dev

HARMAN to Establish New Global Development Center in Suzhou, China

AUTO CHINA 2014, BEIJING -- Harman International Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HAR), the global premium audio and infotainment group, said today that it will open a new global research and development center in Suzhou, China in mid 2015, initially adding about 100 new employees at the site. Construction of the new 10,000 sq. m. (100,000 sq. ft.) facility will begin in June. The announcement was made during the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.




dev

It would take Iran more than 4 months to develop nuclear weapons

The US assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani has raised fears of nuclear conflict, but Iran has been on the road to building nuclear weapons for some time




dev

No 'V'-shape return from devastating U.S. job loss, Fed policymakers say

As many parts of the world's biggest economy begin to reopen after weeks of stay-at-home orders that slowed the spread of the coronavirus but gutted jobs, Americans should not expect a quick return to growth, U.S. Federal Reserve officials said on Friday.




dev

Nintendo smashes Switch sales view; says Animal Crossing is device's fastest-selling game

Japan's Nintendo Co Ltd said on Thursday its fourth-quarter profit soared 200% due to surging demand for its Switch games console, and that title Animal Crossing: New Horizons shifted a record 13.4 million units in its first six weeks.




dev

HARMAN enters into a global partnership with Roche to develop a digital therapeutic technology for individuals living with autism

STAMFORD, CT – May 4, 2020 – HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, announced today that it has entered into a multi-year, global partnership...




dev

Slower-moving hurricanes will cause more devastation as world warms

Climate models show that as the world warms, tropical cyclones will travel more slowly, dumping more rain in one place and making high-speed winds batter buildings for longer




dev

Pocket-sized device tests DNA in blood samples for genetic conditions

A cheap, lightweight smartphone-heated device can test for DNA in blood, urine and other samples in a fraction of the time it takes to test in a lab




dev

Electrical devices implanted in the brain may help treat anorexia

In a small trial, implanting electrodes into the brain helped women with severe anorexia gain weight and feel less anxious and depressed




dev

Devs: Here's the real science behind the quantum computing TV show

In TV series Devs, a tech company has built an extremely powerful quantum computer. The show is both beautiful and captivating, says Rowan Hooper




dev

Researchers Develop Quick Way to Create Human Antibodies

Title: Researchers Develop Quick Way to Create Human Antibodies
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2008 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM




dev

Hypertension Takes Huge Toll in Developing Countries

Title: Hypertension Takes Huge Toll in Developing Countries
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2008 2:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2008 12:00:00 AM




dev

How, When Child Develops Autism May Determine Outcomes

Title: How, When Child Develops Autism May Determine Outcomes
Category: Health News
Created: 4/23/2010 10:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/26/2010 12:00:00 AM




dev

Radiofrequency Device Approved for Severe Chronic Asthma

Title: Radiofrequency Device Approved for Severe Chronic Asthma
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2010 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2010 12:00:00 AM




dev

FDA Approves New Device for Asthma Relief

Title: FDA Approves New Device for Asthma Relief
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2010 11:31:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2010 11:31:14 AM




dev

New Earlier, Noninvasive Paternity Test Developed

Title: New Earlier, Noninvasive Paternity Test Developed
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2012 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2012 12:00:00 AM




dev

Implanted Device May Predict Epilepsy Seizures, Study Suggests

Title: Implanted Device May Predict Epilepsy Seizures, Study Suggests
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2013 10:35:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2013 12:00:00 AM




dev

FDA Moves Female Incontinence Device to 'High Risk' Status

Title: FDA Moves Female Incontinence Device to 'High Risk' Status
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2014 2:36:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2014 12:00:00 AM




dev

3D 'Printout' Device Keeps Very Ill Babies Breathing

Title: 3D 'Printout' Device Keeps Very Ill Babies Breathing
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM




dev

FDA Proposes Ban on 'Shock' Device Used to Curb Self-Harm

Title: FDA Proposes Ban on 'Shock' Device Used to Curb Self-Harm
Category: Health News
Created: 4/22/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM




dev

'You've Got Cancer' Can Take Devastating Mental Toll

Title: 'You've Got Cancer' Can Take Devastating Mental Toll
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM




