Polypeptides, Systems, and Methods Useful for Detecting Glucose

The presently-disclosed subject matter provides biosensors for detecting molecules of interest. The biosensors include a polypeptide capable of selectively-binding glucose, wherein the polypeptide molecule is selected from: an unnatural analogue of wild type glucose binding protein; a fragment of wild type glucose binding protein; and an unnatural analogue fragment of wild type glucose binding protein

Expression of Cellulosome Components and Type IV Pili within the Extracellular Proteome of Ruminococcus flavefaciens 007

Funding: The Rowett Institute receives funding from SG-RESAS (Scottish Government Rural and Environmental Science and Analysis Service). Visit of M.V. was supported by research grants from FEMS and Slovene human resources development and scholarship funds. Parts of this work were funded by grants from the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), Jerusalem, Israel – BSF Energy Research grant to E.A.B. and B.A.W. and Regular BSF Research grants to R.L. and B.A.W. – and by the Israel Science Foundation (grant nos 966/09 and 159/07 291/08). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Towards a quality-controlled and accessible Pitzer model for seawater and related systems

We elaborate the need for a quality-controlled chemical speciation model for seawater and related natural waters, work which forms the major focus of SCOR Working Group 145. Model development is based on Pitzer equations for the seawater electrolyte and trace components. These equations can be used to calculate activities of dissolved ions and molecules and, in combination with thermodynamic equilibrium constants, chemical speciation. The major tasks to be addressed are ensuring internal consistency of the Pitzer model parameters (expressing the interactions between pairs and triplets of species, which ultimately determines the calculated activities), assessing uncertainties, and identifying important data gaps that should be addressed by new measurements. It is recognised that natural organic matter plays an important role in many aquatic ecosystems, and options for including this material in a Pitzer-based model are discussed. The process of model development begins with the core components which include the seawater electrolyte and the weak acids controlling pH. This core model can then be expanded by incorporating additional chemical components, changing the standard seawater composition and/or broadening the range of temperature and pressure, without compromising its validity. Seven important areas of application are identified: open ocean acidification; micro-nutrient biogeochemistry and geochemical tracers; micro-nutrient behaviour in laboratory studies; water quality in coastal and estuarine waters; cycling of nutrients and trace metals in pore waters; chemical equilibria in hydrothermal systems; brines and salt lakes

Racial Disparities in In-hospital Mortality and Discharge Disposition among Trauma Patients in Massachusetts

Background: Population-based data on trauma care are important to a solid understanding of racial disparities in the care and outcomes of trauma patients. Methods: Data on inpatient hospitalizations for trauma were obtained from the Massachusetts (MA) Statewide Trauma Registry which conducts annual census of trauma-related hospitalizations in MA. This analysis included patients who were MA residents and admitted to a MA hospital between 2008 and 2010, and 15 years and older at the time of admission. Patients were grouped as non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, Asian, and other or unknown race. Injury severity, discharge disposition and mortality of the first hospitalization of the patients were compared among the groups while adjusting for sex, age and severity. Results: The data were from 23,666 patients with a mean age of 63.8 years. The patients included 51.8% women, 86.1% whites, 4.3% blacks, 5.6% Hispanics, 1.2% Asians and 2.7% other or unknown races. In total, 597 (2.52%) died in the hospital. Asians and other races had higher risk for death (OR=2.96, p Conclusions: Remarkable racial/ethnic disparities in inhospital mortality and discharge dispositions were seen among trauma patients in MA. The determinants of the disparities and related policy implications are under investigation by a study supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

The Iowa Homemaker vol.7, no.8

Memorial Hall by Ruth E. Morrison, Antescript Dawn’s Awakening by Irma D. Garner, Antescript The Evolution of Women’s Clubs by Margaret Looft, page 1 Farm and Home Week by Sylvia Pedersen, page 2 How Much Shall I Buy? by Margaret L. Marnette, page 4 Marketing in Egypt by Frances Thomas, page 5 Girls’ 4-H Page by Corline Morrell, page 6 Iowa State Home Economics Association by Marcia E. Turner, page 8 Home Economics Research at Iowa State by Harriett C. Brigham, page 10 Who’s There and Where by Vera Caulum, page 12 Better Homes Week by Kathryn Davis, page 13 Foreign Students Will Occupy “The Gables” by Ruth E. Morrison, page 14 Home Economics Vod-Vil by Gladys Parker, page 1

The Otterbein Miscellany - May 1967

https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/miscellany/1008/thumbnail.jp

Will they be back? A framework to guide rare macrophyte conservation decisions in lakes

