Social media for academic programs & departments

Social media for organizations, such as an academic department or a degree program, consist of a range of web-based applications that allow anyone to disseminate information to online communities. The principle reasons for creating a social media presence for an academic department or program include: (1) Create an online social community for current students; (2) Create an extended community of alumni and friends; and (3) Create an awareness of the department or program among potential students

Vibrio cholerae accessory colonisation factor AcfC: a chemotactic protein with a role in hyperinfectivity.

Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor is an aquatic Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the current seventh pandemic of the diarrheal disease, cholera. A previous whole-genome analysis on V. cholerae O1 El Tor strains from the 2010 epidemic in Pakistan showed that all strains contained the V. cholerae pathogenicity island-1 and the accessory colonisation gene acfC (VC_0841). Here we show that acfC possess an open reading frame of 770 bp encoding a protein with a predicted size of 28 kDa, which shares high amino acid similarity with two adhesion proteins found in other enteropathogens, including Paa in serotype O45 porcine enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and PEB3 in Campylobacter jejuni. Using a defined acfC deletion mutant, we studied the specific role of AcfC in V. cholerae O1 El Tor environmental survival, colonisation and virulence in two infection model systems (Galleria mellonella and infant rabbits). Our results indicate that AcfC might be a periplasmic sulfate-binding protein that affects chemotaxis towards mucin and bacterial infectivity in the infant rabbit model of cholera. Overall, our findings suggest that AcfC contributes to the chemotactic response of WT V. cholerae and plays an important role in defining the overall distribution of the organism within the intestine

Efficacy of HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Nonhuman Primate Studies

Background. The efficacy of antiretrovirals as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent viral acquisition was demonstrated in nonhuman primate models of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the early 1990s. To complement the evidence base for efficacy of HIV PEP in humans, we systematically reviewed the published data on PEP efficacy across animal studies. Methods. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched from inception to 31 May 2014 for randomized and nonrandomized studies reporting seroconversions among uninfected animals exposed to HIV or simian immunodeficiency virus, irrespective of route of exposure. Seroconversion risk data were pooled using random-effects models, and associations explored through meta-regression. Results. Twenty-five studies (408 primates) were included for review. The risk of serconversion was 89% lower among animals exposed to PEP compared with those that did not receive PEP (odds ratio, 0.11 [95% confidence interval, .05-.23]). Heterogeneity was low (I2 = 0.0%). In meta-regression, a significant association was found between timing of PEP and seroconversion and the use of tenofovir compared with other drugs. Conclusions. This review provides further evidence of the protective benefit of PEP in preventing HIV acquisition, and the importance of initiating PEP as early as possible following virus exposur

Evolution of Native Identity in Future Home of the Living God

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich is a science fiction novel that presents a world in which evolution is collapsing in on itself. Cedar Songmaker, an Ojibwe woman adopted by white parents, documents these changes and her pregnancy, but Erdrich also explores the importance of Native identity. This paper analyzes Cedar’s specific experiences and psychological studies to explain her identity, which is a complex combination of white, Ojibwe, and Catholic. Her experiences are similar to those of many adopted Native children who are kept from knowing about their Native identities. The Indian Adoption Program, popular in the 1950s through the 1970s, forcibly removed Native children from their tribes and placed them in white households which erased their Native identities. Living into her mid-twenties without knowing anything about her birth mother or her Native heritage causes Cedar to feel alienated from those around her. Cedar struggles with her Native identity throughout the novel, especially combining it with the identity she already has. Cedar’s adult life is formed around her religion, which is an important source of solace. She takes the teachings of the Catholic Church, particularly its teachings about Mary and other female religious figures, and utilizes them to lift herself up and validate her own identity. Rather than feeling oppressed by the Church, Cedar uses it as a connection with her birth mother. Cedar’s time with her tribal nation also allows her to explore her Ojibwe heritage and identity. Cedar feels more self-determination when she knows all aspects of her identity and is able to combine them the way she wishes, not the way others tell her to

Analysis of Nonsmooth Neural Mass Models

Neural activity in the brain involves a series of action potentials that represent “all or nothing” impulses. This implies the action potential will only “fire” if the mem- brane potential is at or above a specific threshold. The Wilson-Cowan neural mass model [6, 28] is a popular mathematical model in neuroscience that groups excita- tory and inhibitory neural populations and models their communication. Within the model, the on/off behavior of the firing rate is typically modeled by a smooth sigmoid curve. However, a piecewise-linear (PWL) firing rate function has been considered in the Wilson-Cowan model in the literature (e.g., see [5]). This function, however, is non- smooth, and cannot be analyzed using standard mathematical theory. In this thesis, we considered the Wilson-Cowan neural mass model using a nonsmooth PWL firing rate function and analyze its behavior using techniques from generalized derivatives theory. To accomplish this, we calculated the sensitivities of the model parameters in order to determine the parameters that most impact the dynamics of the model across a set of parameter values. We also determined the stability of the model to better understand the long-term behavior of the model. We then compared the results of these analyses to that of the Wilson-Cowan model with a smooth firing rate function

Safety aspects and beneficial features of lactobacilli isolated from Lebanese Baladi goat milk

The microbiological and physicochemical parameters of Lebanese goat milk from the “Baladi” breed were evaluated and twenty-eight lactobacilli were isolated and examined in vitro for their probiotic potential. Initially, Lactobacillus isolates were examined for safety issues and exhibited diverse susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics while none was hemolytic. Subsequently, Isolates showed variable antimicrobial activity towards a range of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. Regarding their performance in conditions simulating the human gastrointestinal tract, all isolates remained unaffected at pH 3 and in the presence of bile salts (0.5% (w/v)) for 3 hours. Based on their survival at pH 2.5 for 3 hours, 10 isolates were selected for the adhesion assay. Low adhesion was observed to HT-29 and Caco-2 cells. Co-cultivation of THP-1 cells with specific isolates indicated a tendency for anti-inflammatory modulation shown by an increase in IL10 mRNA levels. Further analysis for probiotic properties indicated partial bile salt hydrolase activity for all isolates (n=28). Isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequence and were affiliated to the Lactobacillus casei group. Overall, by applying in vitro tests, a select number of presumptive Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains showed promising probiotic features from the Lebanese Baladi goat milk. This is the first report about safety and beneficial characterization of Lactobacillus strains isolated from Baladi goat milk from Lebanon

High Heeled Bootleggers: The Role of Crawford and Cherokee County Women during Prohibition Kansas

Kansas has a long history in fighting for what they want. In the 1850s, prohibition became the topic of concern. Although the federal prohibition mandate in the United States did not begin until 1919 when the 18th amendment was ratified in Congress and signed off by President Harry S. Truman, it began in Kansas in 1880. The count was narrow, but Kansas was passed as a dry state. Because it was not a federal law, people habitually broke it or found ways around it. Up until the prohibition laws was federally passed, saloons filled the towns, especially in Crawford and Cherokee County. Not everyone felt as though this law was needed and felt it was unnecessary. Some of those people were the immigrant coal miners that came to that area

Choice of Antiretroviral Drugs for Postexposure Prophylaxis for Adults and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Background. The choice of preferred regimens for human immunodeficiency virus postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) has evolved over the last 2 decades as more data have become available regarding the safety and tolerability of newer antiretroviral drugs. We undertook a systematic review to assess the safety and efficacy of antiretroviral options for PEP to inform the World Health Organization guideline revision process. Methods. Four databases were searched up to 1 June 2014 for studies reporting outcomes associated with specific PEP regimens. Data on PEP completion and discontinuation due to adverse events was extracted and pooled estimates were obtained using random-effects meta-analyses. Results. Fifteen studies (1830 PEP initiations) provided evaluable information on 2-drug regimens (zidovudine [ZDV]- or tenofovir [TDF]-based regimens), and 10 studies (1755 initiations) provided evaluable information on the third drug, which was usually a protease inhibitor. The overall quality of the evidence was rated as very low. For the 2-drug regimen, PEP completion rates were 78.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66.1%-90.7%) for people receiving a TDF-based regimen and 58.8% (95% CI, 47.2%-70.4%) for a ZDV-based regimen; the rate of PEP discontinuation due to an adverse event was lower among people taking TDF-based PEP (0.3%; 95% CI, 0%-1.1%) vs a ZDV-based regimen (3.2%; 95% CI, 1.5%-4.9%). For the 3-drug comparison, PEP completion rates were highest for the TDF-based regimens (TDF+emtricitabine [FTC]+lopinavir/ritonavir [LPV/r], 71.1%; 95% CI, 43.6%-98.6%; TDF+FTC+raltegravir [RAL], 74.7%; 95% CI, 41.4%-100%; TDF+FTC+ boosted darunavir [DRV/r], 93.9%; 95% CI, 90.2%-97.7%) and lowest for ZDV+ lamivudine [3TC]+LPV/r (59.1%; 95% CI, 36.2%-82.0%). Discontinuations due to adverse drug reactions were lowest for TDF+FTC+RAL (1.9%; 95% CI, 0%-3.8%) and highest for ZDV+3TC+boosted atazanavir (21.2%; 95% CI, 13.5%-30.0%). Conclusions. The findings of this review provide evidence supporting the use of coformulated TDF and 3TC/FTC as preferred backbone drugs for PEP. Choice of third drug will depend on setting; for resource-limited settings, LPV/r is a reasonable choice, pending the improved availability of better-tolerated drugs with less potential for drug-drug interaction

Musicking New Orleans Street Musicians: A Methodology for Writing About Music

This project argues for the use of performative writing as a methodology for writing about musical performances. An analysis of recent scholarship on music and musical performances written by performance studies scholars supports the use of performative writing in texts that address musical performances. In order to further this methodological claim, this study uses performative writing to document both historical and present day accounts of musical performances of street musicians in New Orleans. Utilizing Foucault’s theories on and Roach’s model of genealogy, Bruner’s notion of reflexive ethnography, and Small’s concept of musicking, I theorize, on a meta-methodological level, that performative writing enhances genealogy and reflexive ethnographic research, while simultaneously acting as an extension of the music or musical performance about which it is written

Concert recording 2021-04-16b

[Track 1]. Arabesque / Germaine Tailleferre -- [Track 2]. Sonata in E-flat major, movements I-III / Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy -- [Track 3]. Viktor\u27s Tale / John Williams -- [Track 4]. Sonatina, movements I-III / Malcolm Arnold