Search

The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is thrilled to be back again in Atlanta. IPPE's expansive show floor will span across four halls - A Hall, B Hall, B/C [...]

Mastery of the Air, season 1, episode 3. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, written by John Orloff. Aired February 1, 2024, Apple TV+. Having recently rewatched Twelve O' Clock High [...]

It does not seem like it, but the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is only six months away. It will be here before you know it! The 2025 […]

THE INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION & PROCESSING EXPO (IPPE) is excited to be back in Atlanta. IPPEs show floor has expanded to include four halls: A Hall, B Hall, B/C Hall and [...]

USPOULTRY The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is excited to be back in Atlanta. IPPE's show floor has expanded to include four halls: A Hall, B Hall, B/C Hall [...]

Protein degradation using proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) represents a promising therapeutic strategy. PROTACs are heterobifunctional molecules that consist of a target-binding moiety and an E3 ligase binding moiety, connected by a linker. These fragments are frequently united via amide bonds. While straightforward to synthesize, amides may impart suboptimal drug properties to the overall molecule. From a systems level perspective, we envisioned that the potency of PROTACs could be modulated through selection of reaction conditions─wherein different catalysts produce distinct linkers from the same two building blocks. We present a suite of BRD4 PROTAC degraders prepared via four new amine–acid coupling reactions alongside the classic amide coupling. Our findings reveal that variations in reaction conditions affect the physicochemical properties of PROTACs, resulting in a spectrum of properties. Notably, several new PROTACs demonstrated enhanced BRD4 degradation efficacy compared to those employing amide linkers, emphasizing the potential of systems chemistry as a therapeutic optimization strategy.

The 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is only six months away and will be here before you know it! The 2024 IPPE will be back at the Georgia [...]

Since its inception nearly a half century ago, CHARMM has been playing a central role in computational biochemistry and biophysics. Commensurate with the developments in experimental research and advances in computer hardware, the range of methods and applicability of CHARMM have also grown. This review summarizes major developments that occurred after 2009 when the last review of CHARMM was published. They include the following: new faster simulation engines, accessible user interfaces for convenient workflows, and a vast array of simulation and analysis methods that encompass quantum mechanical, atomistic, and coarse-grained levels, as well as extensive coverage of force fields. In addition to providing the current snapshot of the CHARMM development, this review may serve as a starting point for exploring relevant theories and computational methods for tackling contemporary and emerging problems in biomolecular systems. CHARMM is freely available for academic and nonprofit research at https://academiccharmm.org/program.

A Michigan couple has donated $100,000 to a library that was defunded by voters after it refused to remove LGBTQ+ books from its shelves, Bridge Michigan reports. Andy Wierda and [...]

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 187,000 lives in the US since the initial impact of SARS-CoV-2 became known in late 2019, with almost 7 million confirmed US cases [...]

THE ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO FIND NEW WAYS TO SERVE ITS MEMBERS. Seventy-five years ago, poultry and egg leaders met in May of 1947 in Atlanta to discuss a variety of [...]

Just before the 2022 holiday break, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a new guidance document updating the recommendations for advertising claims about dietary supplement products that the agencv has [...]

The Future of Extended Deterrence: The United States, NATO, and Beyond edited by Stefanie von Hlatky and Andreas Wenger. Georgetown University Press, 2015, 259 pp. This edited collection draws on [...]

As an introduction to quadrupolar effects in NMR spectroscopy, students use low field (1H, 60 MHz), benchtop 13C NMR spectroscopy to contrast the spin–spin coupling behavior of 13C to the dipolar 1H and quadrupolar 2D in familiar solvents C(H/D)Cl3, C(H/D)2Cl2, and (C(H/D)3)2CO. To explain the observations, students are introduced to the spin magnetic quantum number, I, and its use in predicting first order coupling patterns. To explain the multiplets, both the number of lines and the relative intensities, students must expand their understanding of coupling beyond the mnemonics “n+ 1” and Pascal’s triangle for binomial expansion and instead utilize the nuclear spin magnetic quantum number, I, for the quadrupolar nucleus 2D. The exercise is a useful prelude to the introduction of NMR spectroscopy involving quadrupolar nuclei (e.g., 14N (I= 1); 11B (I= 3/2)) in upper-level inorganic chemistry courses or as a fundamental description of coupling in physical chemistry courses. An advantage of the low field spectrum (13C, 15 MHz) is the observation of magnetic nonequivalence of the two methyl groups in (CH3)2CO in which the 13C resonance for the methyl group is readily observed as a quartet of quartets.

