Comparative gene transfer efficiency of low molecular weight polylysine DNA-condensing peptides

In a previous report (M.S. Wadhwa et al . (1997) Bioconjugate Chem. 8, 81–88), we synthesized a panel of polylysine-containing peptides and determined that a minimal repeating lysine chain of 18 residues followed by a tryptophan and an alkylated cysteine residue (AlkCWK 18 ) resulted in the formation of optimal size (78 nm diameter) plasmid DNA condensates that mediated efficient in vitro gene transfer. Shorter polylysine chains produced larger DNA condensates and mediated much lower gene expression while longer lysine chains were equivalent to AlkCWK 18 . Surprisingly, AlkCWK 18 (molecular weight 2672) was a much better gene transfer agent than commercially available low molecular weight polylysine (molecular weight 1000–4000), despite its similar molecular weight. Possible explanations were that the cysteine or tryptophan residue in AlkCWK 18 contributed to the DNA binding and the formation of small condensates or that the homogeneity of AlkCWK 18 relative to low molecular weight polylysine facilitated optimal condensation. To test these hypotheses, the present study prepared AlkCYK 18 and K 20 and used these to form DNA condensates and conduct in vitro gene transfer. The results established that DNA condensates prepared with either AlkCYK 18 or K 20 possessed identical particle size and mediated in vitro gene transfer efficiencies that were indistinguishable from AlkCWK 18 DNA condensates, eliminating the possibility of contributions from cysteine or tryptophan. However, a detailed chromatographic and electrospray mass spectrometry analysis of low molecular weight polylysine revealed it to possess a much lower than anticipated average chain length of dp 6. Thus, the short chain length of low molecular weight polylysine explains its inability to form small DNA condensates and mediate efficient gene transfer relative to AlkCWK 18 DNA condensates. These experiments further emphasize the need to develop homogenous low molecular weight carrier molecules for nonviral gene delivery.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74767/1/j.1399-3011.1999.00104.x.pd

Human Health Risks from Low-Level Environmental Exposures: No Apparent Safety Thresholds

Wigle and Lanphear argue that for many toxins widely dispersed in the environment, even very low levels pose health risks

Ursinus College Alumni Journal, November 1958

President\u27s page • President\u27s inaugural address • Dr. D. L. Helfferich inaugurated President of Ursinus College • Ursinus College opens with 839 • The Evening School • New preceptress at 944 • Library • The Messiah • The faculty cornered • The cornered faculty turns • Tracking the Alder Flycatcher • Old Timers\u27 Day almost rained out • Face lifting on campus • Ursinus Woman\u27s Club plans holiday luncheon • Ursinus Forum, 1958-59 • A challenge for alumni giving • Fall play Joan of Lorraine • Annual alumni Schoolmen\u27s Week luncheon • Five years of alumni sponsorship completed: 1958 Loyalty Fund report • Workshop in economic education • Paul S. Craigie, class Chairman of the year • Honor roll by classes • Contributors for the 1958 Loyalty Fund campaign • Varsity football • Varsity and J.V. basketball schedule 1958-59 • Alumnae continue winning ways • Varsity wrestling schedule 1959 • Two new assistant football coaches • Varsity has strong potential • Ursinus appoints a new wrestling coach • News about ourselves • Weddings • Births • Necrology • Two Spanish majors receive honorshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/alumnijournal/1063/thumbnail.jp

Expanded classification of hepatitis C Virus into 7 genotypes and 67 Subtypes:updated criteria and assignment web resource

The 2005 consensus proposal for the classification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) presented an agreed and uniform nomenclature for HCV variants and the criteria for their assignment into genotypes and subtypes. Since its publication, the available dataset of HCV sequences has vastly expanded through advancement in nucleotide sequencing technologies and an increasing focus on the role of HCV genetic variation in disease and treatment outcomes. The current study represents a major update to the previous consensus HCV classification, incorporating additional sequence information derived from over 1,300 (near-)complete genome sequences of HCV available on public databases in May 2013. Analysis resolved several nomenclature conflicts between genotype designations and using consensus criteria created a classification of HCV into seven confirmed genotypes and 67 subtypes. There are 21 additional complete coding region sequences of unassigned subtype. The study additionally describes the development of a Web resource hosted by the International Committee for Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) that maintains and regularly updates tables of reference isolates, accession numbers, and annotated alignments (http://talk.ictvonline.org/links/hcv/hcv-classification.htm). The Flaviviridae Study Group urges those who need to check or propose new genotypes or subtypes of HCV to contact the Study Group in advance of publication to avoid nomenclature conflicts appearing in the literature. While the criteria for assigning genotypes and subtypes remain unchanged from previous consensus proposals, changes are proposed in the assignment of provisional subtypes, subtype numbering beyond “w,” and the nomenclature of intergenotypic recombinant. Conclusion: This study represents an important reference point for the consensus classification of HCV variants that will be of value to researchers working in clinical and basic science fields. (Hepatology 2014;59:318-327

