Zinc Finger Nucleases as tools to understand and treat human diseases

Recent work has shown that it is possible to target regulatory elements to DNA sequences of an investigator's choosing, increasing the armamentarium for probing gene function. In this review, we discuss the development and use of designer zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) as sequence specific tools. While the main focus of this review is to discuss the attachment of the FokI nuclease to ZFPs and the ability of the resulting fusion protein (termed zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs)) to genomically manipulate a gene of interest, we will also cover the utility of other functional domains, such as transcriptional activators and repressors, and highlight how these are being used as discovery and therapeutic tools

A comparison of the malnutrition screening tools, MUST, MNA and bioelectrical impedance assessment in frail older hospital patients

Summary Background & aims This cohort study aimed to investigate and compare the ability to predict malnutrition in a group of frail older hospital patients in the United Kingdom using the nutritional risk screening tools, MUST (malnutrition universal screening tool), MNA-SF® (mini nutritional assessment-short form) and bioelectrical impedance assessment (BIA) of body composition. Methods MUST and MNA-SF was performed on 78 patients (49 males and 29 females, age: 82 y ± 7.9, body mass index (BMI): 25.5 kg/m2 ± 5.4), categorised by nutritional risk, and statistical comparison and test reliability performed. BIA was performed in 66 patients and fat free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM) and body cell mass (BCM) and index values (kg/m2) calculated and compared against reference values. Results MUST scored 77% patients ‘low risk’, 9% ‘medium risk’ and 14% ‘high risk’, compared to MNA-SF categorisation: 9%, 46% and 45%, respectively (P < 0.000001). Reliability assessment found poor reliability between the screening tools (coefficient, r = 0.4). Significant positive correlations were found between most variables (P < 0.05–<0.001); although females exhibited greater variation. FFM index analysis found 40% of males low/depleted, 21% borderline/at risk with 96% categorised by MNA-SF as either malnourished or at risk (MUST-35%). 29% males had low FM index and all appropriately classified by MNA-SF. 30% females had low FFM index or borderline, MNA-SF screening appropriately categorised 86% (compared to MUST-29%). Conclusions This preliminary data may have significant clinical implications and highlights the potential ability of the MNA-SF and BIA to accurately assess malnutrition risk over MUST in frail older hospital patients

Corrugated Drop Spine Box

Step-by-step instructions for measuring and assembling a drop-spine box made from a single sheet of corrugated board for the housing or rare books and other materials

Induction of NF-κB by the Akt/PKB kinase

AbstractThe serine/threonine kinase Akt (also known as protein kinase B, PKB) is activated by numerous growth-factor and immune receptors through lipid products of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. Akt can couple to pathways that regulate glucose metabolism or cell survival [1]. Akt can also regulate several transcription factors, including E2F, CREB, and the Forkhead family member Daf-16 [2–4]. Here, we show that Akt can regulate signaling pathways that lead to induction of the NF-κB family of transcription factors in the Jurkat T-cell line. This induction occurs, at least in part, at the level of degradation of the NF-κB inhibitor IκB, and is specific for NF-κB, as other inducible transcription factors are not affected by Akt overexpression. Furthermore, the effect requires the kinase activity and pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of Akt. Also, Akt does not act alone to induce cytokine promoters and NF-κB reporters, because signals from other pathways are required to observe the effect. These studies uncover a previously unappreciated connection between Akt and NF-κB induction that could have implications for the control of T-cell growth and survival

Disaster Recovery Manual (2010)

The Syracuse University Library Disaster Recovery Plan for library materials outlines procedures for salvaging a wide variety of library materials in the event of a disaster of minor emergency. We have designed this plan to help library staff cope with and recover materials from minor emergencies that typically involve 500 or less items. The majority of these emergencies will be caused by interior flooding due to leaky pipes (or water coming in from other vulnerable areas in library buildings) or from patron mishaps. The resultant wet books and other objects, such as photographs, microfilm, and sound recordings, can usually be dried on location and returned to service with minimal effort. Please note that this document takes effect after the safety and security of library staff and patrons has been secured. For more information see http://library.syr.edu/about/departments/preservation/recovery and http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/content.php?pid=34915&sid=275074.https://surface.syr.edu/books/1006/thumbnail.jp