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HARMAN’s Infinity Brand Pushes New Boundaries with Linkin Park Partnership and New Product Lines

CES 2014, LAS VEGAS – HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group (NYSE:HAR), today announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that GRAMMY Award-winning, multi-platinum alternative rock band Linkin Park will be the new brand ambassadors for the Infinity brand. Reflective of a common history of pushing boundaries, challenging convention, and producing cutting-edge sound, the exclusive five-year partnership between Linkin Park and Infinity will go beyond advertising to include collaboration in product design. To mark the new relationship, Linkin Park will help unveil a sneak peek of two all-new Infinity product lines – the Infinity Reference Loudspeakers Series and the brand’s first portable wireless sound system, called Infinity One.




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JBL® Expands True Wireless Headphone Line-up, Built for Every Adventure and Lifestyle

CES 2020, LAS VEGAS – JANUARY 6, 2020 – No wires? No problem. JBL continues to elevate its true wireless headphones portfolio by adding two more options to their existing lineup. Whether it’s window shopping on city streets, commuting into the office, or...




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Timeline: A brief history of quantum computing from 1980 to 2100

Here are the key milestones in the history of quantum computing, as well as New Scientist's predictions for the future 




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Time travel without paradoxes is possible with many parallel timelines

Time travel brings up paradoxes that break the laws of physics, but multiple similar timelines running parallel to one another could get around this




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Musicians Expose the Decline of Sound Quality in New Film “The Distortion of Sound”

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – "The Distortion of Sound,” a documentary exposing the decline of sound and how technology has changed the way we listen to music, premieres this evening at an invitation-only event at the GRAMMY® Museum in Los Angeles, California. Following tonight’s screening, the documentary will air on “The Distortion of Sound” YouTube channel, DistortionofSound.com, the Sundance Channel the IFC Channel on July 23 at 6 p.m. ET and PT.*




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Streetwalkers to sweet talkers: Chile's sex workers shift online amid virus lockdown

When the nightclub in which she touted for business in southern Chile was shut down by the authorities as the new coronavirus spread, sex worker Camila Hormazabal was left without access to her sole...




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Coronavirus-wary Japan tries to take business card ritual online

Japan's time-honoured ritual of exchanging business cards face-to-face is under pressure as the government promotes a "new lifestyle" to combat the coronavirus.




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Dinosaur extinction lines up closely with timing of volcanic eruptions

Many people assume an asteroid triggered the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs, but geologists say massive volcanic eruptions occurred at the same time




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How tempering chocolate hacks its crystalline structure

Here's how to use chocolate's crystalline structure to your advantage to make delicious tempered chocolate




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Gamifying hate: How alt-right extremists recruit and mobilise online

Julia Ebner infiltrated the hidden forums that extremists use. Her experiences lay bare how they hijack social media and video games to spread hate – and how to beat them




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DNA analysis reveals just how intertwined ancient human lineages are

Ancient humans in Africa mixed far more than we thought, according to new findings revealed by sequencing the genomes of a diverse group of people from across the world




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We’d be better off without American Airlines - Felix TV

Loose seats. Disrupted flights. Damning headlines. It’s been a terrible week for American Airlines. Reuters’ blogger Felix Salmon explains why flying American and other big carriers has become such a drag. (October 4, 2012)




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Dance at home: Georgian national ballet moves lessons online

Georgia's National Ballet, the former Soviet country's famous folk dance ensemble, started giving lessons online after the group's popular dance schools closed their doors due to the coronavirus.




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After the triumph of Animal Crossing, a thin pipeline for Nintendo

The runaway success of Nintendo Co Ltd's island life simulator Animal Crossing: New Horizons has overshadowed an uncomfortable fact for fans of the Switch console - it lacks upcoming titles.




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Breakingviews TV: EU airlines

Paris and the Netherlands are lending their respective parts of Air France-KLM up to 11 bln euros. The tricky bailout exposes the frailty of the 2004 merger. Ed Cropley reveals how other operators, including Germany’s Lufthansa and Britain’s IAG, could fly into similar problems.




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Gamifying hate: How alt-right extremists recruit and mobilise online

Julia Ebner infiltrated the hidden forums that extremists use. Her experiences lay bare how they hijack social media and video games to spread hate – and how to beat them




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UPDATE 1-Britain to quarantine travellers for 14 days, UK airlines association says

* Airports say it could be devastating for aviation industry (Adds details, changes sourcing)




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Southwest flights delayed by online booking glitch

Frustrated Southwest Airlines customers have been forced to wait in long lines for a second day as the airline tries to solve a technical problem with its electronic booking system. In the meantime, passengers are being told to prepare for delays. Katharine Jackson reports.




