Comparative Study of Trace amount of Hydrocarbon in Polluted soil on Bean (Vigna unguiculaga) and Waterleaf (Talimum triangulase)

The effect and comparison of plants grown in polluted soil containing trace amount of hydrocarbon was investigated and the stem length, leaf length, leaf width, and germination were observed and measured in water leaf and bean plants. Loamy soils (3kg) were measured into a container and polluted with a 1:1 dilution of hydrocarbon (diesel) giving a 1M concentration. The same loamy soils were measured into another container which was not polluted. These crops planted on polluted soil were compared with the same crops planted on unpolluted soil in a container. Observation on growth and morphology were noted and recorded. Percentage germination in the bean crop in polluted and unpolluted soil was 67% and 100% respectively. Plant height, leaf width and leaf length of bean crop were measured in centimeters in polluted and unpolluted soil as 2.9, 1.0, 1.8 and 3.2, 1.5, 2.0 respectively. The same measurement and unit was done in water leaf plant in polluted and unpolluted soil which resulted in 2.1, 0.7, 1.0 and 2.5, 0.9 1.25 respectively. The percentage germination in water leaf plant was 67% in polluted soil as against 83% in unpolluted soil. From the data obtained, it was concluded that trace amount of hydrocarbon can affect plant germination and growth

Trusted CI Experiences in Cybersecurity and Service to Open Science

This article describes experiences and lessons learned from the Trusted CI project, funded by the US National Science Foundation to serve the community as the NSF Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. Trusted CI is an effort to address cybersecurity for the open science community through a single organization that provides leadership, training, consulting, and knowledge to that community. The article describes the experiences and lessons learned of Trusted CI regarding both cybersecurity for open science and managing the process of providing centralized services to a broad and diverse community.Comment: 8 pages, PEARC '19: Practice and Experience in Advanced Research Computing, July 28-August 1, 2019, Chicago, IL, US

The Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub: “Enabling Seamless Data Sharing in Industry and Academia” Workshop Report

Increasingly, both industry and academia, in fields ranging from biology and social sciences to computing and engineering, are driven by data (Provost & Fawcett, 2013; Wixom, et al, 2014); and both commercial success and academic impact are dependent on having access to data. Many organizations collecting data lack the expertise required to process it (Hazen, et al, 2014), and, thus, pursue data sharing with researchers who can extract more value from data they own. For example, a biosciences company may benefit from a specific analysis technique a researcher has developed. At the same time, researchers are always on the search for real-world data sets to demonstrate the effectiveness of their methods. Unfortunately, many data sharing attempts fail, for reasons ranging from legal restrictions on how data can be used—to privacy policies, different cultural norms, and technological barriers. In fact, many data sharing partnerships that are vital to addressing pressing societal challenges in cities, health, energy, and the environment are not being pursued due to such obstacles. Addressing these data sharing challenges requires open, supportive dialogue across many sectors, including technology, policy, industry, and academia. Further, there is a crucial need for well-defined agreements that can be shared among key stakeholders, including researchers, technologists, legal representatives, and technology transfer officers. The Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub (NEBDIH) took an important step in this area with the recent “Enabling Seamless Data Sharing in Industry and Academia” workshop, held at Drexel University September 29-30, 2016. The workshop brought together representatives from these critical stakeholder communities to launch a national dialogue on challenges and opportunities in this complex space

Hetero-trans-β-glucanase, an enzyme unique to Equisetum plants, functionalises cellulose

Cell walls are metabolically active components of plant cells. They contain diverse enzymes, including transglycanases (endotransglycosylases), enzymes that ‘cut and paste’ certain structural polysaccharide molecules and thus potentially remodel the wall during growth and development. Known transglycanase activities modify several cell‐wall polysaccharides (xyloglucan, mannans, mixed‐linkage β‐glucan and xylans); however, no transglycanases were known to act on cellulose, the principal polysaccharide of biomass. We now report the discovery and characterization of hetero‐trans‐β‐glucanase (HTG), a transglycanase that targets cellulose, in horsetails (Equisetum spp., an early‐diverging genus of monilophytes). HTG is also remarkable in predominantly catalysing hetero‐transglycosylation: its preferred donor substrates (cellulose or mixed‐linkage β‐glucan) differ qualitatively from its acceptor substrate (xyloglucan). HTG thus generates stable cellulose–xyloglucan and mixed‐linkage β‐glucan–xyloglucan covalent bonds, and may therefore strengthen ageing Equisetum tissues by inter‐linking different structural polysaccharides of the cell wall. 3D modelling suggests that only three key amino acid substitutions (Trp → Pro, Gly → Ser and Arg → Leu) are responsible for the evolution of HTG's unique specificity from the better‐known xyloglucan‐acting homo‐transglycanases (xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases; XTH). Among land plants, HTG appears to be confined to Equisetum, but its target polysaccharides are widespread, potentially offering opportunities for enhancing crop mechanical properties, such as wind resistance. In addition, by linking cellulose to xyloglucan fragments previously tagged with compounds such as dyes or indicators, HTG may be useful biotechnologically for manufacturing stably functionalized celluloses, thereby potentially offering a commercially valuable ‘green’ technology for industrially manipulating biomass

Top 10 Blockchain Predictions for the (Near) Future of Healthcare

To review blockchain lessons learned in 2018 and near-future predictions for blockchain in healthcare, Blockchain in Healthcare Today (BHTY) asked the world's blockchain in healthcare experts to share their insights. Here, our internationally-renowned BHTY peer-review board discusses their major predictions. Based on their responses, presented in detail below, ten major themes (Table) for the future of blockchain in healthcare will emerge over the 12 months

