Follies at Iowa State College

One week before the annual Home Economics Vodvil was given this year some one from out of town visited the Home Economics Building. When she looked into sewing laboratories she saw girls who were busy sewing on costumes; in the art laboratories girls were designing and painting scenery; and in the auditorium she saw girls practicing dances

EpitopeViewer: a Java application for the visualization and analysis of immune epitopes in the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB)

BACKGROUND: Structural information about epitopes, particularly the three-dimensional (3D) structures of antigens in complex with immune receptors, presents a valuable source of data for immunology. This information is available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and provided in curated form by the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB). With continued growth in these data and the importance in understanding molecular level interactions of immunological interest there is a need for new specialized molecular visualization and analysis tools. RESULTS: The EpitopeViewer is a platform-independent Java application for the visualization of the three-dimensional structure and sequence of epitopes and analyses of their interactions with antigen-specific receptors of the immune system (antibodies, T cell receptors and MHC molecules). The viewer renders both 3D views and two-dimensional plots of intermolecular interactions between the antigen and receptor(s) by reading curated data from the IEDB and/or calculated on-the-fly from atom coordinates from the PDB. The 3D views and associated interactions can be saved for future use and publication. The EpitopeViewer can be accessed from the IEDB Web site through the quick link 'Browse Records by 3D Structure.' CONCLUSION: The EpitopeViewer is designed and been tested for use by immunologists with little or no training in molecular graphics. The EpitopeViewer can be launched from most popular Web browsers without user intervention. A Java Runtime Environment (RJE) 1.4.2 or higher is required

Quantifying capture and ingestion of live feeds across three coral species

Nutrient acquisition through heterotrophy is critical for the health of reef-building corals. The optimization of exogenous nutrition protocols to support a diversity of aquaculture corals requires improved techniques to assess feeding rates. Here, we compared the feeding rates of three coral species (Acropora millepora, Pocillopora acuta and Galaxea fascicularis) fed Artemia salina through capture rate (indirect) and dissection (direct) approaches, with direct detection and enumeration within dissected polyps facilitated by fluorescent microbeads ingested by the Artemia. When A. millepora was provided Artemia at 3 individuals ml−1 for one hour, the calculated capture rates (0.7 ind. polyp−1 h−1) overestimated prey ingested compared to prey detected directly within polyps (0.2 ind. polyp−1 h−1), and ingestion varied significantly between genotypes. In contrast, for P. acuta, capture rate calculations (1 ind. polyp−1 h−1) underestimated prey detected within polyps (3.5 ind. polyp−1 h−1) and ingestion did not vary between genotypes. For G. fascicularis, the feeding rates were similar as calculated by both capture rates (59 ind. polyp−1 h−1) and by polyp dissections (75 ind. polyp−1 h−1). Results from this study provide valuable insights into coral feeding rates of different coral species that can improve prey enrichment and feeding strategies for nutritional supplementation of corals in captivity

Camouflaging in an everyday social context:An interpersonal recall study

Camouflaging is a social phenomenon operating within everyday social interactions of autistic and non-autistic people. The current study explored autistic adults’ camouflaging in an everyday social context via interpersonal process recall methodology (Kegan, 1969). A total of 17 autistic adults (8 females, 6 males and 3 agender/gender-neutral individuals) participated in a 10-min controlled social task designed to replicate a common day-to-day social situation. Participants then watched a video of their interaction with a researcher, actively identifying instances of camouflaging and discussing their experiences of camouflaging. Using thematic analysis, four themes were generated: (1) a strong desire for, yet uncertainty in, securing social acceptance and connection; (2) camouflaging, developed over time, as a means to achieve social acceptance and connection; (3) experiencing intrapersonal and interpersonal camouflaging consequences during social interactions; and (4) authentic socialising as an alternative to camouflaging. These findings are discussed with reference to the existing literature on stigma management outside the field of autism. LAY ABSTRACT: Many autistic people report that, despite personal costs, they use strategies to hide their autistic characteristics or appear non-autistic at work, school or university, when speaking with health professionals, or while socialising with certain friends and family members. These strategies are often referred to as camouflaging. This study explores camouflaging during everyday social interactions. A total of 17 autistic adults were filmed taking part in a common everyday social situation – a conversation with a stranger. They then watched the video of this conversation with a researcher and answered questions about camouflaging. These autistic people told us that they (1) had a strong desire to socialise with and be valued by other people but, because of negative past experiences, they often felt unsure about their ability to do so; (2) used camouflaging to help them to socialise and be valued by others; (3) experienced negative consequences when camouflaging (e.g. fatigue, anxiety and difficulties in friendships); and (4) sometimes socialised in more autistic ways instead of camouflaging. This study shows us how autistic people often change their behaviour because of the way they are treated by nonautistic people and that autistic people may benefit from programmes that help them to socialise in more authentically autistic ways, but only if their autistic social behaviour is met with understanding and acceptance from non-autistic people

Horizontal transfer of a natterin-like toxin encoding gene within the holobiont of the reef building coral Acropora digitifera (Cnidaria:Anthozoa: Scleractinia) and across multiple animal linages

