A study of the biological effect of continuous inhalation exposure of 1, 1, 1-trichloroethene (methyl chloroform) on animals

The effects of continuous exposure to 1,1,1-trichloroethane on hepatic morphology and function are evaluated and compared with those produced by methylene chloride (dichloromethane) to determine environmental concentrations of each compound that would produce a similar biological response, i.e., a comparable increase in liver triglycerides over control levels. Experimental findings on mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys indicate that the pathological alternations observed with 1,1,1-trichloroethane are similar to those observed with dichloromethane except for different time courses of the effects and different degrees of recovery. A ten fold greater atmospheric concentration of 1,1,1-trichloroethane is required to produce the minimal liver changes found at 100 ppm dichloromethane

Ordered Porous Gold Electrodes to Enhance the Sensitivity of Enzyme-Based Glucose Sensors

Glucose sensors are essential tools for diabetes patients to use in monitoring their blood glucose levels. However, to be able to detect glucose in non-invasively collected physiological fluids, such as tears and urine, the sensitivity of these glucose sensors must be significantly higher than sensors that are currently used to detect glucose concentrations in blood. Increasing the specific surface area of enzyme-based glucose sensors through the use of ordered porous gold electrodes has been shown to enhance the sensitivity of these sensors. The enzyme-based ordered porous gold glucose sensor was demonstrated to be suitable in detecting glucose concentrations ranges that are similar to those occurring in tears. Although sensitivity of the glucose sensor is enhanced, the saturation threshold of the sensor is lowered. Further optimizations of the porous gold electrodes are required to eliminate signal saturation of these improved sensors

Optically Active Nanoparticle Coated Polystyrene Spheres

Nanoparticles (NPs) with either plasmonic or upconverting properties have been selectively coated onto the surfaces of polystyrene (PS) spheres, imparting their optical properties to the PS colloids. These NP coated PS spheres have many potential applications, such as in medicine as drug-delivery systems or diagnostic tools. To prepare the NP coated PS spheres, gold or core-shell NaYF4Tm0.5Yb30/NaYF4 NPs were synthesized and separately combined with amino-functionalized PS spheres. The mechanism by which the NPs adhered to the PS spheres is attributed to interactions of the NP and a polyvinylpyrrolidone additive with the surfaces of the PS spheres. Two-photon fluorescence microscopy and SERS analysis demonstrate the potential applications of these NP coated PS spheres

Platinum Ordered Porous Electrodes: Developing a Platform for Fundamental Electrochemical Characterization

High surface area platinum electrodes with an ordered porous structure (Pt-OP electrodes) have been prepared and characterized by electrochemical methods. This study builds a foundation upon which we can seek an in-depth understanding of the limitations and design considerations to make efficient and stable Pt-OP electrodes for use in electrochemical applications. A set of Pt-OP electrodes were prepared by controlled electrodeposition of Pt through a self-assembled array of spherical particles and subsequent removal of the spherical templates by solvent extraction. The preparation method was shown to be reproducible and the resulting electrodes were found to have clean Pt surfaces and a large electrochemical surface area (A ecsa) resulting from both the porous structure, as well as the nano- and micro-scale surface roughness. Additionally, the Pt-OP electrodes exhibit a surface area enhancement comparable to commercially available electrocatalysts. In summary, the Pt-OP electrodes prepared herein show properties of interest for both gaining fundamental insights into electrocatalytic processes and for use in applications that would benefit from enhanced electrochemical response

Evaluation of a corticotropin releasing hormone type 1 receptor antagonist in women with posttraumatic stress disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Pharmacologic treatment options for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are limited in number and effectiveness. Medications currently in use to treat PTSD were originally approved based on their efficacy in other disorders, such as major depression. Substantial research in PTSD suggests that increased activity of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-containing circuits are involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. This Phase II trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a CRH type 1 receptor (CRHR1) antagonist in the treatment of PTSD. Methods/design: Currently untreated adult women, ages 18 to 65 years, with a primary psychiatric diagnosis of PTSD of at least 3 months' duration, are being enrolled in a parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of GSK561679, a novel CRHR1 receptor antagonist. GSK561679 (or matching placebo) is prescribed at a fixed dose of 350 mg nightly for six weeks. The primary trial hypothesis is that GSK561679 will reduce symptoms of PTSD, as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), significantly more than placebo after six weeks of treatment. Putative biological markers of PTSD which may influence treatment response are measured prior to randomization and after five weeks' exposure to the study medication, including: fear conditioning and extinction using psychophysiological measures; variants of stress-related genes and gene expression profiles; and indices of HPA axis reactivity. In addition, the impact of PTSD and treatment on neuropsychological performance and functional capacity are assessed at baseline and after the fifth week of study medication. After completion of the six-week double blind treatment period, subjects enter a one-month follow-up period to monitor for sustained response and resolution of any adverse effects. Discussion: Considerable preclinical and human research supports the hypothesis that alterations in central nervous system CRH neuronal activity are a potential mediator of PTSD symptoms. This study is the first to assess the efficacy of a specific antagonist of a CRH receptor in the treatment of PTSD. Furthermore, the biological and neuropsychological measures included in this trial will substantially inform our understanding of the mechanisms of PTSD