Ursinus College Alumni Journal, November 1960

President\u27s page • Founders\u27 Day • Wayne Brown memorial • Ritter receives degree • Admissions report • Alumnae in Who\u27s Who • Dr. Helfferich honored • Brother of Dalai Lama at Ursinus • Ursinus Women\u27s Club • Old Timers\u27 Day • Psychology\u27s place in a liberal education • The faculty, cornered • Forsan et haec • Education - Scottish and American • 1960 football results • Vernon Morgan, \u2761 Ursinus\u27 greatest runner • Seven years of alumni sponsorship completed: $188,473 collected for Ursinus in this period • Dr. Helfferich speaks • Loyalty Fund all stars • 1960 Loyalty Fund report • Advance Loyalty Fund report for 1961 • Results of the 1960 Loyalty Fund campaign • Contributors for the 1960 Loyalty Fund campaign • New reunion schedule to begin in 1961 • News about ourselves • Weddings • Births • Necrologyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/alumnijournal/1069/thumbnail.jp

Ursinus College Alumni Journal, March 1961

The President writes • Who gets into college? • Mr. Dolman comments • Search for certainty • Two foreign students sponsored • Dr. Miller on TV • Announcing an alumni seminar • The thousand and second night\u27s tale • Student European tour • Two students attend white house conference • Greetings from Philadelphia • Spring Festival replaces May Day • Dr. Shilling speaks • Final Forum of the semester • Dr. Miller to teach in India • Ursinus Women\u27s Club • Attention, alumni: Constitution change • Portrait of a pioneer • Jacobs promoted to Captain • Henschel takes over new post • Nominees for Alumni Association offices • Alumni regionals announce meetings • January 1961 mid year report of the Loyalty Fund campaign • Wrestling results • Basketball review • Ursinus girls dominate U.S. hockey team • Track prospects • Happy retirement • John Shuttleworth, \u2745 • Class notes • Births • Weddings • Necrologyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/alumnijournal/1070/thumbnail.jp

Improved reference genome for the domestic horse increases assembly contiguity and composition

Recent advances in genomic sequencing technology and computational assembly methods have allowed scientists to improve reference genome assemblies in terms of contiguity and composition. EquCab2, a reference genome for the domestic horse, was released in 2007. Although of equal or better quality compared to other first-generation Sanger assemblies, it had many of the shortcomings common to them. In 2014, the equine genomics research community began a project to improve the reference sequence for the horse, building upon the solid foundation of EquCab2 and incorporating new short-read data, long-read data, and proximity ligation data. Here, we present EquCab3. The count of non-N bases in the incorporated chromosomes is improved from 2.33 Gb in EquCab2 to 2.41 Gb in EquCab3. Contiguity has also been improved nearly 40-fold with a contig N50 of 4.5 Mb and scaffold contiguity enhanced to where all but one of the 32 chromosomes is comprised of a single scaffold

Ecology good, aut-ecology better; Improving the sustainability of designed plantings

© 2015 European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools (ECLAS). This paper explores how contemporary ecological science, and aut-ecology in particular, can improve the sustainability of designed vegetation. It is proposed that ecological understanding can be applied to design at three levels: 1) as representation, 2) as process, and 3) as aut-ecology, representing a gradient from the least to the most profound. Key ecological interactions that determine the success of designed plantings are explored via a review of relevant ecological research, challenging some widely held but unhelpful constructs about how both semi-natural and designed vegetation actually function. The paper concludes that there are real benefits to integrating aut-ecological understanding in the design of vegetation at all scales but that this will require ecological theory to be taught as a design toolkit rather than largely as descriptive knowledge