Disaster preparedness of home health care agencies in San Diego County

A questionnaire was sent to 53 home health care agencies in San Diego to assess their state of disaster readiness. Thirty agencies returned completed questionnaires. Of these, 90% have written disaster plans, but only 33% conduct regular drills to practice their written plans. A 24-h telephone number is available to patients at 96% of the agencies. One-fourth of the agencies serving ventilator-dependent patients do not make utility companies aware of their special needs. Of 11 hospital-sponsored agencies, 18% include backup agreements with other agencies, while 79% of non-hospital-sponsored agencies have planned such backup. The majority (92%) of "private-for-profit" agencies have backup arrangements, but only 38% of the public or nonprofit agencies have such arrangements. Additionally, 31% of the home health care agencies do not feel they would be able to meet the needs of their clients in the event of a disaster. Specific recommendations for such agencies in developing disaster plans, and exercising them, are made.     

Design of an Ultrafast G Protein Switch Based on a Mouse Melanopsin Variant

The primary goal of optogenetics is the light-controlled noninvasive and specific manipulation of various cellular processes. Herein, we present a hybrid strategy for targeted protein engineering combining computational techniques with electrophysiological and UV/visible spectroscopic experiments. We validated our concept for channelrhodopsin-2 and applied it to modify the less-well-studied vertebrate opsin melanopsin. Melanopsin is a promising optogenetic tool that functions as a selective molecular light switch for G protein-coupled receptor pathways. Thus, we constructed a model of the melanopsin G_q protein complex and predicted an absorption maximum shift of the Y211F variant. This variant displays a narrow blue-shifted action spectrum and twofold faster deactivation kinetics compared to wild-type melanopsin on G protein-coupled inward rectifying K⁺ (GIRK) channels in HEK293 cells. Furthermore, we verified the in vivo activity and optogenetic potential for the variant in mice. Thus, we propose that our developed concept will be generally applicable to designing optogenetic tools.     

The Future of Community Reinvestment: Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing Environment

John Baeder's image, painted from a 1973 photo, shows an inner-city neighborhood in Pennsylvania. This was the kind of neighborhood that was severely affected by discriminatory banking practices before the advent of the community reinvestment movement discussed by Peter Dreier in this Longer View.

A photorealist known for his paintings of American diners, Baeder attended Auburn University in the 1950s and worked for New York ad agencies from 1960 to 1972. Since 1980 he has lived in Nashville, Tennessee. More of his work can be seen on his Web site at http://www.johnbaeder.com, and he is represented by O. K. Harris Works of Art in New York City.

Since Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act in 1977 to combat mortgage discrimination (redlining) by banks, the law has resulted in more than $1 trillion in private investment being channeled into urban neighborhoods. This article examines the history, current status, and future prospects of the community reinvestment movement. It explores the ingredients for its success as well as its limitations. It also explores how broad economic, political, and demographic trends—as well as changes in the finance services sector—will require the movement to adjust its strategies and coalition efforts if it is to continue to be effective.     

ER Stress in ERp57 Knockout Knee Joint Chondrocytes Induces Osteoarthritic Cartilage Degradation and Osteophyte Formation

Ageing or obesity are risk factors for protein aggregation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of chondrocytes. This condition is called ER stress and leads to induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which, depending on the stress level, restores normal cell function or initiates apoptotic cell death. Here the role of ER stress in knee osteoarthritis (OA) was evaluated. It was first tested in vitro and in vivo whether a knockout (KO) of the protein disulfide isomerase ERp57 in chondrocytes induces sufficient ER stress for such analyses. ER stress in ERp57 KO chondrocytes was confirmed by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. Knee joints of wildtype (WT) and cartilage-specific ERp57 KO mice (ERp57 cKO) were analyzed by indentation-type atomic force microscopy (IT-AFM), toluidine blue, and immunofluorescence/-histochemical staining. Apoptotic cell death was investigated by a TUNEL assay. Additionally, OA was induced via forced exercise on a treadmill. ER stress in chondrocytes resulted in a reduced compressive stiffness of knee cartilage. With ER stress, 18-month-old mice developed osteoarthritic cartilage degeneration with osteophyte formation in knee joints. These degenerative changes were preceded by apoptotic death in articular chondrocytes. Young mice were not susceptible to OA, even when subjected to forced exercise. This study demonstrates that ER stress induces the development of age-related knee osteoarthritis owing to a decreased protective function of the UPR in chondrocytes with increasing age, while apoptosis increases. Therefore, inhibition of ER stress appears to be an attractive therapeutic target for OA.     

