Cyclotron Production and Biomedical Imaging Applications of the PET Isotope Manganese-52

Manganese is an important element for biomedical research because of its roles as an essential micronutrient and as a neurotoxin from chronic elevated exposure, as well as the role of manganese(II) as a paramagnetic core for contrast agents in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using a radiotracer of manganese provides excellent sensitivity for studying these phenomena, but only 52Mn met the criteria for our experiments: (1) a half-life (t1/2=5.6 days) that was long enough to examine timepoints over several days, (2) a half-life that was short enough to emit sufficient counts for a realistic scan time, and (3) emitted radiation of a variety and energy that were appropriate for existing pre-clinical imaging modalities. Manganese-52 is well-suited for imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) because it emits positrons with a low energy (E+=242 keV), which improves spatial resolution, and with an acceptable total abundance for positron emission (I+=29.6%) for adequate signal. Manganese-52 was produced on site by the 52Cr(p,n)52Mn reaction by bombarding non-enriched chromium (52Cr: 83.8%) with ~13 MeV protons that were accelerated in the CS-15 cyclotron at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Bombardments of stacks of thin chromium metal foils were used to measure nuclear cross-sections for the natCr(p,x)52,52m,54Mn reactions, with results that agreed closely to simulations and published results. Manganese-52 was separated chemically from bombarded chromium metal by cation- or anion-exchange chromatography. The separated product was used in experiments that included biodistribution by injection or inhalation, PET/CT or PET/MR in phantoms and rodents, and radiolabelling of a Mn(II)-based contrast agent for T1-weighted MRI. To reduce radiation dose to production personnel, we designed a remotely controlled, semi-automated module for the remote separation of 52Mn inside a lead hot cell. This module was similar to other modules that we designed, built, and tested for the routine, scaled-up production of larger quantities of the PET isotopes 89Zr and 86Y. We anticipate that the module for 52Mn will be completed, routine production of greater quantities of 52Mn will be achieved, and this radioisotope will continue to be used to study and image the interesting aspects and behaviors of manganese chemistry

Conceptualization of Computational Modeling Approaches and Interpretation of the Role of Neuroimaging Indices in Pathomechanisms for Pre-Clinical Detection of Alzheimer Disease

With swift advancements in next-generation sequencing technologies alongside the voluminous growth of biological data, a diversity of various data resources such as databases and web services have been created to facilitate data management, accessibility, and analysis. However, the burden of interoperability between dynamically growing data resources is an increasingly rate-limiting step in biomedicine, specifically concerning neurodegeneration. Over the years, massive investments and technological advancements for dementia research have resulted in large proportions of unmined data. Accordingly, there is an essential need for intelligent as well as integrative approaches to mine available data and substantiate novel research outcomes. Semantic frameworks provide a unique possibility to integrate multiple heterogeneous, high-resolution data resources with semantic integrity using standardized ontologies and vocabularies for context- specific domains. In this current work, (i) the functionality of a semantically structured terminology for mining pathway relevant knowledge from the literature, called Pathway Terminology System, is demonstrated and (ii) a context-specific high granularity semantic framework for neurodegenerative diseases, known as NeuroRDF, is presented. Neurodegenerative disorders are especially complex as they are characterized by widespread manifestations and the potential for dramatic alterations in disease progression over time. Early detection and prediction strategies through clinical pointers can provide promising solutions for effective treatment of AD. In the current work, we have presented the importance of bridging the gap between clinical and molecular biomarkers to effectively contribute to dementia research. Moreover, we address the need for a formalized framework called NIFT to automatically mine relevant clinical knowledge from the literature for substantiating high-resolution cause-and-effect models

