Oh, We\u27re Just Talking : Operationalizing a Contemporary Dating Phenomenon

“Just talking” is a new cultural phenomenon among emerging adults. The term seems to imply a relationship intentionally left without a label; however, it has yet to be explored by researchers. Guided by prior research indicating that this phase may lack labels, commitment, and exclusivity, this study attempted to define “just talking” as an intentionally ambiguous preliminary dating phase that lacks definitional consensus, since there is general disagreement on what it means when someone says that they are “just talking” to someone else. Through recruitment of 37 (Men: 13, Women: 22, Gender diverse: 2) college-aged students, a qualitative analysis was conducted through men-only, women-only, and mixed-gender focus groups. Focus group facilitators used a semi-structured interview guide designed to explore the progression, communication tactics, and intimacies of “just talking.” Focus groups were conducted via Zoom and recorded. The researchers analyzed transcripts from the focus groups into themes and codes meant to capture the essence of the “just talking” stage. Results indicate that the term “just talking” represents a relationship stage that is not yet a relationship but differs from a “hookup”. It is often more related to an emotional and intimate connection gained through daily communication than a casual physical encounter (hookup), more aligned with the traditional theme of courtship and less with college students’ adaption of hooking up without attachment.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2022/1093/thumbnail.jp

Structural features and kinetic characterization of alanine racemase from Staphylococcus aureus (Mu50)

The tertiary structure and kinetic properties of alanine racemase from Staphylococcus aureus are described and compared to other related alanine racemase structures

The Impact of the Human DNA Topoisomerase II C-Terminal Domain on Activity

Type II DNA topoisomerases (topos) are essential enzymes needed for the resolution of topological problems that occur during DNA metabolic processes. Topos carry out an ATP-dependent strand passage reaction whereby one double helix is passed through a transient break in another. Humans have two topoII isoforms, alpha and beta, which while enzymatically similar are differentially expressed and regulated, and are thought to have different cellular roles. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of the enzyme has the most diversity, and has been implicated in regulation. We sought to investigate the impact of the CTD domain on activity.We have investigated the role of the human topoII C-terminal domain by creating constructs encoding C-terminally truncated recombinant topoIIalpha and beta and topoIIalpha+beta-tail and topoIIbeta+alpha-tail chimeric proteins. We then investigated function in vivo in a yeast system, and in vitro in activity assays. We find that the C-terminal domain of human topoII isoforms is needed for in vivo function of the enzyme, but not needed for cleavage activity. C-terminally truncated enzymes had similar strand passage activity to full length enzymes, but the presence of the opposite C-terminal domain had a large effect, with the topoIIalpha-CTD increasing activity, and the topoIIbeta-CTD decreasing activity.In vivo complementation data show that the topoIIalpha C-terminal domain is needed for growth, but the topoIIbeta isoform is able to support low levels of growth without a C-terminal domain. This may indicate that topoIIbeta has an additional localisation signal. In vitro data suggest that, while the lack of any C-terminal domain has little effect on activity, the presence of either the topoIIalpha or beta C-terminal domain can affect strand passage activity. Data indicates that the topoIIbeta-CTD may be a negative regulator. This is the first report of in vitro data with chimeric human topoIIs

Mutations in HYAL2, Encoding Hyaluronidase 2, Cause a Syndrome of Orofacial Clefting and Cor Triatriatum Sinister in Humans and Mice.

Orofacial clefting is amongst the most common of birth defects, with both genetic and environmental components. Although numerous studies have been undertaken to investigate the complexities of the genetic etiology of this heterogeneous condition, this factor remains incompletely understood. Here, we describe mutations in the HYAL2 gene as a cause of syndromic orofacial clefting. HYAL2, encoding hyaluronidase 2, degrades extracellular hyaluronan, a critical component of the developing heart and palatal shelf matrix. Transfection assays demonstrated that the gene mutations destabilize the molecule, dramatically reducing HYAL2 protein levels. Consistent with the clinical presentation in affected individuals, investigations of Hyal2-/- mice revealed craniofacial abnormalities, including submucosal cleft palate. In addition, cor triatriatum sinister and hearing loss, identified in a proportion of Hyal2-/- mice, were also found as incompletely penetrant features in affected humans. Taken together our findings identify a new genetic cause of orofacial clefting in humans and mice, and define the first molecular cause of human cor triatriatum sinister, illustrating the fundamental importance of HYAL2 and hyaluronan turnover for normal human and mouse development

Human germline heterozygous gain-of-function STAT6 variants cause severe allergic disease

STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6) is a transcription factor that plays a central role in the pathophysiology of allergic inflammation. We have identified 16 patients from 10 families spanning three continents with a profound phenotype of early-life onset allergic immune dysregulation, widespread treatment-resistant atopic dermatitis, hypereosinophilia with esosinophilic gastrointestinal disease, asthma, elevated serum IgE, IgE-mediated food allergies, and anaphylaxis. The cases were either sporadic (seven kindreds) or followed an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern (three kindreds). All patients carried monoallelic rare variants in STAT6 and functional studies established their gain-of-function (GOF) phenotype with sustained STAT6 phosphorylation, increased STAT6 target gene expression, and TH2 skewing. Precision treatment with the anti-IL-4Rα antibody, dupilumab, was highly effective improving both clinical manifestations and immunological biomarkers. This study identifies heterozygous GOF variants in STAT6 as a novel autosomal dominant allergic disorder. We anticipate that our discovery of multiple kindreds with germline STAT6 GOF variants will facilitate the recognition of more affected individuals and the full definition of this new primary atopic disorder

Risk factors for Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) death in a population cohort study from the Western Cape province, South Africa

Risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) death in sub-Saharan Africa and the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis on COVID-19 outcomes are unknown. We conducted a population cohort study using linked data from adults attending public-sector health facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa. We used Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age, sex, location, and comorbidities, to examine the associations between HIV, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 death from 1 March to 9 June 2020 among (1) public-sector “active patients” (≥1 visit in the 3 years before March 2020); (2) laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 cases; and (3) hospitalized COVID-19 cases. We calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for COVID-19, comparing adults living with and without HIV using modeled population estimates.Among 3 460 932 patients (16% living with HIV), 22 308 were diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 625 died. COVID19 death was associated with male sex, increasing age, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. HIV was associated with COVID-19 mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70–2.70), with similar risks across strata of viral loads and immunosuppression. Current and previous diagnoses of tuberculosis were associated with COVID-19 death (aHR, 2.70 [95% CI, 1.81–4.04] and 1.51 [95% CI, 1.18–1.93], respectively). The SMR for COVID-19 death associated with HIV was 2.39 (95% CI, 1.96–2.86); population attributable fraction 8.5% (95% CI, 6.1–11.1)

The One Who Sows Bountifully Essays in Honor of Stanley K. Stowers

Intro -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- Preface -- Selected Publications of Stanley K. Stowers -- Part I: Theory and History of Interpretation -- Reassessing "Religious Practices" -- Fixed Texts, Sociohistorical Contexts, and Hermeneutical Implications -- The Rehabilitation of Paul in Jewish Tradition -- Daily Devotions -- "Normally Non-Observable" -- Theorizing Circumstantially Dependent Rites In and Out of War Contexts -- The Beginning of Historical Research on Jesus in the Modern Age -- Toward a Typology of Religious Experts in the Ancient Mediterranean -- Part II: Israelite Religion and Ancient Judaism -- Revising a Myth -- "Sin Offering": A Reconsideration -- Biblical Beauty -- Artifact Burial in the Ancient Near East -- Home Is Where the Hearth Is? -- Jew or Judaean? -- Vandals or Pilgrims? -- Beyond Apocalyptic Dualism -- Part III: Greco-Roman World -- Wine and Spirits -- The Moralizing of Discourse in Greco-Roman Associations -- When Size Matters -- Tailoring Rhetoric -- "Thus the Sage constantly reminds himself" -- Part IV: Early Christianity -- Blessed Are the Solitary -- Redescribing the Religion of Hebrews -- Philosophy and Ideology in John 9-10 -- Christians Who Sacrifice and Those Who Do Not? -- Peter's Daughter-Daddy Dearest? -- History Writing, Paul's "Opponents," and 1 Corinthians 4:8 -- The Sounds of Silence -- Index of Ancient SourcesDescription based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, YYYY. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries

Utilizing social media to study information-seeking and ethical issues in gene therapy

BACKGROUND: The field of gene therapy is rapidly evolving, and while hopes of treating disorders of the central nervous system and ethical concerns have been articulated within the academic community, little is known about views and opinions of different stakeholder groups. OBJECTIVE: To address this gap, we utilized social media to investigate the kind of information public users are seeking about gene therapy and the hopes, concerns, and attitudes they express. METHODS: We conducted a content analysis of questions containing the keywords “gene therapy” from the Q&A site “Yahoo! Answers” for the 5-year period between 2006 and 2010. From the pool of questions retrieved (N=903), we identified those containing at least one theme related to ethics, environment, economics, law, or society (n=173) and then characterized the content of relevant answers (n=399) through emergent coding. RESULTS: The results show that users seek a wide range of information regarding gene therapy, with requests for scientific information and ethical issues at the forefront of enquiry. The question sample reveals high expectations for gene therapy that range from cures for genetic and nongenetic diseases to pre- and postnatal enhancement of physiological attributes. Ethics questions are commonly expressed as fears about the impact of gene therapy on self and society. The answer sample echoes these concerns but further suggests that the acceptability of gene therapy varies depending on the specific application. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the findings highlight the powerful role of social media as a rich resource for research into attitudes toward biomedicine and as a platform for knowledge exchange and public engagement for topics relating to health and disease