dev

Half of U.S. Docs Get Payments From Drug, Device Industries: Study

Title: Half of U.S. Docs Get Payments From Drug, Device Industries: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2017 12:00:00 AM




dev

Kids of Youngest, Oldest Moms at Risk of Developmental Issues: Study

Title: Kids of Youngest, Oldest Moms at Risk of Developmental Issues: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM




dev

Device Might Detect Breast Cancer-Linked Swelling Sooner

Title: Device Might Detect Breast Cancer-Linked Swelling Sooner
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM




dev

Scientists Develop Blood Test for Peanut Allergy

Title: Scientists Develop Blood Test for Peanut Allergy
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM




dev

Device Helps Doctors Select Lungs for Transplant

Title: Device Helps Doctors Select Lungs for Transplant
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2019 12:00:00 AM




dev

FDA OKs Restricted Sales of 'Heat-Not-Burn' Tobacco Devices

Title: FDA OKs Restricted Sales of 'Heat-Not-Burn' Tobacco Devices
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2019 12:00:00 AM




dev

Device Spots Lymphedema Early in Breast Cancer Patients, to Help Stop It

Title: Device Spots Lymphedema Early in Breast Cancer Patients, to Help Stop It
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2019 12:00:00 AM




dev

Can AI Predict Who Will Develop Diabetes?

Title: Can AI Predict Who Will Develop Diabetes?
Category: Health News
Created: 3/31/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/31/2020 12:00:00 AM




dev

Patch Pump Device Could Offer Cheaper Insulin Delivery

Title: Patch Pump Device Could Offer Cheaper Insulin Delivery
Category: Health News
Created: 4/1/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/2/2020 12:00:00 AM




dev

Age of the Acadian deformation and Devonian granites in northern England: a review

Field evidence shows that emplacement of Devonian granites in northern England overlaps in space and time with the end of the supposed Acadian deformation in their country rocks. The age of this Acadian event in England and Wales is in need of review because of revised Rb-Sr and K-Ar decay constants and recently acquired radiometric ages on the granites.

Published K-Ar and Ar-Ar cleavage ages recalculated to the new decay constants range from 404 to 394 Ma (Emsian, Early Devonian). Emplacement of the Skiddaw and Weardale granites at 398.8 ± 0.4 and 399.3 ± 0.7 Ma respectively is indicated by U-Pb zircon ages, and is compatible with the field evidence. However, emplacement of the Shap Granite at a Re-Os molybdenite age of 405.2 ± 1.8 Ma and at the youngest U-Pb zircon age of 403 ± 8 Ma matches the field evidence less well. The apparent paradox in these ages is resolved if the K-Ar ages record only the end of millions of years of cleavage formation. An earlier cluster of K-Ar and Ar-Ar cleavage ages at 426–420 Ma (Ludlow to Přídolí, late Silurian) dates a pre-Acadian resetting event soon after Iapetus closure, an event of uncertain significance.

Ion microprobe U-Pb zircon ages for the Shap Granite have a mean of 415.6 ± 1.4 Ma but a range of 428–403 Ma, compatible with a long magmatic history. Thermal considerations suggest that this history was not at the upper crustal emplacement site but in a mid-crustal mush zone, now preserved at about 10 km depth as a component of the Lake District and North Pennine batholiths.




dev

Emplacement of oil in the Devonian Weardale Granite of northern England

Oil residues occur as solid bitumen in mineralized zones within the Devonian Weardale Granite of the northern Pennines, northern England. Comparable residues are present in the overlying Mississippian rocks and were probably derived from a Carboniferous source, i.e. during later mineralization of the granite. The bitumen was already solidified during fluorite mineralization, which does not contain oil inclusions. The residues do not show the high thermal maturity of organic matter in the region altered by the earliest Permian Whin Sill. Like the sulphide-fluorite mineralization, oil emplacement post-dated intrusion of the sill. Pyrite associated with the oil residues is enriched in trace elements including lead, silver, gold, selenium and tellurium, which suggests that mineralizing fluids at least shared pathways with migrating hydrocarbons and possibly also suggests undiscovered valuable metal resources.