Shallow lake restoration typically focusses on the re-establishment of macrophytes. The likelihood of a species returning to a site is contingent on dispersal, proximity to propagule sources, and the on-site propagule-bank viability. We explore the potential of palaeoecological records in combination with botanical surveys and distribution maps, to ascertain the loss of three submerged macrophytes (Littorella uniflora, Najas flexilis, and Elatine hydropiper) from, respectively, two lakes (Barton Broad, Norfolk and Esthwaite Water, Cumbria) and one lake landscape (Greater Glasgow, Scotland). We discuss re-establishment likelihood when accounting for species' autoecology and current water-chemistry conditions. L. uniflora is widespread in the United Kingdom but absent locally in Norfolk without known seed bank, hence is unlikely to naturally recolonise Barton Broad. Furthermore, current conditions are unsuitable for this species suggesting that nutrient reduction is required prior to translocation. N. flexilis is extinct in Cumbria and the long distances involved (>100 km) for recolonisation of Esthwaite Water suggest that spatial dispersal is unlikely, rendering the seed bank the last chance of natural recovery. Alternatively, translocation may be feasible. E. hydropiper is a nationally scarce species in the United Kingdom yet would have only a short dispersal distance (~10 km) to recolonise Loch Libo, hence there being no requirement for translocation. In exploring the recovery possibilities for the three focal plant species, we develop a time–space integrated framework that can be employed to guide conservation decisions for other species, enabling a more rational use of translocations in the future, in line with international guidelines

Bidirectional Interactions between Antigen-bearing Respiratory Tract Dendritic Cells (DCs) and T Cells Precede the Late Phase Reaction in Experimental Asthma: DC Activation Occurs in the Airway Mucosa but Not in the Lung Parenchyma

The airway mucosal response to allergen in asthma involves influx of activated T helper type 2 cells and eosinophils, transient airflow obstruction, and airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The mechanism(s) underlying transient T cell activation during this inflammatory response is unclear. We present evidence that this response is regulated via bidirectional interactions between airway mucosal dendritic cells (AMDC) and T memory cells. After aerosol challenge, resident AMDC acquire antigen and rapidly mature into potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) after cognate interactions with T memory cells. This process is restricted to dendritic cells (DCs) in the mucosae of the conducting airways, and is not seen in peripheral lung. Within 24 h, antigen-bearing mature DCs disappear from the airway wall, leaving in their wake activated interleukin 2R+ T cells and AHR. Antigen-bearing activated DCs appear in regional lymph nodes at 24 h, suggesting onward migration from the airway. Transient up-regulation of CD86 on AMDC accompanies this process, which can be reproduced by coculture of resting AMDC with T memory cells plus antigen. The APC activity of AMDC can be partially inhibited by anti-CD86, suggesting that CD86 may play an active role in this process and/or is a surrogate for other relevant costimulators. These findings provide a plausible model for local T cell activation at the lesional site in asthma, and for the transient nature of this inflammatory response

The Determination of Immunomodulation and Its Impact on Survival of Rectal Cancer Patients Depends on the Area Comprising a Tissue Microarray.

BACKGROUND: T cell density in colorectal cancer (CRC) has proven to be of high prognostic importance. Here, we evaluated the influence of a hyperfractionated preoperative short-term radiation protocol (25 Gy) on immune cell density in tumor samples of rectal cancer (RC) patients and on patient survival. In addition, we assessed spatial tumor heterogeneity by comparison of analogue T cell quantification on full tissue sections with digital T cell quantification on a virtually established tissue microarray (TMA). METHODS: A total of 75 RC patients (60 irradiated, 15 treatment-naïve) were defined for retrospective analysis. RC samples were processed for immunohistochemistry (CD3, CD8, PD-1, PD-L1). Analogue (score 0-3) as well as digital quantification (TMA: 2 cores vs. 6 cores, mean T cell count) of marker expression in 2 areas (central tumor, CT; invasive margin, IM) was performed. Survival was estimated on the basis of analogue as well as digital marker densities calculated from 2 cores (Immunoscore: CD3/CD8 ratio) and 6 cores per tumor area. RESULTS: Irradiated RC samples showed a significant decrease in CD3 and CD8 positive T cells, independent of quantification mode. T cell densities of 6 virtual cores approximated to T cell densities of full tissue sections, independent of individual core density or location. Survival analysis based on full tissue section quantification demonstrated that CD3 and CD8 positive T cells as well as PD-1 positive tumor infiltrating leucocytes (TILs) in the CT and the IM had a significant impact on disease-free survival (DFS) as well as overall survival (OS). In addition, CD3 and CD8 positive T cells as well as PD-1 positive TILs in the IM proved as independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS; in the CT, PD-1 positive TILs predicted DFS and CD3 and CD8 positive T cells as well as PD-1 positive TILs predicted OS. Survival analysis based on virtual TMA showed no impact on DFS or OS. CONCLUSION: Spatial tumor heterogeneity might result in inadequate quantification of immune marker expression; however, if using a TMA, 6 cores per tumor area and patient sample represent comparable amounts of T cell densities to those quantified on full tissue sections. Consistently, the tissue area used for immune marker quantification represents a crucial factor for the evaluation of prognostic and predictive biomarker potential