Contract and Grant Awards Fiscal Year 2000

Message from the Vice Provost for Research I invite you to read this report Contract and Grant Awards FY00, which lists contract and grant (C&G) awards received by the University of New Mexico (UNM) during the period from July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000. These awards represent new funds that were acquired during FY00 by the main campus, branch campuses and education centers and the Health Sciences Center (HSC). The HSC includes the School of Medicine, College of Nursing and College of Pharmacy. The awards received for FY00 total $217.4M, of which$139.9M is attributed to the main campus. These awards assist in providing resources that are necessary to enhance the quality of research and teaching at UNM, as well as the opportunities for students to be trained in state-of-the-art laboratories in a multitude of disciplines. Please join me in thanking our dedicated faculty, staff and students involved in the sponsored research, public service and instruction efforts at UNM. It is their successful endeavors that enhance UNM\u27s visibility at the national and international levels, as well as contribute to the economic growth of New Mexico and the region. Thanks are also due to a number of individuals who have helped in preparing this report. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Denise Wallen, Ann Powell and Valerie Roybal of the Office of Research Services, and Marcia Sletten and Lee Gulbransen of the Health Sciences Center. I welcome your comments and questions with respect to this report, and other issues related to research activities at the University of New Mexico. John K. McIver Interim Vice Provost for Researc

Drug Supply Chain Security Act of 2013 and It’s Computer System Implementation

Since 1987, the federal government and state governments, have tried to combat counterfeit drugs from entering the United States and the states\u27 pharmaceutical supply chain. The latest attempt to prevent counterfeit drugs from entering the state drug supply chain was the California E-Pedigree drug tracing program that was to be implemented by the end of 2017. The California E-Pedigree system uses GS1 PDMS tracing system as its guideline. Since all of the states use paper format pedigree systems, California would have been the first electronic pedigree system in the U.S. However, on November 27, 2013, the President of the United States signed into law the Drug Quality Security Act (DQSA). Title II of DQSA is called the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and it removes all existing or future drug track or trace systems including pedigree systems from all states. DSCSA does establish a new federal drug tracing program that uses pedigrees and product identifiers for verification of the drugs being accepted by the buyer. Although the full implementation of the DSCSA will take about ten years from its enactment, the basic structure of the new federal tracing program is laid out. My thesis will analyze the current state of the pharmaceutical industry, the impact of counterfeit medicine, and anti-counterfeit technologies. We will proceed to analyze the DSCSA to create a basic logical model and show a possible implementation of its verification process. Additionally, we will discuss DSCSA model as to its effectiveness of the basic design against the entrance of counterfeit medicine into the United States Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. This will be followed by a conclusion

Strategic group mapping and strategy canvas analysis of the environmental consulting sector : a project-based dissertation on the German Market : a public archival data web-content analysis