Elucidating the relationship between DISC1, NDEL1 and NDE1 and the risk for schizophrenia: Evidence of epistasis and competitive binding

DISC1 influences susceptibility to psychiatric disease and related phenotypes. Intact functions of DISC1 and its binding partners, NDEL1 and NDE1, are critical to neurodevelopmental processes aberrant in schizophrenia (SZ). Despite evidence of an NDEL1–DISC1 protein interaction, there have been no investigations of the NDEL1 gene or the relationship between NDEL1 and DISC1 in SZ. We genotyped six NDEL1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 275 Caucasian SZ patients and 200 controls and tested for association and interaction between the functional SNP Ser704Cys in DISC1 and NDEL1. We also evaluated the relationship between NDE1 and DISC1 genotype and SZ. Finally, in a series of in vitro assays, we determined the binding profiles of NDEL1 and NDE1, in relation to DISC1 Ser704Cys. We observed a single haplotype block within NDEL1; the majority of variation was captured by NDEL1 rs1391768. We observed a significant interaction between rs1391768 and DISC1 Ser704Cys, with the effect of NDEL1 on SZ evident only against the background of DISC1 Ser704 homozygosity. Secondary analyses revealed no direct relationship between NDE1 genotype and SZ; however, there was an opposite pattern of risk for NDE1 genotype when conditioned on DISC1 Ser704Cys, with NDE1 rs3784859 imparting a significant effect but only in the context of a Cys-carrying background. In addition, we report opposing binding patterns of NDEL1 and NDE1 to Ser704 versus Cys704, at the same DISC1 binding domain. These data suggest that NDEL1 significantly influences risk for SZ via an interaction with DISC1. We propose a model where NDEL1 and NDE1 compete for binding with DISC1

Development of a 20 MeV Dielectric-Loaded Test Accelerator

This paper presents a progress report on a joint project by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), in collaboration with the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), to develop a dielectric-loaded test accelerator in the magnicon facility at NRL. The accelerator will be powered by an experimental 11.424-GHz magnicon amplifier that presently produces 25 MW of output power in a {approx}250-ns pulse at up to 10 Hz. The accelerator will include a 5-MeV electron injector originally developed at the Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, and can incorporate DLA structures up to 0.5 m in length. The DLA structures are being developed by ANL, and shorter test structures fabricated from a variety of dielectric materials have undergone testing at NRL at gradients up to {approx}8 MV/m. SLAC has developed components to distribute the power from the two magnicon output arms to the injector and to the DLA accelerating structure with separate control of the power ratio and relative phase. RWBruce Associates, Inc., working with NRL, has investigated means to join short ceramic sections into a continuous accelerator tube by a brazing process using an intense 83-GHz beam. The installation and testing of the first dielectric-loaded test accelerator, including injector, DLA test structure, and spectrometer, should take place within the next year

The research-teaching nexus: A case study of students' awareness, experiences and perceptions of research

This paper presents a case study of students' awareness, experiences and perceptions of research in a 'new' university in the UK. The findings are based on a questionnaire of almost 200 students and five small group interviews. Many of the students participating in this research perceived clear benefits to their learning from staff research, including being taught by enthusiastic staff, enhanced staff credibility, and the reflected glory of being taught by well-known researchers. However, they also perceived disadvantages, particularly with regard to staff availability, and did not believe that staff research should take priority over their needs as learners. They recognised that their awareness of the nature of research and the development of research skills increased most when they were actively involved in undertaking research projects. Several students also perceived benefits for future employment from their participation in research activities. The questionnaire has been used by several other universities around the world to benchmark their practices. © 2010 Taylor & Francis