CD155 on HIV-infected cells is not modulated by HIV-1 Vpu and Nef but synergizes with NKG2D ligands to trigger NK cell lysis of autologous primary HIV-infected cells

Activation of primary CD4(+) T cells induces the CD155, but not the CD112 ligands for the natural killer (NK) cell activation receptor (aNKR) CD226 [DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1)]. We hypothesize that HIV productively infects activated CD4(+) T cells and makes itself vulnerable to NK cell-mediated lysis when CD155 on infected T cells engages DNAM-1. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether CD155 alone or together with NKG2D ligands triggers autologous NK cell lysis of HIV-infected T cells and whether HIV modulates CD155. To determine whether HIV modulates this activation ligand, we infected “activated” CD4(+) T cells with HIV in the absence or presence of Nef and/or Vpu and determined by flow cytometry whether they modulated CD155. To determine if CD155 alone, or together with NKG2D ligands, triggered NK cell lysis of autologous HIV-infected T cells, we treated purified NK cells with DNAM-1 and/or NKG2D blocking antibodies before the addition of purified autologous HIV-infected cells in cytolytic assays. Finally, we determined whether DNAM-1 works together with NKG2D as an NK cell coactivation receptor (caNKR) or whether they work independently as aNKRs to induce an NK cell lytic response. We demonstrate that HIV and specifically Nef and/or Vpu do not modulate CD155 on infected primary T cells; and both CD155 and NKG2D ligands synergize as aNKRs to trigger NK cell lysis of the infected cell

Effects of the private-label invasion in food industries

Using supermarket scanner data, we test a variety of hypotheses from trade journals about the invasion of private-label food products. According to conventional industry wisdom, name-brand firms defended their brands against new private-label products by lowering their prices, engaging in additional promotional activities, and increasingly differentiating their products. Our empirical evidence is inconsistent with these beliefs.private label; entry; price; promotional activity; differentiation; supermarket

Multiyear defoliations in southern New England increases oak mortality

After decades of multiyear defoliation episodes in southern New England, Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD; previously gypsy moth) populations collapsed with the appearance of the LDD fungus in 1989. Multiyear defoliations did not occur again until 2015-2018. To assess the impact of the return of multiyear defoliations, we examined 3095 oaks on 29 permanent study areas in Connecticut and Rhode Island that were established at least eleven years before the latest outbreaks. Pre-defoliation stand level oak mortality averaged 2% (three-year basis). Post-defoliation mortality did not differ between managed and unmanaged stands, but was much higher in severely defoliated stands (36%) than in stands with moderate (7%) or low-no defoliation (1%). Pre-defoliation mortality of individual trees differed among species, was lower for larger diameter trees and on unmanaged than managed stands. Post-defoliation mortality on plots with no to moderate defoliation was similar to pre-defoliation mortality levels. Following multiyear defoliations, white oak mortality was higher than for northern red and black oak. There was weak evidence that mortality was elevated on stands with higher basal area following severe defoliation. Natural resource managers should not assume that oaks that survived earlier multiyear defoliations episodes will survive future multiyear outbreaks, possibly because trees are older

Preparation and Use of HIV-1 Infected Primary CD4+ T-Cells as Target Cells in Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxic Assays

Natural killer (NK) cells are a vital component of the innate immune response to virus-infected cells. It is important to understand the ability of NK cells to recognize and lyse HIV-1 infected cells because identifying any aberrancy in NK cell function against HIV-infected cells could potentially lead to therapies that would enhance their cytolytic activity. There is a need to use HIV-infected primary T-cell blasts as target cells rather then infected-T-cell lines in the cytotoxicity assays. T-cell lines, even without infection, are quite susceptible to NK cell lysis. Furthermore, it is necessary to use autologous primary cells to prevent major histocompatibility complex class I mismatches between the target and effector cell that will result in lysis. Early studies evaluating NK cell cytolytic responses to primary HIV-infected cells failed to show significant killing of the infected cells 1,2. However, using HIV-1 infected primary T-cells as target cells in NK cell functional assays has been difficult due the presence of contaminating uninfected cells 3. This inconsistent infected cell to uninfected cell ratio will result in variation in NK cell killing between samples that may not be due to variability in donor NK cell function. Thus, it would be beneficial to work with a purified infected cell population in order to standardize the effector to target cell ratios between experiments 3,4. Here we demonstrate the isolation of a highly purified population of HIV-1 infected cells by taking advantage of HIV-1's ability to down-modulate CD4 on infected cells and the availability of commercial kits to remove dead or dying cells 3-6. The purified infected primary T-cell blasts can then be used as targets in either a degranulation or cytotoxic assay with purified NK cells as the effector population 5-7. Use of NK cells as effectors in a degranulation assay evaluates the ability of an NK cell to release the lytic contents of specialized lysosomes 8 called "cytolytic granules". By staining with a fluorochrome conjugated antibody against CD107a, a lysosomal membrane protein that becomes expressed on the NK cell surface when the cytolytic granules fuse to the plasma membrane, we can determine what percentage of NK cells degranulate in response to target cell recognition. Alternatively, NK cell lytic activity can be evaluated in a cytotoxic assay that allows for the determination of the percentage of target cells lysed by release of 51Cr from within the target cell in the presence of NK cells

Prescription Opioid Use among Pregnant Women Enrolled in Rhode Island Medicaid

Objective: Our objective was to identify the patterns of opioid use among pregnant women enrolled in RI Medicaid. Methods: This study used linked RI Medicaid and RI Birth Certificate data from 01/01/2006 to 12/31/2016. We examined temporal trends of prescription opioid dispensings and identified risk factors associated with opioids use during pregnancy. Results: Among 25,500 RI Medicaid enrolled pregnant women who delivered a live baby from 2008 to 2016, 1,914 (7.5%) received at least one prescription for an opioid medication during pregnancy, 810 (3.2%) were during the first trimester, 633 (2.5%) during the second trimester, and 866 (3.4%) during the third trimester. Of these, 213 (0.8%) women received 3 or more opioids during pregnancy. The prevalence of prescription opioids dispensed in pregnant women increased from 4.9% in 2008 to 9.6% in 2015 (β SD: 0.66 0.28, P=0.05). Conclusions: Prescription opioid use during pregnancy has increased among women enrolled in RI Medicaid

Integration for Sustainable Development: A Report for Practitioners

A report based on research undertaken for the Ashford’s Integrated Alternatives (AIA) Project, 2009-2011EPSRC - under the Ashford's Integrated Alternatives Projec

Effects of the private-label invasion in food industries

Using supermarket scanner data, we test a variety of hypotheses from trade journals about the invasion of private-label food products. According to conventional industry wisdom, name-brand firms defended their brands against new private-label products by lowering their prices, engaging in additional promotional activities, and increasingly differentiating their products. Our empirical evidence is inconsistent with these beliefs

Effects of the private-label invasion in food industries

Using supermarket scanner data, we test a variety of hypotheses from trade journals about the invasion of private-label food products. According to conventional industry wisdom, name-brand firms defended their brands against new private-label products by lowering their prices, engaging in additional promotional activities, and increasingly differentiating their products. Our empirical evidence is inconsistent with these beliefs

Integration for sustainable development: A report for practitioners

This report is an important output of a government-funded research project under EPSRC’s Sustainable Urban Environment programme. The aim of this project – Ashford’s Integrated Alternatives – was to examine the benefits and difficulties of planning, specifying and delivering more integrated utility provision as a component of sustainable development (specifically water and energy) through the lens of the delivery of substantial housing targets in Ashford, Kent (a designated growth area)

Illinois Waterfowl Surveys and Investigations W-43-R-64 Annual Progress Report FY2017 Period: 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

Objectives 1) Inventory abundance and distribution of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other waterbirds (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration at a minimum of 30 sites along and nearby the Illinois and central Mississippi rivers, 2) Estimate waterfowl and other waterbird population sizes (a minimum of 10 species and guilds) during autumn migration using an aerial quadrat survey in the central Illinois River Valley for comparison with aerial inventories (Objective 1), 3) Investigate movement and population ecology of lesser scaup, canvasback, and other diving ducks by trapping and leg-banding a minimum of 1,000 individuals during spring migration along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, 4) Investigate the ecology of American green-winged teal and gadwall by radio-marking a minimum of 40 individuals of each species during spring migration in and nearby the central Illinois River Valley, 5) Investigate movements and home range size of a minimum of 10 Canada geese during winter in and near the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area (GCMA) of Illinois, 6) Determine habitat quality of a minimum of 50 wetland and deepwater polygons during spring, summer, and early autumn for migrating dabbling ducks, breeding wetland birds, and migrating shorebirds in Illinois, and 7) Distribute results and findings to site managers and biologists of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and other state agencies, the Mississippi Flyway Technical Section, the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region (UMRGLR) Joint Venture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, other scientists and collaborators as requested, and the general public through oral presentations, popular articles, technical reports, and peer reviewed publications; make recommendations for future wetland management practices and research needs based on results and related research; contribute to regional conservation planning efforts during the project period as appropriate and requested.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUCunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe