Successful vaccine development for infectious diseases has largely been achieved in settings where natural immunity to the pathogen results in clearance in at least some individuals. HIV presents an ...additional challenge in that natural clearance of infection does not occur, and the correlates of immune protection are still uncertain. However, partial control of viremia and markedly different outcomes of disease are observed in HIV-infected persons. Here, we examine the antiviral mechanisms implicated by one variable that has been consistently associated with extremes of outcome, namely HLA class I alleles, and in particular HLA-B, and examine the mechanisms by which this modulation is likely to occur and the impact of these interactions on evolution of the virus and the host. Studies to date provide evidence for both HLA-dependent and epitope-dependent influences on viral control and viral evolution and have important implications for the continued quest for an effective HIV vaccine.
Thermal rectification is a phenomenon in which thermal transport along a specific axis is dependent upon the sign of the temperature gradient or heat current. This phenomenon offers improved thermal ...management of electronics as size scales continue to decrease and new technologies emerge by having directions of preferred thermal transport. For most applications where thermally rectifying materials could be of use they would need to exhibit one direction with high thermal conductivity to allow for efficient transport of heat from heat generating components to a sink and one direction with low conductivity to insulate the temperature and heat flux sensitive components. In the process of understanding and developing these materials multiple mechanisms have been found which produce thermally rectifying behavior and much work has been and is being done to improve our understanding of the mechanisms and how these mechanisms can be used with our improved ability to fabricate at the nanoscale to produce efficient materials which have high levels of thermal rectification.
Realistic modeling of biomolecular systems requires an accurate treatment of electrostatics, including electronic polarization. Due to recent advances in physical models, simulation algorithms, and ...computing hardware, biomolecular simulations with advanced force fields at biologically relevant timescales are becoming increasingly promising. These advancements have not only led to new biophysical insights but also afforded opportunities to advance our understanding of fundamental intermolecular forces. This article describes the recent advances and applications, as well as future directions, of polarizable force fields in biomolecular simulations.
While Active Learning Classrooms, or ALCs, offer rich new environments for learning, they present many new challenges to faculty because, among other things, they eliminate the room's central focal ...point and disrupt the conventional seating plan to which faculty and students have become accustomed.The importance of learning how to use these classrooms well and to capitalize on their special features is paramount. The potential they represent can be realized only when they facilitate improved learning outcomes and engage students in the learning process in a manner different from traditional classrooms and lecture halls.This book provides an introduction to ALCs, briefly covering their history and then synthesizing the research on these spaces to provide faculty with empirically based, practical guidance on how to use these unfamiliar spaces effectively. Among the questions this book addresses are:
How can instructors mitigate the apparent lack of a central focal point in the space?
What types of learning activities work well in the ALCs and take advantage of the affordances of the room?
How can teachers address familiar classroom-management challenges in these unfamiliar spaces?
If assessment and rapid feedback are critical in active learning, how do they work in a room filled with circular tables and no central focus point?
How do instructors balance group learning with the needs of the larger class?
How can students be held accountable when many will necessarily have their backs facing the instructor?
How can instructors evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching in these spaces?This book is intended for faculty preparing to teach in or already working in this new classroom environment; for administrators planning to create ALCs or experimenting with provisionally designed rooms; and for faculty developers helping teachers transition to using these new spaces.
Using spectral line observations of HNCO, N2H+, and HNC, we investigate the kinematics of dense gas in the central ∼250 pc of the Galaxy. We present scouse (Semi-automated multi-COmponent Universal ...Spectral-line fitting Engine), a line-fitting algorithm designed to analyse large volumes of spectral line data efficiently and systematically. Unlike techniques which do not account for complex line profiles, scouse accurately describes the {l, b, v
LSR} distribution of Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) gas, which is asymmetric about Sgr A* in both position and velocity. Velocity dispersions range from 2.6 km s−1 < σ < 53.1 km s−1. A median dispersion of 9.8 km s−1, translates to a Mach number,
$\mathcal {M}_{\rm 3D}\ge 28$
. The gas is distributed throughout several ‘streams’, with projected lengths ∼100–250 pc. We link the streams to individual clouds and sub-regions, including Sgr C, the 20 and 50 km s−1 clouds, the dust ridge, and Sgr B2. Shell-like emission features can be explained by the projection of independent molecular clouds in Sgr C and the newly identified conical profile of Sgr B2 in {l, b, v
LSR} space. These features have previously invoked supernova-driven shells and cloud–cloud collisions as explanations. We instead caution against structure identification in velocity-integrated emission maps. Three geometries describing the 3D structure of the CMZ are investigated: (i) two spiral arms; (ii) a closed elliptical orbit; (iii) an open stream. While two spiral arms and an open stream qualitatively reproduce the gas distribution, the most recent parametrization of the closed elliptical orbit does not. Finally, we discuss how proper motion measurements of masers can distinguish between these geometries, and suggest that this effort should be focused on the 20 km s−1 and 50 km s−1 clouds and Sgr C.
Workplace incivility research has focused on within-organizational sources of incivility, and less attention has been paid to outside-organizational sources such as customers. In a cross-sectional ...field study, the authors found that service employees (N = 307) who reported higher levels of uncivil treatment from customers engaged in higher levels of incivility toward customers. Specifically, the results show that customer incivility toward employees is related to employee incivility toward customers through job demands first and then emotional exhaustion. The authors discuss the implications of these results and highlight directions for future research.
Aims To determine if a transition support programme for young adults with diabetes could maintain attendance at a specialist clinic, improve diabetes control and reduce acute hospital admissions ...with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in 15–25‐year‐olds with Type 1 diabetes.
Methods A transition coordinator/diabetes educator arranged booking and rebooking of appointments for a young adult diabetes clinic based in an adult hospital between July 2001 and March 2006. An after‐hours phone support service was initiated. Data collected included source of referral, frequency of clinic attendance and HbA1c at each visit. Numbers of admissions and readmissions with DKA, length of stay and HbA1c on admission were recorded.
Results One hundred and ninety‐one young adults were referred. HbA1c at initial referral was 9.3 ± 2.17%. HbA1c significantly improved to 8.8 ± 1.9% (P < 0.001) after a median of five visits with a statistically significant fall in HbA1c of 0.13% per visit (P = 0.01). The greatest improvements were seen in those with starting HbA1c > 11% (−2.5 ± 2.3%, P < 0.001). Eighty‐two percent had attended appointments in the last 6 months. There was a significant reduction in DKA admissions falling by 1/3 (P = 0.05), and in readmissions a significant reduction in length of stay (−3.6 days, P = 0.02), over 3.5 years.
Conclusions If young adults are appropriately supported in adult services, clinic attendance is maintained, diabetes control is improved and hospital admission rates with DKA are reduced. The cost savings from reduced admissions covered the costs of the programme.
PDF