dev

Development of a Dental School Strategic Plan to Inform Interprofessional Education

Changes in U.S. health care delivery systems and Commission on Dental Accreditation standards provide impetus for interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice, but roadmaps for engaging dental and dental hygiene faculty to incorporate IPE in a systematic manner are limited. The purpose of this report is to describe the process for creating a strategy and gathering a variety of baseline data to use for determining objectives and metrics and the subsequent development of an IPE strategic plan at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry (SOD). SOD IPE committee members included representation from the UNC Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Business. A three-phase framework was developed. Phase 1 (IPE assessment) was an internal environmental scan including a 2017 faculty survey, departmental mapping of IPE activities, comparison of UNC with national results on the IPE component of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) survey of dental school seniors (2016 graduating class), identification of faculty joint/adjunct appointments at other UNC schools, and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis. Phase 2 (visioning) consisted of development of IPE mission, vision, and priorities. In Phase 3 (implementation), priorities were developed. Data-gathering led to a strategic plan with three objectives: 1) increase faculty engagement and recognition, 2) develop predoctoral dentistry and dental hygiene IPE curricula, and 3) develop an infrastructure that supports IPE. Specific initiatives and activities, supporting metrics, and estimated costs were developed for each objective. The framework guided a systematic, transparent, and organized process for collecting and monitoring the evidence and directing activities. A three-year strategic plan for IPE was developed in 2017, and implementation is ongoing.




dev

Developing a Workforce for Health in North Carolina: Planning for the Future

Among the many trends influencing health and health care delivery over the next decade, three are particularly important: the transition to value-based care and increased focus on population health; the shift of care from acute to community-based settings; and addressing the vulnerability of rural health care systems in North Carolina.




dev

A new cheiracanthid acanthodian from the Middle Devonian (Givetian) Orcadian Basin of Scotland and its biostratigraphic and biogeographical significance

A number of partial articulated specimens of Cheiracanthus peachi nov. sp. have been collected from the Mey Flagstone Formation and Rousay Flagstone Formation within the Orcadian Basin of northern Scotland. The new, robust-bodied species is mainly distinguished by the scale ornament of radiating grooves rather than ridges. Compared to other Cheiracanthus species in the Orcadian Basin, C. peachi nov. sp. has quite a short range making it a useful zone fossil. As well as describing the general morphology of the specimens, we have also described and figured SEM images of scales and histological sections of all elements, enabling identification of other, isolated remains. Of particular biological interest is the identification of relatively robust, tooth-like gill rakers. Finally, the species has also been identified from isolated scales in Belarus, where it appears earlier and has a longer stratigraphical range, implying the species evolved in the marine deposits of the east and migrated west into the Orcadian Basin via the river systems.




dev

The South Kintyre Basin: its role in the stratigraphical and structural evolution of the Firth of Clyde region during the Devonian-Carboniferous transition

Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous rocks at the southern end of the Kintyre Peninsula closely resemble those of the Kinnesswood and Clyde Sandstone formations in more easterly portions of the Firth of Clyde. For example, a previously unrecognized thick marlstone with pedogenic calcretes is present in the Kinnesswood Formation at the south tip of the peninsula and, on the west coast, south of Machrihanish, a striking cliffed exposure includes massive phreatic calcretes developed from cross-bedded sandstones and red mudstones closely resembling those of the Clyde Sandstone on Great Cumbrae. A similar phreatic calcrete unit is present in the lower part of the Ballagan Formation in south Bute. The presence of vadose and phreatic calcrete provides valuable information concerning palaeoclimatic conditions in southwestern Scotland during the Devonian–Carboniferous transition. Overlying thick volcanic rocks are correlative with the Clyde Plateau Volcanic Formation. The sediments accumulated in the South Kintyre Basin on the west side of the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF). Formation of this basin, and the North East Arran and Cumbraes basins in the northeastern part of the Firth of Clyde, is interpreted as a response to development of a ‘locked zone’ in the HBF during an episode of sinistral faulting.




dev

The Four Arabidopsis Choline/Ethanolamine Kinase Isozymes Play Distinct Roles in Metabolism and Development

Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine are two major phospholipid classes in eukaryotes. Each biosynthesis pathway starts with the phosphorylation of choline (Cho) or ethanolamine (Etn) catalyzed by either choline or ethanolamine kinase (CEK). Arabidopsis contains four CEK isoforms, but their isozyme-specific roles in metabolism and development are poorly described. Here, we showed that these four CEKs have distinct substrate specificities in vitro. While CEK1 and CEK2 showed substrate preference for Cho over Etn, CEK3 and CEK4 had clear substrate specificity for Cho and Etn, respectively. In vivo, CEK1, CEK2, and CEK3 exhibited kinase activity for Cho but not Etn, although the latter two isoforms showed rather minor contributions to total Cho kinase activity in both shoots and roots. The knockout mutants of CEK2 and CEK3 both affected root growth, and these isoforms had nonoverlapping cell-type-specific expression patterns in the root meristematic zone. In-depth phenotype analysis, as well as chemical and genetic complementation, revealed that CEK3, a Cho-specific kinase, is involved in cell elongation during root development. Phylogenetic analysis of CEK orthologs in Brassicaceae species showed evolutionary divergence between Etn kinases and Cho kinases. Collectively, our results demonstrate the distinct roles of the four CEK isoforms in Cho/Etn metabolism and plant development.




dev

Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as Organ Transplantation Recipients

The demand for transplantable solid organs far exceeds the supply of deceased donor organs. Patient selection criteria are determined by individual transplant programs; given the scarcity of solid organs for transplant, allocation to those most likely to benefit takes into consideration both medical and psychosocial factors. Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities have historically been excluded as potential recipients of organ transplants. When a transplant is likely to provide significant health benefits, denying a transplant to otherwise eligible children with disabilities may constitute illegal and unjustified discrimination. Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities should not be excluded from the potential pool of recipients and should be referred for evaluation as recipients of solid organ transplants.




dev

In Utero Antidepressants and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Kindergarteners

OBJECTIVES:

To determine if in utero selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or selective serotonin norepinephrine inhibitor (SNRI) exposure is associated with developmental vulnerability in kindergarten among children whose mothers were diagnosed with prenatal mood or anxiety disorder.

METHODS:

Linkable administrative data were used to create a population-based cohort of 266 479 mother-child dyads of children born in Manitoba, Canada, between 1996 and 2014, with follow-up through 2015. The sample was restricted to mothers who had a mood or anxiety disorder diagnosis between 90 days before conception (N = 13 818). Exposed women had ≥2 SSRI or SNRI dispensations during pregnancy (n = 2055); unexposed mothers did not have a dispensation of an SSRI or SNRI during pregnancy (n = 10 017). The Early Development Instrument (EDI) was used to assess developmental health in kindergarten children. The EDI is a 104-component kindergarten teacher-administered questionnaire, encompassing 5 developmental domains.

RESULTS:

Of the 3048 children included in the study who met inclusion criteria and had an EDI, 21.43% of children in the exposed group were assessed as vulnerable on 2 or more domains versus 16.16% of children in the unexposed group (adjusted odds ratio = 1.43; 95% confidence interval 1.08–1.90). Children in the exposed group also had a significant risk of being vulnerable in language and/or cognition (adjusted odds ratio = 1.40; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.90).

CONCLUSIONS:

Exposure to SSRIs or SNRIs during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of developmental vulnerability and an increased risk of deficits in language and/or cognition. Replication of results is necessary before clinical implications can be reached.




dev

Developmental Support for Infants With Genetic Disorders

As the technical ability for genetic diagnosis continues to improve, an increasing number of diagnoses are made in infancy or as early as the neonatal period. Many of these diagnoses are known to be associated with developmental delay and intellectual disability, features that would not be clinically detectable at the time of diagnosis. Others may be associated with cognitive impairment, but the incidence and severity are yet to be fully described. These neonates and infants with genetic diagnoses therefore represent an emerging group of patients who are at high risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities. Although there are well-established developmental supports for high-risk infants, particularly preterm infants, after discharge from the NICU, programs specifically for infants with genetic diagnoses are rare. And although previous research has demonstrated the positive effect of early developmental interventions on outcomes among preterm infants, the impact of such supports for infants with genetic disorders who may be born term, remains to be understood. We therefore review the literature regarding existing developmental assessment and intervention approaches for children with genetic disorders, evaluating these in the context of current developmental supports postdischarge for preterm infants. Further research into the role of developmental support programs for early assessment and intervention in high-risk neonates diagnosed with rare genetic disorders is needed.




