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2025 Crummer Truist Portfolio

SunTrust (now Truist) endowed this portfolio to provide scholarships for future Crummer students and to give current students a practical, hands-on learning opportunity. This year, we are pleased to be able to disburse $50,000 to be used for scholarships. We are extremely grateful for this generous investment in higher education. We have all learned a great deal from this experience and the responsibility of managing real money. Our first challenge is to establish a portfolio position that takes advantage of economic opportunities while avoiding unnecessary risk and conforming to the Crummer Truist Investment Policy Statement (IPS). We are also tasked by the IPS to operate at two levels simultaneously – tactical for the near term, and strategic for the long run. Additionally, this portfolio presents some unusual portfolio management challenges by trading only once a year, in early April. Our tactical approach began with a top-down sector analysis. We established an economic forecast based on research and consultation with economists, including Professor Dan Biller of the Crummer School and Philip Rich of UCBI. We based our equity and fixed income split on that forecast with a 20% allocation to bonds, at the highest level allowed by the IPS. That forecast also drove our allocation among the eleven S&P sectors: Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Energy, Financials, Healthcare, Industrials, Information Technology, Materials, Real Estate, and Utilities. Based on our economic outlook (which is most consistent with the economy being in the late stages of the business cycle), we tilted the allocation towards sectors that should do well in such a macro environment while paying attention to political factors as well as industry-specific dynamics. Our asset allocation embodies the long-run strategy of our portfolio. The IPS sets asset class ranges from low to moderate risk to keep the portfolio from being whipsawed by transitory market cycles. Our equity allocations signify an opportunity to take on some risk, consistent with our economic outlook through the end of March 2026. We maintain an allocation to a sector ETF in each sector to achieve passive exposure. Due to enrollment constraints, we actively manage eight sectors this year with a limit of two individual stocks per sector. The remaining sectors are invested 100% in their sector ETF. Fixed income is our anchor sector, providing a hedge against the risk of an economic slowdown adversely impacting our equity holdings. Consistent with our yield curve projection of lower short-term rates with stable long-term rates, we are at the high end of our IPS range for fixed income at 20% and taking on a bit more interest rate risk than the average permissible duration. Furthermore, we have continued to incorporate investment themes. This year, we will maintain the dual themes of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing and Artificial Intelligence in our portfolio selection process. Regardless of a security’s consistency with either of these themes, all recommendations must be undervalued after rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis. In other words, our intent is not to maximize the ESG or AI impact of our portfolio but to tilt toward these factors. While we are now several years removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, markets are experiencing a new set of impacts as we come off of a recent election and experience the uncertainty of a new (but not completely new) administration. Inflation levels, monetary and fiscal policies, and global conflicts that were all unprecedented have contributed to an increased level of uncertainty. We do not intend to simply follow the crowd. Yet, echoing the philosophy of Warren Buffett, “our opinions and beliefs, grounded in economics and guided by all of those who have counseled us,” lead us to a strategy that is not significantly different from many investors. Even so, we accept responsibility for our investment decisions. We are investing for the long-term and we have been conservative in our forecasts and recommendations. Simultaneously, in the short term, we are mindful of the need to protect the portfolio’s commitment to scholarships

Magnetic liposome design for drug release systems responsive to super-low frequency alternating current magnetic field (AC MF)

HYPOTHESIS: Magnetic liposomes are shown to release the entrapped dye once modulated by low frequency AC MF. The mechanism and effectiveness of MF application should depend on lipid composition, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) properties, temperature and field parameters. EXPERIMENTS: The study was performed using liposomes of various lipid composition and embedded hydrophobic MNPs. The liposomes structural changes were studied by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and the leakage was monitored by the fluorescent dye release. FINDINGS: Magnetic liposomes exposure to the AC MF resulted in the clustering of the MNPs in the membranes and disruption of the lipid packaging. Addition of cholesterol diminished the dye release from the saturated lipid-based liposomes. Replacement of the saturated lipid for unsaturated one also decreased the dye release. The dye release depended on the strength, but not the frequency of the field. Thus, the oscillating motion of MNPs in AC MF ruptures the gel phase membranes of saturated lipids. As the temperature increases the disruption also increases. In the liquid crystalline membranes formed by unsaturated lipids the deformations and defects created by mechanical motion of the MNPs are more likely to heal and results in decreased release

