Optimizing Sonication and Chromatography Conditions in the Purification of LGN Protein for X-Ray Crystallography

LGN protein is a critical component for the division of mammalian cells, as it functions in the maintenance of cell polarity and the alignment of mitotic spindles during mitosis. In order to optimize a purification scheme for LGN, the protein is first expressed in E. coli, and then is sonicated and centrifuged to respectively lyse and separate the cells and other debris from the expressed proteins. Afterwards, the protein mixture is passed through chromatography columns and the LGN protein is assessed for purity using SDS-PAGE, followed by Western blotting to verify the presence of LGN. The goal of the purification scheme is to attain samples of LGN protein at least 95% pure in order for crystallization conditions to be determined for X-ray crystallography. Western blot detection has verified the expression of LGN and the sonication and chromatography conditions are currently being optimized in order to obtain pure LGN

WWW Home Page Assignments in MIS Courses

The WWW provides a large increase in options available to telecom course instructors. One option is to require that students create home pages on the Web. Each student can be assigned a home page that includes personal information. Or, teams can be assigned. In either case, students will have hands-onexperience with a classic client/server (C/S) application. But, in the case of the WWW, the name client/telecom/servers, or C/T/S, is more accurate. Having such a C/T/S assignment, however, requires instruction on the component material. These requirements lead to the conclusion such assignments are easiest to do in telecom course

Enalbing Energy Dense Battery Materials and Paving the Way for Solid-State Batteries

The explosive growth of electrochemistry and battery research has been fueled by two primary sources; the complexity of lithium-ion chemistries and the potential impact of high-performance energy storage markets. Superior energy storage aims to connect energy produced from clean, renewable sources with the grid fluctuations and transportation demands. Through electrochemical devices, the lithium-ion battery holds high potential to be that connection, and unlocking this potential starts with materials science and engineering. A lack of a singular, clear direction to higher energy dense batteries leaves many pathways open for investigation. Since the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries, liquid electrolyte systems have dominated, but novel and niche approaches with the liquid electrolyte design space are needed to continue increasing energy density. Nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathodes (NMC) exemplify the next target for high energy materials but are plagued with material and system degradation. Implementing ionic liquid electrolytes with NMC cathodes results in a system with far superior cycle life and energy retention. Commonly, systems such as these would be paired with a graphite anode. Yet, with 10 times the theoretical capacity, silicon anodes have drawn the attention of battery research. Pure silicon and mixed silicon-graphite have been enabled through nano-scale surface treatments to overcome the traditional problems of silicon capacity fade. Ionic liquid/NMC systems and surface coated anodes will be explored in this work. Solid-state electrolytes look to overtake liquid electrolyte systems and serve as another pathway to improve lithium-ion battery energy density. Lithium phosphorous sulfide electrolytes demonstrate relatively high conductivity for a solid-state material. Iron disulfide cathodes, when paired with this solid-state electrolyte and the mixed-conducting matrix of lithium titanium sulfide, demonstrate very high capacities and elevated rates. Lithium titanium sulfide itself proved to be a pseudocapacitor when prepared via solid-state methods and demonstrated exceptional rate capabilities and stability over long-term cycling. Lithium phosphorous sulfide, iron disulfide, and lithium titanium sulfide will all be discussed in this work. Despite material science innovations, solid-state batteries are plagued by more than material science limitations; the processing and scaling of solid-state manufacturing techniques poses a significant challenge. Many solid-state electrolytes are not air stable, and common lab-scale methods that yield high performing solid-state batteries are not readily scalable. Within solid-state batteries themselves, thick electrolyte layers, high electrode-electrolyte interface resistance, and porous electrodes limit energy density. The process of synchronized electrospinning electrospraying attempts to both enable solid-state battery fabrication is a continuous roll-to-roll process while simultaneously addressing intrinsic solid-state problems through novel deposition methods

Ready or Not, Here They Come: Acting Interns’ Experience and Perceived Competency Performing Basic Medical Procedures

OBJECTIVE: To assess acting interns’ (AI’s) experience with and perceived level of competency performing 6 basic medical procedures. DESIGN: Fourth-year medical students at the University of Cincinnati (UCCOM) are required to complete 2 AI rotations in Internal Medicine. All AIs in 2003–2004 (n = 150) and 2004–2005 (n = 151) were asked to complete a survey about whether during each of their rotations they had performed and felt competent performing the following procedures: phlebotomy, intravenous (IV) catheter insertion, arterial blood gas (ABG), nasogastric (NG) tube insertion, lumbar puncture (LP), and Foley catheter insertion. RESULTS: Four hundred sixty-seven of 601 possible surveys (across both years and both rotations) were completed (78% response rate). During both rotations, relatively few students performed the procedures, ranging from 9% for Foley catheter insertion (24/208) to 50% for both ABG and NG tube insertion (130/259). The two procedures most often performed were ABG (range 46–50%) and NG tube insertion (range 42–50%). Feelings of competency varied from 12% (LP) to 82% (Foley catheter). Except for LP, if students performed a procedure at least once, they reported feeling more competent (range 85% for ABG to 96% for Foley catheter insertion). Among the students who performed LP during a rotation, many still did not feel competent performing LPs: 23 (74%) in rotation 1 and 20 (40%) in rotation 2. CONCLUSION: Many fourth-year students at UCCOM do not perform basic procedures during their acting internship rotations. Procedural performance correlates with feelings of competency. Lumbar puncture competency may be too ambitious a goal for medical students

Ohio Appalachian women's perceptions of the cost of cervical cancer screening

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence of the importance of cervical cancer screening, screening rates in the United States remain below national prevention goals. Women in the Appalachia Ohio region have higher cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates along with lower cancer screening rates. This study explored the expectations of Appalachian Ohio women with regard to Papanicolaou (Pap) test cost and perceptions of cost as a barrier to screening. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 571 women who were part of a multilevel, observational community-based research program in Appalachia Ohio. Eligible women were identified through 14 participating health clinics and asked questions regarding Pap test cost and perceptions of cost as a barrier to screening. Estimates of medical costs were compared with actual costs reported by clinics. RESULTS: When asked about how much a Pap test would cost, 80% of the women reported they did not know. Among women who reportedly believed they knew the cost, 40% overestimated test cost. Women who noted cost as a barrier were twice as likely to not receive a test within screening guidelines as those who did not perceive a cost barrier. Furthermore, uninsured women were more than 8.5 times as likely to note cost as a barrier than women with private insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Although underserved women in need of cancer screening commonly report cost as a barrier, the findings of the current study suggest that women may have a very limited and often inaccurate understanding concerning Pap test cost. Providing women with this information may help reduce the impact of this barrier to screening. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78231/1/25491_ftp.pd

Content and timing of feedback and reflection: A multi-center qualitative study of experienced bedside teachers

Background: Competency-based medical education increasingly recognizes the importance of observation, feedback, and reflection for trainee development. Although bedside rounds provide opportunities for authentic workplace-based implementation of feedback and team-based reflection strategies, this relationship has not been well described. The authors sought to understand the content and timing of feedback and team-based reflection provided by bedside teachers in the context of patient-centered bedside rounds