Crowd wisdom tends to favor the most popular information, not necessarily the most correct — mass ignorance can cancel out a knowledgeable minority, resulting in the wrong answer becoming the most accepted. To improve wisdom-of-crowds surveys, Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have developed what they call the "surprisingly popular" algorithm, wherein the correct answer is that which is more popular than people predict.

NOGALES, AZ – Today, the U.S.

Norbert Elliott, who served as associate track and field and cross country coach, succeeds Lonnie Greene as head coach.

As the UK looks to lift restrictions, how do other European countries plan to re-open after lockdown?

The government says it is "stepping up action" to stop the "totally unacceptable" crossings.

The city says couples can book its Helena Gutteridge Plaza at City Hall for just $85 and bring eight guests to have an outdoor, physically distant wedding ceremony.

Pakistanis crowded markets on Saturday after a nationwide coronavirus lockdown was eased, despite the country declaring its second highest daily infection toll. Prime Minister Imran Khan has allowed businesses to reopen in phases from the weekend, citing the economic havoc the virus restrictions have wreaked on the improvised nation. In the garrison city of Rawalpindi, thousands of shoppers were preparing for Eid, which follows the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, with many flouting social distancing rules and advice to wear masks.

Although a robust inflammatory response is needed to combat infection, this response must ultimately be terminated to prevent chronic inflammation. One mechanism that terminates inflammatory signaling is the production of alternative mRNA splice forms in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway. Whereas most genes in the TLR pathway encode positive mediators of inflammatory signaling, several, including that encoding the MyD88 signaling adaptor, also produce alternative spliced mRNA isoforms that encode dominant-negative inhibitors of the response. Production of these negatively acting alternatively spliced isoforms is induced by stimulation with the TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS); thus, this alternative pre-mRNA splicing represents a negative feedback loop that terminates TLR signaling and prevents chronic inflammation. In the current study, we investigated the mechanisms regulating the LPS-induced alternative pre-mRNA splicing of the MyD88 transcript in murine macrophages. We found that 1) the induction of the alternatively spliced MyD88 form is due to alternative pre-mRNA splicing and not caused by another RNA regulatory mechanism, 2) MyD88 splicing is regulated by both the MyD88- and TRIF-dependent arms of the TLR signaling pathway, 3) MyD88 splicing is regulated by the NF-κB transcription factor, and 4) NF-κB likely regulates MyD88 alternative pre-mRNA splicing per se rather than regulating splicing indirectly by altering MyD88 transcription. We conclude that alternative splicing of MyD88 may provide a sensitive mechanism that ensures robust termination of inflammation for tissue repair and restoration of normal tissue homeostasis once an infection is controlled.

Extracytoplasmic sugar decoration of glycopolymer components of the bacterial cell wall contributes to their structural diversity. Typically, the molecular mechanism that underpins such a decoration process involves a three-component glycosylation system (TGS) represented by an undecaprenyl-phosphate (Und-P) sugar-activating glycosyltransferase (Und-P GT), a flippase, and a polytopic glycosyltransferase (PolM GT) dedicated to attaching sugar residues to a specific glycopolymer. Here, using bioinformatic analyses, CRISPR-assisted recombineering, structural analysis of cell wall–associated polysaccharides (CWPS) through MALDI-TOF MS and methylation analysis, we report on three such systems in the bacterium Lactococcus lactis. On the basis of sequence similarities, we first identified three gene pairs, csdAB, csdCD, and csdEF, each encoding an Und-P GT and a PolM GT, as potential TGS component candidates. Our experimental results show that csdAB and csdCD are involved in Glc side-chain addition on the CWPS components rhamnan and polysaccharide pellicle (PSP), respectively, whereas csdEF plays a role in galactosylation of lipoteichoic acid (LTA). We also identified a potential flippase encoded in the L. lactis genome (llnz_02975, cflA) and confirmed that it participates in the glycosylation of the three cell wall glycopolymers rhamnan, PSP, and LTA, thus indicating that its function is shared by the three TGSs. Finally, we observed that glucosylation of both rhamnan and PSP can increase resistance to bacteriophage predation and that LTA galactosylation alters L. lactis resistance to bacteriocin.

Lens proteins become increasingly cross-linked through nondisulfide linkages during aging and cataract formation. One mechanism that has been implicated in this cross-linking is glycation through formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Here, we found an age-associated increase in stiffness in human lenses that was directly correlated with levels of protein–cross-linking AGEs. α-Crystallin in the lens binds to other proteins and prevents their denaturation and aggregation through its chaperone-like activity. Using a FRET-based assay, we examined the stability of the αA-crystallin–γD-crystallin complex for up to 12 days and observed that this complex is stable in PBS and upon incubation with human lens–epithelial cell lysate or lens homogenate. Addition of 2 mm ATP to the lysate or homogenate did not decrease the stability of the complex. We also generated complexes of human αA-crystallin or αB-crystallin with alcohol dehydrogenase or citrate synthase by applying thermal stress. Upon glycation under physiological conditions, the chaperone–client complexes underwent greater extents of cross-linking than did uncomplexed protein mixtures. LC-MS/MS analyses revealed that the levels of cross-linking AGEs were significantly higher in the glycated chaperone–client complexes than in glycated but uncomplexed protein mixtures. Mouse lenses subjected to thermal stress followed by glycation lost resilience more extensively than lenses subjected to thermal stress or glycation alone, and this loss was accompanied by higher protein cross-linking and higher cross-linking AGE levels. These results uncover a protein cross-linking mechanism in the lens and suggest that AGE-mediated cross-linking of α-crystallin–client complexes could contribute to lens aging and presbyopia.

Part of a series exploring issues likely to be addressed by the new National Integration Plan, this webinar, with perspectives from the cities of New York and Seattle and others delves into possible recommendations on federal coordination of local government immigrant integration initiatives, including language access. 

Part of a series exploring issues likely to be addressed by the new National Integration Plan, this webinar, with perspectives from the cities of New York and Seattle and others examines possible recommendations on federal coordination of local government immigrant integration initiatives, including language access. 

Actor Rajshri Deshpande reaches out to the needy via a crowdfunding platform  Times of India

Tim and Sophie, an Australian couple with OM in Paris, experienced life in North Africa, and its many different needs and difficulties, through Transform 2012.

A thriving youth group and an Italian-language event encourage a team from OM Italy during a recent visit to OM’s ministry in Montenegro.

OM Africa teams and friends gather to read aloud the Word of God and declare its truth over the continent.

Churches are the key to continuity in the refugee ministry, states Gabby Markus, director of OM Greece.

A Zambian worker reaches out with love to the people of Somalia living in his country.

Realising the need for biblical role models, OM partnered with a local church to send a couple, Kelvin and Florence, to Crocodile Island as missionaries.

OM workers from Latin America discuss the similarities and differences to Arab culture.

A group of 32 Salvadorians recently crossed borders to share the gospel with people in Belize.

Realising the need for biblical role models, OM partnered with a local church to send a couple, Kelvin and Florence, to Crocodile Island as missionaries.

Realising the need for biblical role models, OM partnered with a local church to send a couple, Kelvin and Florence, to Crocodile Island as missionaries.

Source: www.businessinsider.com - Saturday, May 09, 2020
Mother's Day is the single most important holiday for flower shops, with many businesses relying on strong holiday sales to survive the summertime slowdown in demand for flowers. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, spring 2020 got off to an ominous start for florists across the United States. 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. CEO Chris McCann and BloomNation CEO and cofounder Farbod Shoraka told Business Insider that their florist partners are seeing a major uptick in spending in the run-up to Mother's Day. The National Retail Federation is projecting that flower sales on Mother's Day will increase from $2.01 billion to $2.1 billion in 2020. Despite the good news, there remain major challenges to florists and the flower industry as a whole during COVID-19, including a major downturn for growers and wholesalers, reduced staffing, and even figuring out distribution capabilities. But Society of American Florists CEO Kate Penn told Busines Insider that florists are some of the "resourceful" and scrappy business owners out there: "Come rain, sleet, or social distancing they'll figure out how to get it delivered." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories . For flower shops across the United States, Mother's Day is the most important date on the calendar. Millions of Americans setting out to make their moms feel special with a bright bouquet consistently ensure that the second Sunday of May is the biggest holiday in the flower business