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Nasdaq erases 2020 declines

Wall Street's indexes climbed Thursday, with the Nasdaq erasing losses for 2020, following a clutch of upbeat earnings reports led by PayPal. Fred Katayama reports.




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New Guidelines: Treat High Blood Pressure in Over-80s

Title: New Guidelines: Treat High Blood Pressure in Over-80s
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2011 1:54:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/26/2011 12:00:00 AM




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Death Rate Declines for Americans With Hypertension

Title: Death Rate Declines for Americans With Hypertension
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2011 1:54:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 12:00:00 AM




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New Guidelines for Kidney Disease Due to Lupus

Title: New Guidelines for Kidney Disease Due to Lupus
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2012 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2012 12:00:00 AM




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New Guidelines Suggest HIV Screening for All Adults

Title: New Guidelines Suggest HIV Screening for All Adults
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2013 6:36:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM




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Urologists' Group Issues Updated Guidelines on PSA Test

Title: Urologists' Group Issues Updated Guidelines on PSA Test
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2013 12:35:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 5/3/2013 12:00:00 AM




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Trampolines Linked to More Than 1 Million ER Visits Over a Decade

Title: Trampolines Linked to More Than 1 Million ER Visits Over a Decade
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2014 12:35:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2014 12:00:00 AM




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Pediatricians Issue New Guidelines for Hospital Release of Newborns

Title: Pediatricians Issue New Guidelines for Hospital Release of Newborns
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2015 12:00:00 AM




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Study Challenges Salt Guidelines for Kids

Title: Study Challenges Salt Guidelines for Kids
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2015 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2015 12:00:00 AM




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New Guidelines Issued on Breast, Genital Plastic Surgery for Teen Girls

Title: New Guidelines Issued on Breast, Genital Plastic Surgery for Teen Girls
Category: Health News
Created: 4/22/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/25/2016 12:00:00 AM




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Births of Triplets, Quadruplets on Decline in U.S.: Report

Title: Births of Triplets, Quadruplets on Decline in U.S.: Report
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2016 12:00:00 AM




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Gene Mutation May Speed Alzheimer's Decline

Title: Gene Mutation May Speed Alzheimer's Decline
Category: Health News
Created: 5/3/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2017 12:00:00 AM




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Take Online Reviews of Plastic Surgeons With a Grain of Salt

Title: Take Online Reviews of Plastic Surgeons With a Grain of Salt
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM




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Posting Your Vacation Online May Make You Forget It

Title: Posting Your Vacation Online May Make You Forget It
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2018 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM




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Trump Says Federal Guidelines on Social Distancing Set to Expire

Title: Trump Says Federal Guidelines on Social Distancing Set to Expire
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2020 12:00:00 AM




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CDC Draft Guidelines For Reopening U.S. Being Reviewed by White House

Title: CDC Draft Guidelines For Reopening U.S. Being Reviewed by White House
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AM




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More Airlines to Make Passenger Face Coverings Mandatory

Title: More Airlines to Make Passenger Face Coverings Mandatory
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AM




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Pregnancy Guidelines During COVID-19 Pandemic

Title: Pregnancy Guidelines During COVID-19 Pandemic
Category: Health News
Created: 4/2/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/2/2020 12:00:00 AM




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Americans' Cholesterol Levels Decline: Study

Title: Americans' Cholesterol Levels Decline: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 11/12/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/13/2019 12:00:00 AM




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When Booze Labels Carry Health Warnings, Drinking Declines: Study

Title: When Booze Labels Carry Health Warnings, Drinking Declines: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 5/4/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2020 12:00:00 AM




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Challenges with Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines: Lessons for Implementation Science




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Emergence of a Plasmid-Encoded Resistance-Nodulation-Division Efflux Pump Conferring Resistance to Multiple Drugs, Including Tigecycline, in Klebsiella pneumoniae

ABSTRACT

Transporters belonging to the chromosomally encoded resistance-nodulation-division (RND) superfamily mediate multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. However, the cotransfer of large gene clusters encoding RND-type pumps from the chromosome to a plasmid appears infrequent, and no plasmid-mediated RND efflux pump gene cluster has yet been found to confer resistance to tigecycline. Here, we identified a novel RND efflux pump gene cluster, designated tmexCD1-toprJ1, on plasmids from five pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates of animal origin. TMexCD1-TOprJ1 increased (by 4- to 32-fold) the MICs of tetracyclines (including tigecycline and eravacycline), quinolones, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides for K. pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. TMexCD1-TOprJ1 is closely related (64.5% to 77.8% amino acid identity) to the MexCD-OprJ efflux pump encoded on the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In an IncFIA plasmid, pHNAH8I, the tmexCD1-toprJ1 gene cluster lies adjacent to two genes encoding site-specific integrases, which may have been responsible for its acquisition. Expression of TMexCD1-TOprJ1 in E. coli resulted in increased tigecycline efflux and in K. pneumoniae negated the efficacy of tigecycline in an in vivo infection model. Expression of TMexCD1-TOprJ1 reduced the growth of E. coli and Salmonella but not K. pneumoniae. tmexCD1-toprJ1-positive Enterobacteriaceae isolates were rare in humans (0.08%) but more common in chicken fecal (14.3%) and retail meat (3.4%) samples. Plasmid-borne tmexCD1-toprJ1-like gene clusters were identified in sequences in GenBank from Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas strains from multiple continents. The possibility of further global dissemination of the tmexCD1-toprJ1 gene cluster and its analogues in Enterobacteriaceae via plasmids may be an important consideration for public health planning.

IMPORTANCE In an era of increasing concerns about antimicrobial resistance, tigecycline is likely to have a critically important role in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, the most problematic pathogens in human clinical settings—especially carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. Here, we identified a new plasmid-borne RND-type tigecycline resistance determinant, TMexCD1-TOprJ1, which is widespread among K. pneumoniae isolates from food animals. tmexCD1-toprJ1 appears to have originated from the chromosome of a Pseudomonas species and may have been transferred onto plasmids by adjacent site-specific integrases. Although tmexCD1-toprJ1 still appears to be rare in human clinical isolates, considering the transferability of the tmexCD1-toprJ1 gene cluster and the broad substrate spectrum of TMexCD1-TOprJ1, further dissemination of this mobile tigecycline resistance determinant is possible. Therefore, from a "One Health" perspective, measures are urgently needed to monitor and control its further spread. The current low prevalence in human clinical isolates provides a precious time window to design and implement measures to tackle this.




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Processing, Export, and Identification of Novel Linear Peptides from Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus can colonize the human host and cause a variety of superficial and invasive infections. The success of S. aureus as a pathogen derives from its ability to modulate its virulence through the release, sensing of and response to cyclic signaling peptides. Here we provide, for the first time, evidence that S. aureus processes and secretes small linear peptides through a specialized pathway that converts a lipoprotein leader into an extracellular peptide signal. We have identified and confirmed the machinery for each step and demonstrate that the putative membrane metalloprotease Eep and the EcsAB transporter are required to complete the processing and secretion of the peptides. In addition, we have identified several linear peptides, including the interspecies signaling molecule staph-cAM373, that are dependent on this processing and secretion pathway. These findings are particularly important because multiple Gram-positive bacteria rely on small linear peptides to control bacterial gene expression and virulence.

IMPORTANCE Here, we provide evidence indicating that S. aureus secretes small linear peptides into the environment via a novel processing and secretion pathway. The discovery of a specialized pathway for the production of small linear peptides and the identification of these peptides leads to several important questions regarding their role in S. aureus biology, most interestingly, their potential to act as signaling molecules. The observations in this study provide a foundation for further in-depth studies into the biological activity of small linear peptides in S. aureus.




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NPHW 2020 work moves online

Health advocates across the country used National Public Health Week in April to highlight the important role of public health, which became even more crucial in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Biallelic LINE insertion mutation in HACD1 causing congenital myopathy

Congenital myopathies are clinically and genetically heterogeneous, resulting from mutations in at least 30 different genes.1 The classical presentation is neonatal hypotonia and nonprogressive weakness with normal creatine phosphokinase, although there is a broad range in terms of age at onset and clinical presentation. Historically, congenital myopathies have been defined and diagnosed based on muscle biopsy. However, with advances in genomics, genetics have taken primacy in the diagnostic pathway.2




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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.




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Therapeutic drug monitoring using saliva as matrix: an opportunity for linezolid, but challenge for moxifloxacin

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed moxifloxacin and linezolid among the preferred "group A" drugs in the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR)-tuberculosis (TB) [1]. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) could potentially optimise MDR-TB therapy, since moxifloxacin and linezolid show large pharmacokinetic variability [1–4]. TDM of moxifloxacin focuses on identifying patients with low drug exposure who are at risk of treatment failure and acquired fluoroquinolone resistance [5, 6]. Alternatively, TDM of linezolid strives to reduce toxicity while ensuring an adequate drug exposure because of its narrow therapeutic index [1, 3, 7].




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Neurology consults in emergency departments: Opportunities to streamline care

Objective

To use the variations in neurology consultations requested by emergency department (ED) physicians to identify opportunities to implement multidisciplinary interventions in an effort to reduce ED overcrowding.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed ED visits across 3 urban hospitals to determine the top 10 most common chief complaints leading to neurology consultation. For each complaint, we evaluated the likelihood of consultation, admission rate, admitting services, and provider-to-provider variability of consultation.

Results

Of 145,331 ED encounters analyzed, 3,087 (2.2%) involved a neurology consult, most commonly with chief complaints of acute-onset neurologic deficit, subacute neurologic deficit, or altered mental status. ED providers varied most in their consultation for acute-onset neurologic deficit, dizziness, and headache. Neurology consultation was associated with a 2.3-hour-longer length of stay (LOS) (95% CI: 1.6–3.1). Headache in particular has an average of 6.7-hour-longer ED LOS associated with consultation, followed by weakness or extremity weakness (4.4 hours) and numbness (4.1 hours). The largest estimated cumulative difference (number of patients with the specific consultation multiplied by estimated difference in LOS) belongs to headache, altered mental status, and seizures.

Conclusion

A systematic approach to identify variability in neurology consultation utilization and its effect on ED LOS helps pinpoint the conditions most likely to benefit from protocolized pathways.




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Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines




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Network Implementation of Guideline for Early Detection Decreases Age at Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Early diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) is critical in obtaining evidence-based interventions when plasticity is greatest. In 2017, international guidelines for early detection of CP were published on the basis of a systematic review of evidence. Our study aim was to reduce the age at CP diagnosis throughout a network of 5 diverse US high-risk infant follow-up programs through consistent implementation of these guidelines.

METHODS:

The study leveraged plan-do-study-act and Lean methodologies. The primary outcome was age at CP diagnosis. Data were acquired during the corresponding 9-month baseline and quarterly throughout study. Balancing measures were clinic no-show rates and parent perception of the diagnosis visit. Clinic teams conducted strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analyses, process flow evaluations, standardized assessments training, and parent questionnaires. Performance of a 3- to 4-month clinic visit was a critical process step because it included a Hammersmith Infant Neurologic Examination, a General Movements Assessment, and standardized assessments of motor function.

RESULTS:

The age at CP diagnosis decreased from a weighted average of 19.5 (95% confidence interval 16.2 to 22.8) to 9.5 months (95% confidence interval 4.5 to 14.6), with P = .008; 3- to 4-month visits per site increased from the median (interquartile range) 14 (5.2–73.7) to 54 (34.5–152.0), with P < .001; and no-show rates were not different. Parent questionnaires revealed positive provider perception with improvement opportunities for information content and understandability.

CONCLUSIONS:

Large-scale implementation of international guidelines for early detection of CP is feasible in diverse high-risk infant follow-up clinics. The initiative was received positively by families and without adversely affecting clinic operational flow. Additional parent support and education are necessary.




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A nonlinear beam model of photomotile structures [Engineering]

Actuation remains a significant challenge in soft robotics. Actuation by light has important advantages: Objects can be actuated from a distance, distinct frequencies can be used to actuate and control distinct modes with minimal interference, and significant power can be transmitted over long distances through corrosion-free, lightweight fiber optic cables....




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Structural basis for Zika envelope domain III recognition by a germline version of a recurrent neutralizing antibody [Biochemistry]

Recent epidemics demonstrate the global threat of Zika virus (ZIKV), a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes. Although infection is usually asymptomatic or mild, newborns of infected mothers can display severe symptoms, including neurodevelopmental abnormalities and microcephaly. Given the large-scale spread, symptom severity, and lack of treatment or prophylaxis, a safe and...