Concert recording 2022-05-01

[Track 1]. Prelude et Scherzo / Henri Büsser -- [Track 2]. Fantasie pour flûte et piano / Georges Hüe --[Track 3]. La Flûte de Pan. I. Pan et les Bergers (Pan and the Shepards) ; II. Pan et les Oiseaux (Pan and the Birds) ; III. Pan et les Nymphes (Pan and the Nymphs) / Jules Mouquet -- [Track 4]. Image / Eugène Bozza -- [Track 5]. Sonate pour flûte et piano. I. Allegretto malincolico ; II. Cantilena ; III. Presto Giocoso / Francis Poulenc

Concert recording 2022-05-01

[Track 1]. Prelude et Scherzo / Henri Büsser -- [Track 2]. Fantasie pour flûte et piano / Georges Hüe --[Track 3]. La Flûte de Pan. I. Pan et les Bergers (Pan and the Shepards) ; II. Pan et les Oiseaux (Pan and the Birds) ; III. Pan et les Nymphes (Pan and the Nymphs) / Jules Mouquet -- [Track 4]. Image / Eugène Bozza -- [Track 5]. Sonate pour flûte et piano. I. Allegretto malincolico ; II. Cantilena ; III. Presto Giocoso / Francis Poulenc

The Role of MIF Production by B Lymphocytes in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

This work received the first place award at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum in the Biological Sciences category in both 2009 and 2010.Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which is characterized by demyelination and axonal loss when autoreactive T lymphocytes gain access to the CNS. This leads to clinical symptoms of decreased motor and sensory functions. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been shown to be critical for the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for MS. When immunized with the encephalitogenic peptide of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35-55, mice deficient in the pro-inflammatory cytokine MIF are protected from EAE. . We show the clinical signs of EAE can be reversed by the use of small molecule inhibitors of MIF. Yet, MIF is constitutively expressed in all cell types and important in innate immune function, thus global inhibition of MIF could potentially cause adverse side effects. Thus, we investigate the cellular source of the biologically relevant MIF for EAE. Through a series of bone marrow chimera and adoptive transfer experiments, we concluded the necessary MIF is bone marrow derived. These experiments eliminated T lymphocytes as the source of the biologically relevant MIF. Recently, MIF has been linked to B lymphocyte maturation. Although the role of B lymphocytes in MS pathology remains unclear, the recent success of Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against human B lymphocytes, argues for a strong role of B lymphocytes in MS. The purpose of the latter part of this study is to investigate the autocrine role of MIF production by B lymphocytes in EAE as a future specific therapeutic target. We observed significantly fewer mature B lymphocytes in the immune compartments of MIF deficient mice when compared to wild type counterparts. Yet, significantly more progenitor B lymphocytes were observed in an MIF deficient mice, leading to the hypothesis that MIF may be crucial for B lymphocyte survival. We also observed impaired proliferation of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow of a MIF knockout mouse. Next, we performed a series of transfer experiments where the only source of MIF is B lymphocytes to determine if this source alone could induce EAE; therefore providing a specific cell type to target MIF production in EAE. We observed protection of MIF deficient recipients regardless of MIF production by the B lymphocytes. Our data suggests that although MIF is important for B cell survival, it does not act in an autocrine manner.Undergraduate Research Office Summer ScholarshipNIH grant AI 064320National Multiple Sclerosis Society grant RG3272No embarg

Concert recording 2022-04-30a

[Track 1]. Concert horn. I. Allegro / Reinhold Gilere -- [Track 2]. Three songs for horn and piano. I. Song for the lonely ; II. If you should go ; III. Bayou home / William Grant Still -- [Track 3]. Works for solo horn. I. Old song ; II. Vocalise ; III. Action / Povilas Syrrist-Gelota -- [Track 4]. Sonata for horn and piano. I. Allegro moderato ; II. Melodie ; III. Rondo / Gina Gillie -- [Track 5]. Danzon no. 1 for wind quintet / Derrick Rassinier