Nesta dissertação na modalidade de projeto tive a oportunidade de entrar em contacto com uma Pequena Média empresa no setor de consultoria ambiental, onde me foi pedido para realizar uma análise à competição no mercado alemão, focando-me em mercados específicos em que a empresa se planeia especializar (Nanomateriais, Biocidas e Instrumentos Médicos). É possível observar que as leis ambientais mais restritivas, desenvolvimentos dentro da química e consciência ambiental estão a criar um grande potencial para crescimento e relevância deste setor. Gestão estratégica e categorização estratégica desenvolveram muitas correntes de pesquisa e no entanto, ferramentas estratégicas ainda não foram utilizadas para analisar o setor da Consultoria ambiental, que tem sido negligenciado na literatura. Através de uma análise de dados de arquivamento públicos (websites, páginas de LinkedIn, e relatórios anuais), foi possível aplicar ferramentas estratégicas (Mapeamento de grupos estratégicos e o Canvas estratégico) a uma amostra de 57 empresas de consultoria ambiental no mercado alemão assim como recolher sinais de competitividade e tamanho das empresas. Nesta análise pode-se comprovar que a revolução digital, sustentabilidade e responsabilidade corporativa já se encontram presentes nesta indústria, que várias empresas oferecem tanto apoio ambiental com foco regulatório e de gestão como um apoio ambiental com foco cientifico, procurando eficiência ambiental e redução de desperdício, e que nanomateriais parecem ser o mercado menos presente em websites, comparativamente com o mercado dos biocidas e dos instrumentos médicos. Este trabalho permitiu demonstrar o valor que ferramentas estratégicas podem ter, mesmo quando aplicado a informação publica, neste caso de websites, e também demonstrar as respetivas limitações, permitindo-nos ter uma melhor visão das nuances estratégicas e estrutura de um setor negligenciado. Para além disso, o contexto da análise estratégica também demonstra que o Brexit pode agir como um catalisador de expansão geográfica, o que é um impacto estratégico que ainda não tinha sido estudado previamente em empresas nesta indústria.In this project-based dissertation I had the chance to work with an environment consulting SME, where I was asked to do a competitor analysis of the German Market in particular sectors in which they will focus on (Nanomaterials, Biocides and Medical Devices). It is possible to observe that the increasingly stringent environmental policies, chemistry developments and environmental consciousness are creating a great potential for the growth in size and relevance of this sector. Strategic management and strategic categorization have developed into many streams of research, and however, strategic tools still haven’t been used to describe the environmental consulting sector, which has been overlooked in the literature. Through an analysis of public archival data (Company website, LinkedIn and annual reports), it was possible apply the Strategic group mapping and Strategy canvas frameworks to a sample of 57 environmental consulting companies in the German market, as well as to collect other signs of competitiveness and size. In this analysis it was found that the digital revolution, sustainability and corporate responsibility are already present in this industry, it was found that many companies are providing not only environmental regulatory and managerial support but at the same time providing scientific support, focusing on environmental efficiency and waste management, and that nanomaterials seem to be the least featured market in companies websites comparatively to biocides and medical devices. This paper allowed to demonstrate the value that strategic tools can have, even when applied to public website-content, as well as to demonstrate their limitations, allowing us to give a better overview of the strategic nuances and structure of an overlooked sector. Moreover, the context of this company’s strategic analysis also showcases that Brexit can act as a catalyst of geographical expansion, which is a strategical impact in this industry that hasn’t been studied before for companies in this industry

Contract and Grant Awards Fiscal Year 2006

I invite you to read this report Contract & Grant Awards, fiscal year 2006, which lists contract and grant (C&G) awards received by the University of New Mexico (UNM) during the period from July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006 (FY06). These awards represent new funds that were acquired during FY06 by the main campus, branch campuses and education centers, and the Health Sciences Center (HSC). The HSC includes the School of Medicine, College of Nursing, and College of Pharmacy. The awards received for FY06 total $298.6M, of which$165.4M is attributed to the main campus and $133.2M to HSC. These awards assist in providing resources that are necessary to support and enhance the quality of research and teaching at UNM, as well as the opportunities for students to be trained in state-of-the-art laboratories in a variety of disciplines

Perspectives of Nuclear Physics in Europe: NuPECC Long Range Plan 2010

The goal of this European Science Foundation Forward Look into the future of Nuclear Physics is to bring together the entire Nuclear Physics community in Europe to formulate a coherent plan of the best way to develop the field in the coming decade and beyond.<p></p> The primary aim of Nuclear Physics is to understand the origin, evolution, structure and phases of strongly interacting matter, which constitutes nearly 100% of the visible matter in the universe. This is an immensely important and challenging task that requires the concerted effort of scientists working in both theory and experiment, funding agencies, politicians and the public.<p></p> Nuclear Physics projects are often “big science”, which implies large investments and long lead times. They need careful forward planning and strong support from policy makers. This Forward Look provides an excellent tool to achieve this. It represents the outcome of detailed scrutiny by Europe’s leading experts and will help focus the views of the scientific community on the most promising directions in the field and create the basis for funding agencies to provide adequate support.<p></p> The current NuPECC Long Range Plan 2010 “Perspectives of Nuclear Physics in Europe” resulted from consultation with close to 6 000 scientists and engineers over a period of approximately one year. Its detailed recommendations are presented on the following pages. For the interested public, a short summary brochure has been produced to accompany the Forward Look.<p></p&gt

61st Annual Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance

Final program, abstracts, and information about the 61st annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance, co-endorsed by the Colorado Section of the American Chemical Society and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. Held in Copper Mountain, Colorado, July 25-29, 2022