Anticancer Plant Secondary Metabolites Evicting Linker Histone H1.2 from Chromatin Activate Type I Interferon Signaling

Previously we discovered that among 15 DNA-binding plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) possessing anticancer activity, 11 compounds cause depletion of the chromatin-bound linker histones H1.2 and/or H1.4. Chromatin remodeling or multiH1 knocking-down is known to promote the upregulation of repetitive elements, ultimately triggering an interferon (IFN) response. Herein, using HeLa cells and applying fluorescent reporter assay with flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining and quantitative RT-PCR, we studied effects of PSMs both evicting linker histones from chromatin and not influencing their location in nucleus. We found that (1) 8 PSMs, evicting linker histone H1.2 from chromatin, activated significantly the type I IFN signaling pathway and out of these compounds resveratrol, berberine, genistein, delphinidin, naringenin and curcumin also caused LINE1 expression. Fisetin and quercetin, which also induced linker histone H1.2 eviction from chromatin, significantly activated only type I IFN signaling, but not LINE1 expression; (2) curcumin, sanguinarine and kaempferol, causing significant depletion of the chromatin-bound linker histone H1.4 but not significantly influencing H1.2 presence in chromatin, activate type I IFN signaling less intensively without any changes in LINE1 expression; (3) four PSMs, which did not cause linker histone eviction, displayed neither IFN signaling activation nor enhancement of LINE1 expression. Thus, we have shown for the first time that chromatin destabilization observed by depletion of chromatin-bound linker histone H1.2 caused by anticancer DNA-binding PSMs is accompanied by enhancement of type I IFN signaling, and that LINE1 expression often impacts this activation.The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant 23-25-00276.Peer reviewe

Autotransplantation of teeth as an alternative to dental implantation

Autotransplantation of teeth is a considerable option for tooth replacement in adults who are to undergo orthodontic treatment. Being compared with dental implantation, this procedure is more preferable as a grafted tooth functions as a normal one. In this case report, we describe successful autotransplantation of the third molar with complete root formation. To provide better adaptation of the donor tooth, we used its preoperatively printed replica. The donor tooth was immediately placed to the recipient site and splinted for 28 days. Endodontic treatment was initiated 2 weeks after transplantation. Clinical and radiographic findings at 6 and 12 months of follow-up are compared with the results described in the literature.</jats:p

The limitation of the Purkinje cells’ impulse activity in the laboratory mice's cerebellum by in vivo activation of SK channels

AbstractThis study tested the effect of intravenous injections of CyPPA [the activator of small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels of types 2 and 3 (SK2/SK3)] on the firing frequency of cerebellar Purkinje cells of laboratory male mice at the age of 6 months via the method of extracellular in vivo recordings from Purkinje cells. This method revealed that 1mM CyPPA tail vein injections lead to progressive reduction of Purkinje cells firing frequency. Thus, simple spike's firing frequency decreases by 16% in one hour after injection, by 49% in two hours after injection, and by 61% in three hours. The obtained results confirmed the hypothesis about the important role of SK channels in the maintenance of Purkinje cells spontaneous activity in vivo. Since deterioration of biophysical and physiological functions is observed in many cerebellar ataxias, SK channels can serve as a potential target for the treatment of such disorders