A CMOS Low-Noise Instrumentation Amplifier Using Chopper Modulation

This paper describes a low-power, low-noise chopper stabilized CMOS instrumentation amplifier for biomedical applications. Low thermal noise is achieved by employing MOSTs biased in the weak/moderate inversion region, whereas chopper stabilization is utilized to shift 1/f-noise out of the signal band hereby ensuring overall low noise performance. The resulting equivalent input referred noise is approximately 7 nV/ ?{Hz}\sqrt{\rm Hz} for a chopping frequency of 20 kHz. The amplifier operates from a modest supply voltage of 1.8 V, drawing 136 A of current thus consuming 245 W of power. The gain is 72.5 dB over a 4 kHz bandwidth. The inband PSRR is above 90 and the CMRR exceeds 105 dB.     

Das deutsche Urheberrecht und die digitale Herausforderung

Zusammenfassung  Das Urheberrecht befindet sich heute angesichts digitaler und vernetzter Informationstechnologien und seiner zukünftigen Aufgaben in einer Informationsgesellschaft immensen Herausforderungen ausgesetzt, die zu einer "Krise" des Urheberrechts geführt haben. Auf nationaler wie internationaler Ebene ist der Gesetzgeber darum bemüht, das Urheberrecht an die Bedürfnisse der Informationsgesellschaft anzupassen. Die europäische Richtlinie zum Urheberrecht in der Informationsgesellschaft steht kurz vor ihrer Umsetzung ins deutsche Urhebergesetz. Viele wichtige Probleme bleiben jedoch noch unbeantwortet. Die angemessene Reichweite der urheberrechtlichen Schrankenbestimmungen der §§ 45 ff. UrhG, insbesondere die private Kopierfreiheit des § 53 UrhG, wird auch in den kommenden Jahren Gegenstand heftiger Diskussionen bleiben. Diese Fragen stehen in einem engen Zusammenhang mit der bevorstehenden Implementierung von technischen Schutzmaßnahmen und digitalen Rechtemanagement-Systemen. Vorerst hat der Gesetzgeber sich für einen weitreichenden rechtlichen Schutz technischer Schutzmaßnahmen entschieden, der jedoch langfristig die den Schrankenbestimmungen zugrunde liegenden Wertentscheidungen unterlaufen könnte. Ein Blick zurück zu den Grundlagen unseres Urheberrechtssystem mag helfen, den in einer analogen Welt erreichten Interessenausgleich auch im digitalen und vernetzten Kontext herzustellen.

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Today, due to the challenges brought forth by digital and networked information technologies, we see a "crisis" of the finely tuned copyright system as we know it. Internationally, we are in the midst of adjusting the copyright sytem to its future tasks. Within the next weeks the EU-Directive on Copyright in the Information Society will be implemented into the German Copyright Law. However, still many issues remain unresolved. The proper scope of the exception clauses as laid down in §§ 45 et seqs. of the German Copyright Act and, in particular, the private use exceptopn of § 53, is still subject to discussion. This question interrelates with the upcoming implementation of technological protection measures and digital rights management systems. For now, the legislature has granted strong legal protection for TPM that might eventually undermine the underlying values of the statutory exception clauses. A look back to the initial rationals of our copyright system might help to find a proper balance of interests for the future.

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Prof. Dr. iur. Thomas Dreier ist Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Bürgerliches Recht und Informationsrecht und Leiter des Instituts für Informationsrecht an der Universität Karlsruhe sowie Honorarprofessor der Universität Freiburg i. Br.Georg Nolte ist wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter und Doktorand am Institut für Informationsrecht der Universität Karlsruhe und Rechtsreferendar in Hamburg.