Realising the need for biblical role models, OM partnered with a local church to send a couple, Kelvin and Florence, to Crocodile Island as missionaries.

Data from a soon-to-be published report on RTI implementation shows that some states don't have a framework for evaluating program effectiveness.

Fourteen from three countries participated in the cross-cultural missions training programme hosted by OM Andean Region.

Two OM team members experienced the bombings in Belgium firsthand as Red Cross volunteers.

Realising the need for biblical role models, OM partnered with a local church to send a couple, Kelvin and Florence, to Crocodile Island as missionaries.

Realising the need for biblical role models, OM partnered with a local church to send a couple, Kelvin and Florence, to Crocodile Island as missionaries.

New updates, features, a smaller and more refined engine with the convenience of an automatic gearbox, has the V-Cross become a better and easier everyday utility vehicle to live with? We find out.

A 1200 km ride across the great Indian coastline on a brilliant motorcycle, well, that's what Royal Enfield Konkan Chase 2020 was all about. Here is our experience!

In March, FPIs had withdrawn a record Rs 1.1 lakh crore on a net basis from the Indian capital markets (both equity and debt). 

Investors witnessed a wealth erosion of Rs 5.81 lakh crore in BSE-listed companies. The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies fell by Rs 5,81,182.15 crore to Rs 1,23,60,438 crore

Following the two-day fall in equities, the market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies plunged by Rs 6,98,419.77 crore to Rs 1,22,43,201.05 crore.

Fears of deepening global slowdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdowns have spooked the markets globally, including in India.  Almost all the equity-oriented mutual fund categories registered net inflows last month.

Credit risk funds have seen assets decline by nearly Rs 19,000 crore in April as investors rushed to redeem their money after the closure of six debt schemes by Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund, data showed.

The telcos have also said the government should direct video streaming platforms  to offer only standard definition (SD) and not high definition (HD) content for the time being so as not to choke the bandwidth.  

AIMO has requested the government to look at protecting the elders and senior citizens of the country and allow the working class to return to their livelihoods, by introducing a citizen risk assessment module.

Leading textbook publisher S Chand has priced its initial public offering (IPO) in a price band of Rs 660 to Rs 670 per equity share.

State Bank of India (SBI), may approach the debt market to issue additional tier-1 bonds or perpetual bonds, according to sources in the bond market.

The bank has witnessed asset quality weakening further in December quarter with the gross non-performing assets (NPA) as of December 2018 increasing to Rs 4,056 crore (8.49%) compared to Rs 2, 663 crore (5.95%).

CAI’s current estimates for the North Zone, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are lower by 1 lakh bales each compared to its previous month estimate.

To make matters worse, a sizeable number of labourers from Odisha are employed in the Surat textile industry, said Ashish Gujarati, president of Pandesara Weavers' Association.

Last year’s cotton sowing was estimated at 126.44 lakh hectare. Scientists say that early cotton sowing may be responsible for pink bollworm attack.

The worst fate that can befall a person is being locked down, alone or with his family, with no money and no food.

If the government were to follow FICCI’s recommendations and put out a package of 5-6% of GDP, with a focus on both the poor and the MSME sector, it is possible that the rupee may decline to, say, 85 or 90.

On May 3, the governments would have got 40 days time to do those things; the question is, do governments need more time?

According to an official source, it has not been ascertained from where these doctors, nurses and paramedic staff have acquired the infection.