Concert recording 2022-04-30a

[Track 1]. Concert horn. I. Allegro / Reinhold Gilere -- [Track 2]. Three songs for horn and piano. I. Song for the lonely ; II. If you should go ; III. Bayou home / William Grant Still -- [Track 3]. Works for solo horn. I. Old song ; II. Vocalise ; III. Action / Povilas Syrrist-Gelota -- [Track 4]. Sonata for horn and piano. I. Allegro moderato ; II. Melodie ; III. Rondo / Gina Gillie -- [Track 5]. Danzon no. 1 for wind quintet / Derrick Rassinier

Concert recording 2022-05-19

[Track 1] Maya / Ian Clarke -- [Track 2] Souvenir Du Rigi, Op. 34 / Franz Doppler -- [Track 3] Dialogues for Flute and Trumpet. I. Allegro ; II. Largo quasi improvisando ; III. Adagio con espressione ; IV. Animato / Jindra Necasova -- [Track 4] Andante et Rondo / Franz Doppler -- [Track 5] Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte / Maurice Ravel ; arr. Miranda Pham for Horn, Flute, and Piano -- [Track 6] Scherzo / Felix Mendelssohn

Concert recording 2022-05-19

[Track 1] Maya / Ian Clarke -- [Track 2] Souvenir Du Rigi, Op. 34 / Franz Doppler -- [Track 3] Dialogues for Flute and Trumpet. I. Allegro ; II. Largo quasi improvisando ; III. Adagio con espressione ; IV. Animato / Jindra Necasova -- [Track 4] Andante et Rondo / Franz Doppler -- [Track 5] Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte / Maurice Ravel ; arr. Miranda Pham for Horn, Flute, and Piano -- [Track 6] Scherzo / Felix Mendelssohn

Concert recording 2021-11-14a

[Track 1]. Shepherds of Provence. I. Pastorale Provençale. II. Chant des Bergers Provençaux. III. Sous les étoiles. IV. Fête villageoise / Eugene Bozza -- [Track 2]. Brush strokes. I. Monet. II. Seurat. III. Van Gogh. IV. Pollock / Alyssa Morris -- [Track 3]. La cheminée du roi rené, Suite for woodwind quintet. I. Cortége. II. Aubade. III. Jongleurs. IV. La maousinglade. V. Joutes sur l\u27arc. VI. Chasse á valabre. VII. Madrigal-nocturne / Darius Milhaud -- [Track 4]. Trio in A minor, op. 188 for oboe, horn and piano. I. Allegro moderato. II. Scherzo. III. Adagio. IV. Finale / Carl Reinecke

Concert recording 2021-12-02

[Track 1]. Concerto for 2 violins in D minor, BWV 1043. I. Vivace ; II. Largo ma non troppo ; III. Allegro / J.S. Bach -- [Track 2]. Arioso, from Cantata no. 156, Ich Steh, mit einmem Fuss in Grave J.S. Bach -- [Track 3]. Bist du bei mir, BWV 508, from Anna Magdalena notebook / J.S. Bach – [Track 4]. Silent night

The Empower Nudge lottery to increase dual protection use: a proof-of-concept randomised pilot trial in South Africa

The objective of this study is to measure the preliminary efficacy of a pilot intervention, grounded in behavioural economics, increasing adherence of dual protection (simultaneous use of effective modern contraception and a barrier method, such as a condom) to protect against HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy. Between 2015 and 2016, 100 women aged 18–40 years, seeking post-abortion care in Cape Town, South Africa were recruited to Empower Nudge, a randomised controlled trial to test a lottery incentive intervention designed to increase dual protection. At baseline, the mean age of participants was 27 years; 82% of them were from South Africa; 58% self-identified as Black African; average education completed was 11.7 years. At three months, assignment to the lottery intervention was associated with higher odds of returning for study visits (OR: 6.0; 95%CI: 2.45 to 14.7, p < 0.01), higher condom use (OR: 4.5; 95%CI: 1.43 to 14.1; p < 0.05), and higher use of dual protection (OR: 3.16; 95%CI: 1.01 to 9.9; p < 0.05). Only 60% of the study population returned after three months and only 38% returned after six months. Women who receive post-abortion care represent a neglected population with an urgent need for HIV and pregnancy prevention. Dual protection is a critically important strategy for this population. Lottery-based behavioural economics strategies may offer possible ways to increase dual protection use in this population. Further research with larger samples, longer exposure time, and more sites is needed to establish fully powered efficacy of lottery incentives for dual protection; using objective verification for monitoring