Cross-Sectional Online Study of the Psychological Status of Russian Doctors during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background. COVID-19 outbreak resulted in an increased psychological and physical pressure on healthcare professionals worldwide. Doctors treating COVID-19 patients have turned out to be at higher risk of depression, anxiety, psychosomatic disorders. The data about the influence of the pandemic on psychological health of Russian doctors is still missing.&#x0D; Aims to evaluate a psychological status of Russian doctors during COVID-19 pandemic.&#x0D; Methods. This cross-sectional online-study was conducted among 133 doctors of different specialties aged 2570 (mean age 43.6 9.9), 112 (84.2%) of the them were females. We assessed the work conditions of the respondents during pandemic, the presence of psychosomatic disorders, depression and anxiety levels by HADS scale.&#x0D; Results. Almost two thirds (82; 61.7%) of the respondents reported an increased workload during the pandemic, 54.1% of them work more than 40 hours per week. The income has risen only in 25.6% of the doctors. Most of the respondents announced a manifestation of one or more psychosomatic disorders during the pandemic. The most frequent complaint was insomnia found in 72 (54.1%) of the doctors. Clinical anxiety was confirmed in 30 (22.6%), clinical depression in 15 (11.3%), moderate anxiety in 22 (16.5%), moderate depression in 31 (23.3%), both clinical anxiety and depression in 6% of the participants.&#x0D; Conclusions. During the pandemic Russian doctors continue to work under physical and psychological pressure and provide medical care even if they have clinical depression and anxiety that influences on patients and doctors wellbeing. Theres still a lack of psychological assistance to doctors and of other methods to prevent professional burn-out.</jats:p

Implantable devices for optogenetic studies and stimulation of excitable tissue

AbstractThe paper deals with the currently available implants used in optogenetic experiments on laboratory animals in vivo. We present a brief description of the optogenetic investigation stages. Various types of implantable devices generating and recording signals in excitable tissues have been considered. The features of control signal transduction inside living tissues were analyzed. We discussed the possibility of medical and biological use of optical fibers for excitable tissues stimulation. Then we proposed a device of an implantable optical-electrode system for scanning and controlling the bioelectric parameters. The device can be used in medical diagnostics, prosthetics, myostimulation, neurostimulation and cardioacceleration, for instance, at neurological and rehabilitation medical institutions. With this in mind, an attempt will be made to make special combined microelectrode arrays to implant them into living tissue. The arrays should be able to change their profile according to the implantation-area contour and biophysical features of the substrate surface. It is necessary to provide a point generation and layer-by-layer scanning of excitation pulse through integration of individual microelectrode arrays into a single test-system

Genomic analysis of human polymorphisms affecting drug-protein interactions

Human genetic variability is thought to account for a substantial fraction of individual biochemical characteristics – in biomedical sense, of individual drug response. However, only a handful of human genetic variants have been linked to medication outcomes. Here, we combine data on drug-protein interactions and human genome sequences to assess the impact of human variation on their binding affinity. Using data from the complexes of FDA-drugs and drug-like compounds, we predict SNPs substantially affecting the protein-ligand binding affinities. We estimate that an average individual carries ~6 SNPs affecting ~5 different FDA-approved drugs from among all of the approved compounds. SNPs affecting drug-protein binding affinity have low frequency in the population indicating that the genetic component for many ADEs may be highly personalized with each individual carrying a unique set of relevant SNPs. The reduction of ADEs, therefore, may primarily rely on the application of computational genome analysis in the clinic rather than the experimental study of common SNPs.</jats:p

The new method for studying neuronal activity: Optogenetics

AbstractThe article is devoted to problems of realization and application of optogenetic methods used to identify reasons of various diseases, to monitor the biochemical processes of cell activity and to study various organisms. The problems of delivery, embedding and monitoring the expression of opsin genes into the cell genome of interest have been considered. In the article, the parameters and properties of various opsins and also the main ways of achievement of precise optical control over cell using opsins were presented. The rules for choosing the parameters of a light beam and the features of its putting were pointed out. The characteristic properties of the different measurement technique and recording the experimental quantities were analyzed and given