Phylogenetic evidence is provided for horizontal transfer of a natterin-like toxin encoding gene from fungi into the genome of the coral Acropora digitifera. Sequencing analysis of the coral tissues supported that a fungal taxon predicted to be the most likely gene donor was represented in the coral microbiome. Further bioinformatics data suggested widespread recruitment of the natterin-like gene into venomous terrestrial invertebrates, and repositioning of this gene to non-toxic functions in non-venomous teleost fish

The impact of early stages of COVID-19 on the mental health of autistic adults in the United Kingdom:A longitudinal mixed-methods study

We used mixed methods to learn about the nature and drivers of mental health changes among autistic adults in the United Kingdom during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In quantitative analyses, we examined the nature and predictors of change in depression, anxiety and stress, prospectively measured in 70 autistic adults at Wave 1 (just before the United Kingdom’s first lockdown) and Wave 2 (10–15 weeks into the United Kingdom’s first lockdown). Retrospective Wave 2 reports of mental health change were also analysed for these 70 participants. For the qualitative analysis, 133 participants (including the 70 from the quantitative analyses) provided reports on their experiences of the pandemic at Wave 2. In quantitative analyses, retrospective reports indicated that participants’ mental health worsened, but prospective data showed a different picture, with overall anxiety and stress scores reducing between Waves 1 and 2. Nevertheless, the mental health impact of the pandemic on autistic adults was variable, with a sizable minority reporting a significant decline in mental health. Qualitative analysis yielded four themes that contributed to mental health changes: (a) adjusting to changes to the social world, (b) living with uncertainty, (c) disruptions to self-regulation, and (d) barriers to fulfilling basic needs. LAY ABSTRACT: During the COVID-19 pandemic, high levels of depression, anxiety and stress have been reported in the general population. However, much less has been reported about the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of autistic people. What we did: In the present study, we investigated how the mental health of autistic adults in the United Kingdom changed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 133 participants completed an online survey at two different time points. Of the 133 participants, 70 completed the survey at the first time point just before the onset of the national lockdown. This allowed us to look at changes in their mental health, from before the lockdown to 10 to 15 weeks during lockdown. All participants (133) told us about their experiences of the pandemic. What we found: While many autistic adults told us that their mental health worsened, people’s experience varied. For some autistic adults, aspects of mental health (e.g. anxiety, stress) actually improved. Participants also described social changes that had occurred, at home and in the outside world. They described feelings of uncertainty during the pandemic, and discussed how the pandemic had affected some of their previous coping strategies. Participants also told us about their difficulties in accessing healthcare services and food during the early stages of the pandemic. In our article, we discuss these findings and focus on what needs to change to ensure that autistic people are better supported as the pandemic continues

A YoeB toxin cleaves both RNA and DNA

Type II toxin-antitoxin systems contain a toxin protein, which mediates diverse interactions within the bacterial cell when it is not bound by its cognate antitoxin protein. These toxins provide a rich source of evolutionarily-conserved tertiary folds that mediate diverse catalytic reactions. These properties make toxins of interest in biotechnology applications, and studies of the catalytic mechanisms continue to provide surprises. In the current work, our studies on a YoeB family toxin from Agrobacterium tumefaciens have revealed a conserved ribosome-independent non-specific nuclease activity. We have quantified the RNA and DNA cleavage activity, revealing they have essentially equivalent dose-dependence while differing in requirements for divalent cations and pH sensitivity. The DNA cleavage activity is as a nickase for any topology of double-stranded DNA, as well as cleaving single-stranded DNA. AtYoeB is able to bind to double-stranded DNA with mid-micromolar affinity. Comparison of the ribosome-dependent and -independent reactions demonstrates an approximate tenfold efficiency imparted by the ribosome. This demonstrates YoeB toxins can act as non-specific nucleases, cleaving both RNA and DNA, in the absence of being bound within the ribosome.This work was supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health [P20GM103640]. Financial support was provided from the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of the Provost, University of Oklahoma. Open Access fees paid for in whole or in part by the University of Oklahoma Libraries.Ye

The Iowa Homemaker vol.8, no.9

“Bella Italia” by Julia Bourne, page 1 Flower Culture and How by Isabel Leith, page 2 “If the Shoe Fits” by Vera Kurtz, page 3 My Grandmother’s Dresses and Mine by Hazel B. McKibbon, page 4 New Book on Consumption by Grace M. Zorbaugh, page 5 Girls’ 4-H Clubs by Josephine Arnquist, page 6 State Association by Marcia E. Turner, page 8 Textile Standardization by Ruth Stewart, page 10 Editorial, page 11 Alumnae News by Vera Caulum, page 1

The Iowa Homemaker vol.10, no.1

Home Economics in Denmark by Marguerite Stotts Hopkins, page 1 The Swan Song of the Silk Storm by Clareta Walker, page 2 Follies at I. S. C. by Julia Bourne, page 3 Found – Thirty-five Hours a Week by Ethel Cessna Morgan, page 4 Cannibals Visit the Matrix Table, page 5 4-H Club by Helen Melton, page 6 Watch Out for Measles by Elizabeth Armstrong, page 7 State Association by Marcia E. Turner, page 8 Editorial, page 11 Alumnae News by Dorothy B. Anderson, page 12 Putting Life in the Living Room by Mabel Russell, page 1