Stories as Instructional Strategy: Teaching in Another Culture

This article describes the use of story as an instructional strategy in a basic communication course taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong

The "Other" Within: Multiple Selves Making a World of Difference

Diversity challenges us by forcing us into encounters with the Other, the not-like-me/not-like-us. Educating leaders for effective collaboration in diverse settings means leading them through a process of de-centering from their "comfort zones" and helping them stretch to embrace difference. Such education mustconsider not only difference, but also inequality of power - particularly in terms of entrenched social structures that silently reinforce unearned privilege

Hydrophobic Ligand Binding by Zn-α_2-glycoprotein, a Soluble Fat-depleting Factor Related to Major Histocompatibility Complex Proteins

Zn-alpha2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is a member of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I family of proteins and is identical in amino acid sequence to a tumor-derived lipid-mobilizing factor associated with cachexia in cancer patients. ZAG is present in plasma and other body fluids, and its natural function, like leptin's, probably lies in lipid store homeostasis. X-ray crystallography has revealed an open groove between the helices of ZAG's alpha1 and alpha2 domains, containing an unidentified small ligand in a position similar to that of peptides in MHC proteins (Sanchez, L. M., Chirino, A. J., and Bjorkman, P. J. (1999) Science 283, 1914-1919). Here we show, using serum-derived and bacterial recombinant protein, that ZAG binds the fluorophore-tagged fatty acid 11-(dansylamino)undecanoic acid (DAUDA) and, by competition, natural fatty acids such as arachidonic, linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids. Other MHC class I-related proteins (FcRn, HFE, HLA-Cw*0702) showed no such evidence of binding. Fluorescence and isothermal calorimetry analysis showed that ZAG binds DAUDA with Kd in the micromolar range, and differential scanning calorimetry showed that ligand binding increases the thermal stability of the protein. Addition of fatty acids to ZAG alters its intrinsic (tryptophan) fluorescence emission spectrum, providing a strong indication that ligand binds in the expected position close to a cluster of exposed tryptophan side chains in the groove. This study therefore shows that ZAG binds small hydrophobic ligands, that the natural ligand may be a polyunsaturated fatty acid, and provides a fluorescence-based method for investigating ZAG-ligand interactions

Incorporating qualitative evidence in clinical practice guidelines: a Scottish perspective.

The current article provides an overview of an approach to incorporating a range of evidence, including qualitative research findings, which the authors piloted when developing a clinical guideline on epilepsies in children and young people. We describe methods used for incorporating literature types not usually included in Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines, including critical appraisal, and establishing dependability and credibility of qualitative findings. We highlight limitations encountered and make suggestions for future work

NCAA March Madness: An Investigation of Gender Coverage in USA Today During the NCAA Basketball Tournaments

In today’s economic environment, the United States newspaper industry has realized a severe period of decline in terms of circulation and overall consumer interest (Sullivan-Getty, 2009). While several major newspapers ceased existence in 2008, the USA Today remained the most popular American newspaper with a daily circulation well over 2.2 million (Sutel, 2008). However, with recent changes in consumer travel, the newspaper is expected to lose its position as the top U.S. daily following a 17% drop in circulation from April to September (Vanacore, 2009). With this in mind, it is critical that the USA Today identifies business strategies that will allow it to increase its circulation in years to come. In particular, it is more important than ever that the newspaper is aware of the content being delivered to consumers to ensure that it is delivering a highly competitive product. Thus, the purpose of the study is to investigate the coverage during the men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Championships to determine whether the newspaper is providing content to maximize its potential reach with sport consumers

Clothing Problems of Physically Disabled Persons in Public Contact Employment

Clothing, Textiles and Merchandisin

Mutations in the Glycosyltransferase Domain of GLT8D1 Are Associated with Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder without effective neuroprotective therapy. Known genetic variants impair pathways, including RNA processing, axonal transport, and protein homeostasis. We report ALS-causing mutations within the gene encoding the glycosyltransferase GLT8D1. Exome sequencing in an autosomal-dominant ALS pedigree identified p.R92C mutations in GLT8D1, which co-segregate with disease. Sequencing of local and international cohorts demonstrated significant ALS association in the same exon, including additional rare deleterious mutations in conserved amino acids. Mutations are associated with the substrate binding site, and both R92C and G78W changes impair GLT8D1 enzyme activity. Mutated GLT8D1 exhibits in vitro cytotoxicity and induces motor deficits in zebrafish consistent with ALS. Relative toxicity of mutations in model systems mirrors clinical severity. In conclusion, we have linked ALS pathophysiology to inherited mutations that diminish the activity of a glycosyltransferase enzyme

Evaluation of Indigenous justice programs Project D. Safe Aboriginal Youth Patrol programs in New South Wales and Northbridge policy and Juvenile Aid Group in Western Australia

In this evaluation, we examined two different approaches to delivery of Community and Night patrol services for young people: the Safe Aboriginal Youth Patrol programs (SAYP) of NSW, and the Northbridge Policy project (NPP) sometimes also called the Young people in Northbridge project, in Perth, Western Australia. The overarching focus of this evaluation was to determine whether the programs should be considered as examples of ‘good practice’ to be replicated elsewhere, and to find evidence of outcomes achieved by each program..

Community-onset sepsis and its public health burden : a systematic review

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and major contributor to public health and economic burden in the industrialised world. The difficulties in accurate diagnosis lead to great variability in estimates of sepsis incidence. There has been even a greater uncertainty regarding the incidence of and risk factors for community-onset sepsis (COS). We systematically reviewed the recent evidence on the incidence and risk factors of COS in high income countries. Methods: Cohort and case-control studies were eligible for inclusion. Medline and Embase databases were searched from 2002 onwards. References of relevant publications were hand searched. Two reviewers screened titles/abstracts and full-texts independently. One reviewer extracted data and appraised studies which were cross-checked by independent reviewers. Disagreements were resolved via consensus. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 percent confidence intervals (95% CIs) were ascertained by type of sepsis (non-severe, severe, and septic shock). Results: 10 cohort and 4 case-control studies were included. There was a wide variation in the incidence (# cases per 100,000 per year) of non-severe sepsis (range: 64 - 514), severe sepsis (range: 40 - 455), and septic shock (range: 9 - 31). Heterogeneity precluded statistical pooling. Two cohort and 4 case-control studies reported risk factors for sepsis. In one casecontrol and one cohort study, older age and diabetes were associated with increased risk of sepsis. The same case-control study showed an excess risk for sepsis in participants with clinical conditions (e.g., immunosuppression, lung disease, and peripheral artery disease). In one cohort study, higher risk of sepsis was associated with being a nursing home resident (OR=2.60, 95% CI: 1.20, 5.60) and in the other cohort study with being physically inactive (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.56) and smoking tobacco (OR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.54, 2.22). The evidence on sex, ethnicity, statin use, and body mass index as risk factors was inconclusive. Conclusions: The lack of a valid standard approach for defining sepsis makes it difficult to determine the true incidence of COS. Differences in case ascertainment contribute to the variation in incidence of COS. The evidence on COS is limited in terms of the number and quality of studies. This review highlights the urgent need for an accurate and standard method for identifying sepsis. Future studies need to improve the methodological shortcomings of previous research in terms of case definition, identification, and surveillance practice