dev

Development of the Proximal-Anterior Skeletal Elements in the Mouse Hindlimb Is Regulated by a Transcriptional and Signaling Network Controlled by Sall4 [Developmental and Behavioral Genetics]

The vertebrate limb serves as an experimental paradigm to study mechanisms that regulate development of the stereotypical skeletal elements. In this study, we simultaneously inactivated Sall4 using Hoxb6Cre and Plzf in mouse embryos, and found that their combined function regulates development of the proximal-anterior skeletal elements in hindlimbs. The Sall4; Plzf double knockout exhibits severe defects in the femur, tibia, and anterior digits, distinct defects compared to other allelic series of Sall4; Plzf. We found that Sall4 regulates Plzf expression prior to hindlimb outgrowth. Further expression analysis indicated that Hox10 genes and GLI3 are severely downregulated in the Sall4; Plzf double knockout hindlimb bud. In contrast, PLZF expression is reduced but detectable in Sall4; Gli3 double knockout limb buds, and SALL4 is expressed in the Plzf; Gli3 double knockout limb buds. These results indicate that Plzf, Gli3, and Hox10 genes downstream of Sall4, regulate femur and tibia development. In the autopod, we show that Sall4 negatively regulates Hedgehog signaling, which allows for development of the most anterior digit. Collectively, our study illustrates genetic systems that regulate development of the proximal-anterior skeletal elements in hindlimbs.




dev

Pits and CtBP Control Tissue Growth in Drosophila melanogaster with the Hippo Pathway Transcription Repressor Tgi [Developmental and Behavioral Genetics]

The Hippo pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling network that regulates organ size, cell fate, and tumorigenesis. In the context of organ size control, the pathway incorporates a large variety of cellular cues, such as cell polarity and adhesion, into an integrated transcriptional response. The central Hippo signaling effector is the transcriptional coactivator Yorkie, which controls gene expression in partnership with different transcription factors, most notably Scalloped. When it is not activated by Yorkie, Scalloped can act as a repressor of transcription, at least in part due to its interaction with the corepressor protein Tgi. The mechanism by which Tgi represses transcription is incompletely understood, and therefore we sought to identify proteins that potentially operate together with Tgi. Using an affinity purification and mass-spectrometry approach we identified Pits and CtBP as Tgi-interacting proteins, both of which have been linked to transcriptional repression. Both Pits and CtBP were required for Tgi to suppress the growth of the Drosophila melanogaster eye and CtBP loss suppressed the undergrowth of yorkie mutant eye tissue. Furthermore, as reported previously for Tgi, overexpression of Pits repressed transcription of Hippo pathway target genes. These findings suggest that Tgi might operate together with Pits and CtBP to repress transcription of genes that normally promote tissue growth. The human orthologs of Tgi, CtBP, and Pits (VGLL4, CTBP2, and IRF2BP2) have previously been shown to physically and functionally interact to control transcription, implying that the mechanism by which these proteins control transcriptional repression is conserved throughout evolution.




dev

Alcohol Causes Lasting Differential Transcription in Drosophila Mushroom Body Neurons [Developmental and Behavioral Genetics]

Repeated alcohol experiences can produce long-lasting memories for sensory cues associated with intoxication. These memories can problematically trigger relapse in individuals recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD). The molecular mechanisms by which ethanol changes memories to become long-lasting and inflexible remain unclear. New methods to analyze gene expression within precise neuronal cell types can provide further insight toward AUD prevention and treatment. Here, we used genetic tools in Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the lasting consequences of ethanol on transcription in memory-encoding neurons. Drosophila rely on mushroom body (MB) neurons to make associative memories, including memories of ethanol-associated sensory cues. Differential expression analyses revealed that distinct transcripts, but not genes, in the MB were associated with experiencing ethanol alone compared to forming a memory of an odor cue associated with ethanol. Adult MB-specific knockdown of spliceosome-associated proteins demonstrated the necessity of RNA-processing in ethanol memory formation. These findings highlight the dynamic, context-specific regulation of transcription in cue-encoding neurons, and the lasting effect of ethanol on transcript usage during memory formation.




