PARAS program: Phased array radio astronomy from space

An orbiting radio telescope is proposed which, when operated in a Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBLI) scheme, would allow higher (than currently available) angular resolution and dynamic range in the maps, and the ability of observing rapidly changing astronomical sources. Using a passive phases array technology, the proposed design consists of 656 hexagonal modules forming a 150 meter diameter dish. Each observatory module is largely autonomous, having its own photovoltaic power supply and low-noise receiver and processor for phase shifting. The signals received by the modules are channeled via fiber optics to the central control computer in the central bus module. After processing and multiplexing, the data is transmitted to telemetry stations on the ground. The truss frame supporting each observatory pane is a hybrid structure consisting of a bottom graphite/epoxy tubular triangle and rigidized inflatable Kevlar tubes connecting the top observatory panel and bottom triangle. Attitude control and stationkeeping functions are performed by a system of momentum wheels in the bus and four propulsion modules located at the compass points on the periphery of the observatory dish. Each propulsion module has four monopropellant thrusters and six hydrazine arcjets, the latter supported by a nuclear reactor. The total mass of the spacecraft is 22,060 kg

BioSimulators: a central registry of simulation engines and services for recommending specific tools

Computational models have great potential to accelerate bioscience, bioengineering, and medicine. However, it remains challenging to reproduce and reuse simulations, in part, because the numerous formats and methods for simulating various subsystems and scales remain siloed by different software tools. For example, each tool must be executed through a distinct interface. To help investigators find and use simulation tools, we developed BioSimulators (https://biosimulators.org), a central registry of the capabilities of simulation tools and consistent Python, command-line and containerized interfaces to each version of each tool. The foundation of BioSimulators is standards, such as CellML, SBML, SED-ML and the COMBINE archive format, and validation tools for simulation projects and simulation tools that ensure these standards are used consistently. To help modelers find tools for particular projects, we have also used the registry to develop recommendation services. We anticipate that BioSimulators will help modelers exchange, reproduce, and combine simulations

Modules for Introducing Macromolecular Chemistry in Foundation Courses

A series of guided inquiry modules that introduces students to aspects of polymer chemistry is described. The modules address topics such as biomacromolecules, molecular weight, structure property relationships, and synthetic approaches, including step-growth and chain-growth polymerization as well as living polymerization. These materials are suitable for use in either a structure and reactivity sequence or a more traditional sequence in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and inorganic chemistry

Robust Summer Educational Program to Educate and Expose High School Students to Opportunities in Medicine and Related Allied Health Science Professional Programs

AbstractRecognizing the increasingly diverse career options for high school students and growing competition for entrance into medical and allied health science programs, the Division of Teaching Laboratories (DTL) in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto has developed a unique program which provides high school students with unparalleled access, experience, and foretaste of medicine, research, allied health professional programs and university life. One of the main goals is to enrich and empower high school students with choices when learning and deciding on a host of available career options. The program uses a modulebased approach where each one-week long module introduces one of the four major medical disciplines (physiology, molecular biology and forensics, pharmacology and toxicology, and microbiology). Each module provides exceptional access to the medical faculty and research facilities in order to allow participants to experience what it is like to be a student at Canada's premier university. MED YSP has a maximum capacity of 400 students and the past few years have seen students represented from 31 different countries. Participating students who come from around the world leave the program with a renewed sense of focus, enthusiasm, and self-determination, to successfully pursue their dreams and goals in health sciences

