, and outpatient settings at a tertiary burn center without complications. Keywords: Burns, Heterotopic ossification, Bisphosphonate, Etidronate, Pamidronate, Alendronate, Rehabilitatio

IGLL5-BCL2L1 Rearrangement with Loss of BCL2 Dependency As Mechanism of Venetoclax Resistance in Multiple Myeloma (MM)

International audienc