dev

Development of IFN-Stimulated Gene Expression from Embryogenesis through Adulthood, with and without Constitutive MDA5 Pathway Activation [INNATE IMMUNITY AND INFLAMMATION]

Key Points

  • The augmented ISG profile of RdRP mice develops largely postnatally.

  • Elevated ISG expression is then maintained through adulthood.

  • The ISG signature in adults requires persistent type I IFN signaling.




    dev

    Development and Characterization of an Avirulent Leishmania major Strain [INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND HOST RESPONSE]

    Key Points

  • Virulent and avirulent parasites significantly differ in their proteome profiles.

  • Avirulent parasites fail to inhibit CD40 signaling.

  • Avirulent parasite strain is a potential antileishmanial vaccine candidate.




    dev

    GRASP55 Is Dispensable for Normal Hematopoiesis but Necessary for Myc-Dependent Leukemic Growth [IMMUNE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT]

    Key Points

  • Golgi morphology and Grasp55 expression are regulated during hematopoiesis.

  • Hematopoiesis is not affected in Grasp55-deficient mice.

  • Grasp55 regulates Myc-transformed leukemic cell survival.




    dev

    Innate-like CD27+CD45RBhigh {gamma}{delta} T Cells Require TCR Signaling for Homeostasis in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs [IMMUNE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT]

    Key Points

  • E4 is an enhancer element that regulates transcriptions of TCR genes.

  • E4–/– mice have fewer CD27+CD45RBhigh V2+ T cells in peripheral organs.

  • Attenuation of TCR signal impairs homeostasis of T cells in peripheral organs.




    dev

    Serine Phosphorylation of the STAT1 Transactivation Domain Promotes Autoreactive B Cell and Systemic Autoimmunity Development [AUTOIMMUNITY]

    Key Points

  • STAT1-pS727 is required for SLE-associated AFC, GC, and autoantibody responses.

  • STAT1-pS727 in B cells promotes autoimmune AFC, GC, and autoantibody responses.

  • STAT1-pS727 is not required for foreign Ag– or gut microbiota–driven responses.




    dev

    Staphylococcus aureus Fibronectin Binding Protein A Mediates Biofilm Development and Infection [Bacterial Infections]

    Implanted medical device-associated infections pose significant health risks, as they are often the result of bacterial biofilm formation. Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of biofilm-associated infections which persist due to mechanisms of device surface adhesion, biofilm accumulation, and reprogramming of host innate immune responses. We found that the S. aureus fibronectin binding protein A (FnBPA) is required for normal biofilm development in mammalian serum and that the SaeRS two-component system is required for functional FnBPA activity in serum. Furthermore, serum-developed biofilms deficient in FnBPA were more susceptible to macrophage invasion, and in a model of biofilm-associated implant infection, we found that FnBPA is crucial for the establishment of infection. Together, these findings show that S. aureus FnBPA plays an important role in physical biofilm development and represents a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of device-associated infections.




    dev

    In utero MRI identifies consequences of early-gestation alcohol drinking on fetal brain development in rhesus macaques [Neuroscience]

    One factor that contributes to the high prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is binge-like consumption of alcohol before pregnancy awareness. It is known that treatments are more effective with early recognition of FASD. Recent advances in retrospective motion correction for the reconstruction of three-dimensional (3D) fetal brain MRI...




    dev

    Development of a therapeutic anti-HtrA1 antibody and the identification of DKK3 as a pharmacodynamic biomarker in geographic atrophy [Medical Sciences]

    Genetic polymorphisms in the region of the trimeric serine hydrolase high-temperature requirement 1 (HTRA1) are associated with increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and disease progression, but the precise biological function of HtrA1 in the eye and its contribution to disease etiologies remain undefined. In this study, we have...