FAT1 Mutations Influence Time to First Treatment in Untreated CLL

Abstract Introduction: Despite mapping of the mutational landscape in patients (pts) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), there remains limited information regarding the functional or clinical impact of less common, recurrently mutated genes. Over the past several years, the influence of high-risk mutations has been reported. With the advent of readily available next generation sequencing (NGS), physicians receive a large amount of genomic data, many times without information regarding the clinical impact of less validated, mutations. Using results from a commercially available NGS platform, we identified a relatively high prevalence of mutations in the gene, FAT1, in treatment naïve (TN) CLL pts. FAT1 encodes a protein in the cadherin superfamily, important in regulating WNT signaling, with a role in tumor suppression. Aberrant mutated FAT1 expression has been associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemias with an intermediate clinical course. Loss of protein, through chromosomal deletions has been implicated in many solid tumors and associated with tumor progression. The majority of mutations arise in the cadherin repeats, previously shown to diminish antagonism of β-catenin, allowing its nuclear localization (Morris Nat Genetics 2013). In CLL, FAT1 mutations have been demonstrated to enrich in fludarabine refractory pts (10.3%) but with a relatively low prevalence in untreated pts (1.1%) (Messina, Blood 2014). Given a high prevalence of FAT1 mutations in our database and evidence suggesting mutated FAT1 contributes to tumor evolution, we investigated the clinical impact of clonal FAT1 mutations in pts with CLL. Methods: Patients were identified for inclusion if mutational analysis was performed prior to, or within 12 months of treatment start date. Only pts treated initially with a signal transduction inhibitor (STI) were included. Treated pts were either on protocol or received their STI as standard of care. All pts underwent whole exome profiling with a lymphoid specific NGS panel, including 75 genes (Genoptix Inc.). Analysis was performed on peripheral blood or bone marrow aspirates. The primary outcome was time to first treatment (TTFT). The log-rank test was used to compare Kaplan-Meir curves. Double-sided P values &lt;0.05 were considered significant. Fischer exact test was used to compare baseline characteristics. All calculations were performed using Prism V6.0. Results: In total we analyzed 172 pts, 118 (69%) remain on observation, 54 (31%), have been treated at data cutoff. Nineteen (11%) pts were found to be FAT1 mutated (mFAT1) and 153 (89%) were FAT1 wild type (wtFAT1). The median time from diagnosis to mutational profiling for the cohort was 35 months (range 0-301). We identified 21 total mutations, 17 unique (82% cadherin domain, 18% EGF like region). Recurrent mutations were identified, each occurring in 2 pts (p.A636T, p.P1614L, p.R1257Q, p.R2041H). One pt had an indel and 1 pt had an inframe deletion, the remaining were missense. We found no significant differences between groups in regards to age, IGVH mutation status or co-occurrence of high-risk mutations in NOTCH1, SF3B1, TP53 or ATM. Only 17p deletions occurred significantly more in mFAT1 pts (24%) vs. wtFAT1 (7%), p=0.04, other cytogenetic abnormalities were balanced. mFAT1 pts had significantly shorter TTFT, 50 versus 143 months respectively, p=0.02. We investigated if mFAT1 status could stratify IGVH mutated pts but found no differences in TTFT. Eleven mFAT1 pts have received treatment (82% ibrutinib, 18% acalabrutinib), 8 remain on observation. All mFAT1 pts have responded. Conclusions: Given the increasing use of rapidly available NGS testing, physicians receive genomic information with limited data regarding clinical impact. We identified a higher prevalence of FAT1 mutations in TN pts, than that previously reported. FAT1 mutations associated with deletion 17p but not other high-risk genetic mutations. Recurrent FAT1 mutations were identified and commonly found in the cadherin domain. mFAT1 pts have a significantly shorter TTFT than wtFAT1 pts. When treated with novel agents, there was no difference in response rates. These findings suggest FAT1 mutations in TN pts may be more common than previously reported and identify an intermediate risk for progression. Additional studies investigating the influence of recurrent FAT1 mutations and association with 17p deletions in TN pts are warranted. Disclosures Allan: Pharmacyclics: Speakers Bureau. </jats:sec

A Lymph Node Targeted Adjuvant and Engineered Subunit Vaccine Promotes Potent Immunity to Epstein-Barr Virus in HLA-expressing Mice

Abstract Recent emergence of a causal like between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis has generated considerable interest in the development of an effective vaccine against EBV. Here we describe a novel vaccine formulation based on a lymph node targeting Amphiphile (AMP) vaccine adjuvant, AMP-CpG, admixed with EBV gp350 glycoprotein and a novel EBV-polyepitope protein (EBVpoly) that includes 20 CD8+ T-cell epitopes from EBV latent and lytic antigens. Potent gp350-specific IgG responses were induced in mice with titers &gt; 100,000 in AMP-CpG vaccinated mice. Immunization including AMP-CpG also induced high frequencies of polyfunctional gp350-specific CD4+ T-cells and EBVpoly-specific CD8+ T-cells that were 2-fold greater than soluble CpG and were maintained for &gt; 7 months post immunization. This combination of broad humoral and cellular immunity against multiple viral determinants is likely to provide better protection against primary infection and control of latently infected B cells leading to protection against the development of EBV-associated diseases. Teaser: A lymph node targeted AMP-CpG subunit EBV vaccine induces potent and durable immunity in HLA expressing mice.</jats:p

Developing and Implementing a Reorganized Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum Based on the Foundational Chemistry Topics of Structure, Reactivity, and Quantitation

The recent revision of undergraduate curricular guidelines from the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training (ACS-CPT) has generated interest in examining new ways of organizing course sequences both for chemistry majors and for nonmajors. A radical reconstruction of the foundation-level chemistry curriculum is presented in which content has been reorganized into three sequences: structure, reactivity, and quantitation. It is proposed that these three areas represent fundamental aspects of chemistry that cross traditional domains and allow students to more quickly appreciate the breadth of the field. An overview of these sequences in the chemistry curriculum at CSB/SJU is described

Chemical Structure and Properties: A Modified Atoms-First, One-Semester Introductory Chemistry Course

A one-semester, introductory chemistry course is described that develops a primarily qualitative understanding of structure–property relationships. Starting from an atoms-first approach, the course examines the properties and three-dimensional structure of metallic and ionic solids before expanding into a thorough investigation of molecules. In addition to bonding, geometry, molecular orbitals, and intermolecular attractions, other structural topics are included, such as stereochemistry, conformation, and factors that influence the strength of Brønsted acids. Where appropriate, related considerations in biochemistry are highlighted. The course provides a common basis to majors and nonmajors for further study in chemistry and also serves as a platform to illustrate a variety of topics of current research interest

Developing and Implementing a Reorganized Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculum Based on the Foundational Chemistry Topics of Structure, Reactivity, and Quantitation

The recent revision of undergraduate curricular guidelines from the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training (ACS-CPT) has generated interest in examining new ways of organizing course sequences both for chemistry majors and for nonmajors. A radical reconstruction of the foundation-level chemistry curriculum is presented in which content has been reorganized into three sequences: structure, reactivity, and quantitation. It is proposed that these three areas represent fundamental aspects of chemistry that cross traditional domains and allow students to more quickly appreciate the breadth of the field. An overview of these sequences in the chemistry curriculum at CSB/SJU is described