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is a critical lipid for cellular signaling. The specific phosphorylation of the inositol ring controls protein binding as well as clustering behavior. Two popular models to describe ion-mediated clustering of PIP2are Martini3 (M3) and CHARMM36 (C36). Molecular dynamics simulations of PIP2-containing bilayers in solutions of potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and calcium chloride, and at two different resolutions are performed to understand the aggregation and the model parameters that drive it. The average M3 clusters of PIP2in bilayers of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine and PIP2bilayers in the presence of K+, Na+, or Ca2+contained 2.2, 2.6, and 6.4 times more PIP2than C36 clusters, respectively. Indeed, the Ca2+-containing systems often formed a single large aggregate. Reparametrization of the M3 ion–phosphate Lennard-Jones interaction energies to reproduce experimental osmotic pressure of sodium dimethyl phosphate (DMP), K[DMP], and Ca[DMP]2solutions, the same experimental target as C36, yielded comparably sized PIP2clusters for the two models. Furthermore, C36 and the modified M3 predict similar saturation of the phosphate groups with increasing Ca2+, although the coarse-grained model does not capture the cooperativity between K+and Ca2+. This characterization of the M3 behavior in the presence of monovalent and divalent ions lays a foundation to study cation/protein/PIP2clustering.

The Pharmacist Electronic Care (eCare) plan is an electronic documentation and billing platform that allows for exchanging and integrating pharmacy patient care information. eCare plans make it easier for pharmacists to track recommendations and referrals to both patients and providers and to bill for services.

The AAAI-18 workshop program offered 15 workshops covering a wide range of topics in AI. The workshops were held February 2-3, 2018, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New [...]

The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, in cooperation with Stanford University's Department of Computer Science, presented the 2018 Spring Symposium Series, held March 26-28, 2018, on the campus [...]

Migrating to a new ILS is not easy, and it is even more challenging when faced with a tight deadline. The Joint Bank Fund Library migrated to the new Alma/Primo [...]

The article, titled "Building Enduring Advantages in Defense," discusses various aspects of defense spending and reforms. It highlights the need to support troops by increasing pay and improving family housing conditions. The article also addresses the national recruiting crisis, particularly in the Army, and suggests engaging with American youth earlier to address the issue. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of cutting waste and spending money efficiently, as well as depoliticizing the Department of Defense by eliminating certain initiatives and positions. The article concludes by endorsing specific reforms proposed in President Biden's defense budget request for fiscal year 2025. [Extracted from the article]

The Texanist's response about honorary Texans and the recognition of the word 'Texas' worldwide made me smile ['The Texanist,' December 2022], I was born in Houston and lived there for [...]

ABSTRACTSocial work education programs in the U.S. are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Amendments made to the 2022 competencies reflect antiracism language, which requires assessment opportunities in the classroom moving forward. An assessment tool that assesses efficacy across the four domains, specifically related to antiracism, is essential for practice readiness, assessment, and accountability for future professional social workers. This article presents the Social Work Education Anti-Racism Scale to help programs assess their progress toward preparing social work students to become practitioners who embrace antiracism. The final scale included 30 items on five subscales related to antiracism: knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes, and professional responsibility. Applications for accredited social work programs are discussed.

The use of technology can enhance workplace efficiency, productivity, and flexibility; yet, technological tools can have negative effects on individuals' cognitive, psychological, and physical health, as well as on organizations [...]

Venable is board certified as a medical oncologist by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She obtained her veterinary degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia, graduating cum [...]

Pathogenic variants in COL1A1and COL1A2are involved in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and, rarely, Ehlers‐Danlos syndrome (EDS) subtypes and OI‐EDS overlap syndromes (OIEDS1 and OIEDS2, respectively). Here we describe a cohort of 34 individuals with likely pathogenic and pathogenic variants in COL1A1and COL1A2, 15 of whom have potential OIEDS1 (n= 5) or OIEDS2 (n= 10). A predominant OI phenotype and COL1A1frameshift variants are present in 4/5 cases with potential OIEDS1. On the other hand, 9/10 potential OIEDS2 cases have a predominant EDS phenotype, including four with an initial diagnosis of hypermobile EDS (hEDS). An additional case with a predominant EDS phenotype had a COL1A1arginine‐to‐cysteine variant that was originally misclassified as a variant of uncertain significance despite this type of variant being associated with classical EDS with vascular fragility. Vascular/arterial fragility was observed in 4/15 individuals (including one individual with an original diagnosis of hEDS), which underscores the unique clinical surveillance and management needs in these patients. In comparison to previously described OIEDS1/2, we observed differentiating features that should be considered to refine currently proposed criteria for genetic testing in OIEDS, which will be beneficial for diagnosis and management. Additionally, these results highlight the importance of gene‐specific knowledge for informed variant classification and point to a potential genetic resolution (COL1A2) for some cases of clinically diagnosed hEDS.

Lipid membrane viscosity is critical to biological function. Bacterial cells grown in different environments alter their lipid composition in order to maintain a specific viscosity, and membrane viscosity has been linked to the rate of cellular respiration. To understand the factors that determine the viscosity of a membrane, we ran equilibrium all-atom simulations of single component lipid bilayers and calculated their viscosities. The viscosity was calculated via a Green-Kubo relation, with the stress-tensor autocorrelation function modeled by a stretched exponential function. By simulating a series of lipids at different temperatures, we establish the dependence of viscosity on several aspects of lipid chemistry, including hydrocarbon chain length, unsaturation, and backbone structure. Sphingomyelin is found to have a remarkably high viscosity, roughly 20 times that of DPPC. Furthermore, we find that inclusion of the entire range of the dispersion interaction increases viscosity by up to 140%. The simulated viscosities are similar to experimental values obtained from the rotational dynamics of small chromophores and from the diffusion of integral membrane proteins but significantly lower than recent measurements based on the deformation of giant vesicles.

Influenza vaccine is the most effective way to prevent influenza. However, low vaccination rates continue especially in underserved populations.

illus bibliog

Identifying neurobiological mechanisms of aging-related parkinsonism, and lifestyle interventions that mitigate them, remain critical knowledge gaps. No aging study, from rodent to human, has reported loss of any dopamine (DA) signaling marker near the magnitude associated with onset of parkinsonian signs in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, in substantia nigra (SN), similar loss of DA signaling markers in PD or aging coincide with parkinsonian signs. Alleviation of these parkinsonian signs may be possible by interventions such as calorie restriction (CR), which augment DA signaling markers like tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the SN, but not striatum. Here, we interrogated respective contributions of nigral and striatal DA mechanisms to aging-related parkinsonian signs in aging (18 months old) rats in two studies: by the imposition of CR for 6 months, and inhibition of DA uptake within the SN or striatum by cannula-directed infusion of nomifensine. Parkinsonian signs were mitigated within 12 weeks after CR and maintained until 24 months old, commensurate with increased D1receptor expression in the SN alone, and increased GDNF family receptor, GFR-α1, in the striatum, suggesting increased GDNF signaling. Nomifensine infusion into the SN or striatum selectively increased extracellular DA. However, only nigral infusion increased locomotor activity. These results indicate mechanisms that increase components of DA signaling in the SN alone mitigate parkinsonian signs in aging, and are modifiable by interventions, like CR, to offset parkinsonian signs, even at advanced age. Moreover, these results give evidence that changes in nigral DA signaling may modulate some parameters of locomotor activity autonomously from striatal DA signaling.

Target 2035, an international federation of biomedical scientists from the public and private sectors, is leveraging ‘open’ principles to develop a pharmacological tool for every human protein. These tools are important reagents for scientists studying human health and disease and will facilitate the development of new medicines. It is therefore not surprising that pharmaceutical companies are joining Target 2035, contributing both knowledge and reagents to study novel proteins. Here, we present a brief progress update on Target 2035 and highlight some of industry's contributions.

illus chart

illus

Career services professionals are increasingly involved in decisions regarding the use of technology. This article presents a number of considerations to be explored, including the characteristics and needs of today's [...]

With the rapid increase in Chapter 11 filings, creditors are likely to receive invitations to organizational meetings for creditors' committees. The question arises again and again--should a busy credit professional [...]

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a Tec family kinase that plays an essential role in B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling as well as Fcγ receptor signaling in leukocytes. Pharmacological inhibition of BTK has been shown to be effective in treating hematological malignancies and is hypothesized to provide an effective strategy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. We report the discovery and preclinical properties of JNJ-64264681 (13), a covalent, irreversible BTK inhibitor with potent whole blood activity and exceptional kinome selectivity. JNJ-64264681 demonstrated excellent oral efficacy in both cancer and autoimmune models with sustained in vivo target coverage amenable to once daily dosing and has advanced into human clinical studies to investigate safety and pharmacokinetics.

Length of stay is an important metric in healthcare systems, primarily because it reflects the cost of care provided. In the United States, as in many countries, inpatient hospital stays are significantly more expensive than outpatient care across all healthcare conditions,1so earlier discharge and transition to outpatient care is crucial to help control the ever-increasing cost of healthcare. In burn patients, length of stay has traditionally been estimated at 1 day per 1% total body surface area of burn. This estimation was first described in a round table discussion in 1986.2However, since that time there has been significant evolution in the quality of care available to burn patients, in both the operating room and ICU. The use of new harvesting techniques, synthetic dermal substitution, and autologous epidermal skin cell suspension are allowing large, deep burns to be excised and covered in much quicker time frames than historically were possible. Examples include the skin harvesting and wound debridement device for grafting and excision, biodegradable temporizing matrix as a fully synthetic dermal template, and regenerative epidermal suspension concerning cell harvesting. Although these modalities can all be used separately, we believe that using them in conjunction has allowed us to shorten the length of stay in patients with severe partial and full-thickness burns. We present an initial case series of three patients with anticipated hospital lengths of stay of 54.5, 55, and 51 days, who were ready for discharge in 37, 35, and 43 days, respectively.

We review constraint-based approaches to handle preferences. We start by defining the main notions of constraint programming and then give various concepts of soft constraints and show how they can be used to model quantitative preferences. We then consider how soft constraints can be adapted to handle other forms of preferences, such as bipolar, qualitative, and temporal preferences. Finally, we describe how AI techniques such as abstraction, explanation generation, machine learning, and preference elicitation can be useful in modeling and solving soft constraints., Preferences and constraints occur in real-life problems in many forms. Intuitively, constraints are restrictions on the possible scenarios. For a scenario to be feasible, all its constraints must be satisfied. [...]

Musterion --a mystery or secret doctrine, Strong's Concordance She--dark eyebrows, inky eyes, raven hair, olive skin--bakes as her family works in the fields daydreaming about that bearded man under their [...]

Another wonderful article by Michael Hall, 'Summer Breeze' [February 2020], It took me in several different directions down Seals and Crofts memory lane. A handful of years ago, after retiring [...]

The relative importance of a number of predictors of binge drinking and of high- versus low-frequency binge drinking among undergraduate students was studied. Findings demonstrated that race, class, fraternity or [...]

In many ways, this is what you think of when you think 'black church.' This is the kind of place where folk get to testifying or shouting, or allowing their [...]

Background: Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous neoplasms of the uterus. Women of color, including non-Hispanic Black/African American women and Hispanic/Latinas, have a higher uterine fibroid prevalence, incidence, and disease burden compared to non-Hispanic White women. Therefore, understanding ethnoracial factors in the diagnosis and treatment of uterine fibroids in women of color is critical. This study provides insight on the ethnoracial factors and cultural barriers experienced by women of color in the management and treatment of uterine fibroids. Methods: Women were recruited via The Fibroid Foundation, a nonprofit that provides uterine fibroid support and education. Women who were interested completed an online screening survey. Eligible participants were interviewed via phone. Transcribed audio recordings were qualitatively analyzed using the principles of grounded theory. Results: Forty-seven women of reproductive age who were diagnosed with uterine fibroids and received U.S.-based care participated in a semi-structured interview exploring experiences with uterine fibroid diagnosis and management. Twenty-eight women self-identified as Black, Latina, or other ethnicity. Women of color reported fibroid symptoms that significantly disrupted their work and home life. Women of color also reported perceptions that their race/ethnicity impacted their uterine fibroid treatment, including negative interpersonal provider-patient interactions. These perceptions engendered feelings of skepticism towards the medical system based on historical injustices and/or their own negative experiences and led some to go without longitudinal care. Conclusion: Cultural and familial factors have significant impact on uterine fibroid diagnosis and management. Greater attention to culturally sensitive care and potential bias reduction in the treatment of uterine fibroids should be a priority.

More than 191 million opioid prescriptions were filled in the United States during 2017, and studies have shown that patients often have leftover medication.