The effectiveness, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for maltreated children and adolescents: an evidence synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment is a substantial social problem that affects large numbers of children and young people in the UK, resulting in a range of significant short- and long-term psychosocial problems. OBJECTIVES: To synthesise evidence of the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of interventions addressing the adverse consequences of child maltreatment. STUDY DESIGN: For effectiveness, we included any controlled study. Other study designs were considered for economic decision modelling. For acceptability, we included any study that asked participants for their views. PARTICIPANTS: Children and young people up to 24 years 11 months, who had experienced maltreatment before the age of 17 years 11 months. INTERVENTIONS: Any psychosocial intervention provided in any setting aiming to address the consequences of maltreatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Psychological distress [particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, and self-harm], behaviour, social functioning, quality of life and acceptability. METHODS: Young Persons and Professional Advisory Groups guided the project, which was conducted in accordance with Cochrane Collaboration and NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination guidance. Departures from the published protocol were recorded and explained. Meta-analyses and cost-effectiveness analyses of available data were undertaken where possible. RESULTS: We identified 198 effectiveness studies (including 62 randomised trials); six economic evaluations (five using trial data and one decision-analytic model); and 73 studies investigating treatment acceptability. Pooled data on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for sexual abuse suggested post-treatment reductions in PTSD [standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.44 (95% CI -4.43 to -1.53)], depression [mean difference -2.83 (95% CI -4.53 to -1.13)] and anxiety [SMD -0.23 (95% CI -0.03 to -0.42)]. No differences were observed for post-treatment sexualised behaviour, externalising behaviour, behaviour management skills of parents, or parental support to the child. Findings from attachment-focused interventions suggested improvements in secure attachment [odds ratio 0.14 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.70)] and reductions in disorganised behaviour [SMD 0.23 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.42)], but no differences in avoidant attachment or externalising behaviour. Few studies addressed the role of caregivers, or the impact of the therapist-child relationship. Economic evaluations suffered methodological limitations and provided conflicting results. As a result, decision-analytic modelling was not possible, but cost-effectiveness analysis using effectiveness data from meta-analyses was undertaken for the most promising intervention: CBT for sexual abuse. Analyses of the cost-effectiveness of CBT were limited by the lack of cost data beyond the cost of CBT itself. CONCLUSIONS: It is not possible to draw firm conclusions about which interventions are effective for children with different maltreatment profiles, which are of no benefit or are harmful, and which factors encourage people to seek therapy, accept the offer of therapy and actively engage with therapy. Little is known about the cost-effectiveness of alternative interventions. LIMITATIONS: Studies were largely conducted outside the UK. The heterogeneity of outcomes and measures seriously impacted on the ability to conduct meta-analyses. FUTURE WORK: Studies are needed that assess the effectiveness of interventions within a UK context, which address the wider effects of maltreatment, as well as specific clinical outcomes. STUDY REGISTRATION: This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42013003889. FUNDING: The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme

The Covid Information Commons & Columbia University Libraries – using translation & transcription to increase accessibility to NSF-funded research

by Lauren Close, Lylybell Teran, and Esther Jackson, with editorial support from Florence Hudson, Macy Moujabber, Isabella Graham-Martinez, and Jeremiah Mercurio With thanks to Lara Azar, Elia Bregman, Brian Buckley, Cora Lee Cole, Victoria Horrocks, Saanya Subasinghe, Rhyley Vaughan, and Kathryn Pope. In collaboration with the Columbia University Libraries, the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub (NEBDHub) began a project in 2021 to make the resources associated with the NSF-funded COVID Information Commons (CIC) virtual events accessible to the broader public. The NEBDHub team of staff and students, with support from the Columbia University Libraries’ Academic Commons, created English transcriptions and captions and Spanish translations for each of the CIC webinar research lightning talks.These COVID-19 resources were designed in alignment with the NEBDHub’s website accessibility principles and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility policy guidelines. The materials will be maintained by the Academic Commons in perpetuity, ensuring their availability to students, faculty, staff, and members of the public

3,5-Dimethylisoxazoles Act As Acetyl-lysine-mimetic Bromodomain Ligands

Histone-lysine acetylation is a vital chromatin post-translational modification involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene transcription. Bromodomains bind acetylated lysines, acting as readers of the histone-acetylation code. Competitive inhibitors of this interaction have antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties. With 57 distinct bromodomains known, the discovery of subtype-selective inhibitors of the histone-bromodomain interaction is of great importance. We have identified the 3,5 dimethylisoxazole moiety as a novel acetyl-lysine bioisostere, which displaces acetylated histone-mimicking peptides from bromodomains. Using X-ray crystallographic analysis, we have determined the interactions responsible for the activity and selectivity of 4-substituted 3,5-dimethylisoxazoles against a selection of phylogenetically diverse bromodomains. By exploiting these interactions, we have developed compound 4d, which has IC50 values of <5 μM for the bromodomain-containing proteins BRD2(1) and BRD4(1). These compounds are promising leads for the further development of selective probes for the bromodomain and extra C-terminal domain (BET) family and CREBBP bromodomains

La Grange Comprehensive Plan 2018 - 2038

In the Fall of 2017, the City of La Grange and Texas Target Communities partnered to create a task force to represent the community. The task force was integral to the planning process, contributing the thoughts, desires, and opinions of community members—as well as their enthusiasm about La Grange’s future. This fifteen-month planning process ended in August 2018. The result of this collaboration is the La Grange Comprehensive Plan, which is the official policy guide for the community’s growth over the next twenty years.La Grange Comprehensive Plan 2018 - 2038 provides a guide for the future growth of the City. This document was developed by Texas Target Communities in partnership with the City of La Grange.Texas Target Communitie