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Natural killer cell-mediated eradication of neuroblastoma metastases to bone marrow by targeted interleukin-2 therapy

Targeted interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy with a genetically engineered antidisialoganglioside GD2 antibody-IL-2 fusion protein induced a cell-mediated antitumor response that effectively eradicated established bone marrow and liver metastases in a syngeneic model of neuroblastoma. The mechanism involved is exclusively natural killer (NK) cell-dependent, because NK-cell deficiency abrogated the antitumor effect. In contrast, the fusion protein remained completely effective in the T-cell-deficient mice or immunocompetent mice depleted of CD8+ T cells in vivo. A strong stimulation of NK-cell activity was also shown in vitro. Immunohistology of the leukocytic infiltrate of livers from treated mice revealed a strong staining for NK cells but not for CD8+ T cells. The therapeutic effect of the fusion protein was increased when combined with NK-cell-stimulating agents, such as poly I:C or recombinant mouse interferon-gamma. In conclusion, these data show that targeted delivery of cytokines to the tumor microenvironment offers a new strategy to elicit an effective cellular immune response mediated by NK cells against metastatic neuroblastoma. This therapeutic effect may have general clinical implications for the treatment of patients with minimal residual disease who suffer from T-cell suppression after high-dose chemotherapy but are not deficient in NK cells.     

Experimental comparisons for bottom reflooding in tight LWHCR and standard LWR geometries

The NEPTUN test facility is currently being used for reflooding experiments in tight hexagonal geometry, representative of light water high conversion reactors (LWHCRs). Results of parametric studies, based on over sixty forced-feed bottom reflooding experiments carried out with the NEPTUN-III (p / d = 1.13) test bundle, show that flooding rate is the most important, single thermal-hydraulics parameter.Direct comparisons with earlier NEPTUN experiments in standard LWR geometry indicate — on the basis of pressure difference considerations — that much smaller flooding rates may be expected to occur in tight LWHCR cores. The corresponding NEPTUN-III experiments show long-lasting rod surface temperature excursions with relatively high maximum temperatures being reached, and some of the more detailed experimental data collected is used to explain this behaviour. In spite of the above, rewetting of the tight-LWHCR geometry bundle was found to occur in all experiments with reasonably LWHCR-representative values for the various thermal-hydraulics parameters.     

Characterization of the systemic disease and ocular signs induced by experimental infection with Chlamydia psittaci in cats

In addition to the commonly reported ocular signs, Chlamydia psittaci infection of kittens resulted in fever, lethargy, lameness and reduction in weight gain following ocular instillation of virulent organisms. The appearance of these systemic signs was late with respect to the appearance of ocular symptoms and occurred simultaneously with increasing levels of chlamydia-specific IgG. Measurement of acute phase reactants and IL-6 in plasma indicated that both became elevated concurrent with or slightly after the appearance of fever and remained elevated after the fever began to resolve. Preliminary data also indicated that infectious C. psittaci was present in the blood stream during this time period. The results of ocular instillation of three different levels of C. psittaci (10(3.8), 10(2.8) and 10(1.5) TCID50) indicated that the frequency of infection and the severity of ocular signs were diminished in the group receiving the lowest dose. However, the magnitude of systemic disease was similar in all animals which exhibited clinical signs, irrespective of the dose administered. The immune response to infection included elementary body (EB)-specific lymphocyte proliferation as well as the development of EB-specific IgG and IgM antibodies. The predominant antibody response was to a 45 kDa protein, the major outer membrane protein (MOMP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a 58 kDa doublet and 32 and 16-19 kDa proteins.     

Influence of vacuum on the porosity and mechanical properties in rotational molding

Rotational molding allows the production of seamless, hollow parts with a high degree of design flexibility. Nevertheless, the process has limitations such as long cycle times as long holding times are necessary to produce components free of air inclusions. Within the scope of this article, an experimental setup was developed to evaluate the possibility and resulting effects of using vacuum in the rotational molding process. For this purpose, trials with different vacuum pressure levels and holding times were carried out and the resulting porosity and surface quality as well as the mechanical properties of the specimens were determined. The investigations showed that the use of vacuum allows a significant reduction in porosity even at low holding times, which can considerably reduce the cycle time of the process. However, the extent of possible time saving is limited by the requirement of a good surface quality, on which the vacuum application shows no effect. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the parts could be slightly improved by using vacuum. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1544–1551 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers