29 research outputs found
Political Parties and 'the Immigration Issue':Issue Ownership in Swedish Parliamentary Elections 1991-2010
Prediction of the digestibility of the primary growth of grass silages harvested at different stages of maturity from chemical composition and pepsin-cellulase solubility
Prediction of the digestibility of primary growth and regrowth grass silages from chemical composition, pepsin-cellulase solubility and indigestible cell wall content
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Tunable Properties of Poly-DL-Lactide-Monomethoxypolyethylene Glycol Porous Microparticles for Sustained Release of Polyethylenimine-DNA Polyplexes.
Direct pulmonary delivery is a promising step in developing effective gene therapies for respiratory disease. Gene therapies can be used to treat the root cause of diseases, rather than just the symptoms. However, developing effective therapies that do not cause toxicity and that successfully reach the target site at therapeutic levels is challenging. We have developed a polymer-DNA complex utilizing polyethylene imine (PEI) and DNA, which was then encapsulated into poly(lactic acid)-co-monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-mPEG) microparticles via double emulsion, solvent evaporation. Then, the resultant particle size, porosity, and encapsulation efficiency were measured as a function of altering preparation parameters. Microsphere formation was confirmed from scanning electron micrographs and the aerodynamic particle diameter was measured using an aerodynamic particle sizer. Several formulations produced particles with aerodynamic diameters in the 0-5 μm range despite having larger particle diameters which is indicative of porous particles. Furthermore, these aerodynamic diameters correspond to high deposition within the airways when inhaled and the measured DNA content indicated high encapsulation efficiency. Thus, this formulation provides promise for developing inhalable gene therapies
Influence of growth stage and season on the energy value of fresh herbage. 2. Relationships between digestibility and metabolizable energy content and various laboratory measurements
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Encapsulating Polyethyleneimine-DNA Nanoplexes into PEGylated Biodegradable Microparticles Increases Transgene Expression In Vitro and Reduces Inflammatory Responses In Vivo.
Encapsulating genetic material into biocompatible polymeric microparticles is a means to improving gene transfection while simultaneously decreasing the tendency for inflammatory responses; and can be advantageous in terms of delivering material directly to the lungs via aerosolization for applications such as vaccinations. In this study, we investigated the advantages of using polymeric microparticles carrying the luciferase reporter gene in increasing transfection efficiency in the readily transfectable HEK293 cell line and the difficult to transfect RAW264.7 cell line. The results indicated that there was a limit to the ratio of nitrogen in polyethylenimine (PEI) to phosphate in DNA (N/P ratio) beyond which further increases in transgene expression no longer, or only marginally, occurred. Microparticles encapsulating PEI:DNA nanoplexes induced cellular toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. PEGylation increased transgene expression, likely related to enhanced degradation of particles. Furthermore, intra-tracheal instillation in rats allowed us to investigate the inflammatory response in the lung as a function of PEGylation, porosity, and size. Porosity did not influence cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the absence of PEG, but in particles containing PEG, non-porous particles recruited fewer inflammatory cells than their porous counterparts. Finally, both 1 μm and 10 μm porous PLA-PEG particles recruited more neutrophils than 4 μm particles. Thus, we have shown that PEGylation and lack of porosity are advantageous for faster release of genetic cargo from microparticles and a reduced inflammatory response, respectively
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Encapsulating Polyethyleneimine-DNA Nanoplexes into PEGylated Biodegradable Microparticles Increases Transgene Expression In Vitro and Reduces Inflammatory Responses In Vivo.
Encapsulating genetic material into biocompatible polymeric microparticles is a means to improving gene transfection while simultaneously decreasing the tendency for inflammatory responses; and can be advantageous in terms of delivering material directly to the lungs via aerosolization for applications such as vaccinations. In this study, we investigated the advantages of using polymeric microparticles carrying the luciferase reporter gene in increasing transfection efficiency in the readily transfectable HEK293 cell line and the difficult to transfect RAW264.7 cell line. The results indicated that there was a limit to the ratio of nitrogen in polyethylenimine (PEI) to phosphate in DNA (N/P ratio) beyond which further increases in transgene expression no longer, or only marginally, occurred. Microparticles encapsulating PEI:DNA nanoplexes induced cellular toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. PEGylation increased transgene expression, likely related to enhanced degradation of particles. Furthermore, intra-tracheal instillation in rats allowed us to investigate the inflammatory response in the lung as a function of PEGylation, porosity, and size. Porosity did not influence cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the absence of PEG, but in particles containing PEG, non-porous particles recruited fewer inflammatory cells than their porous counterparts. Finally, both 1 μm and 10 μm porous PLA-PEG particles recruited more neutrophils than 4 μm particles. Thus, we have shown that PEGylation and lack of porosity are advantageous for faster release of genetic cargo from microparticles and a reduced inflammatory response, respectively
Faculty trust in the principal, faculty trust in colleagues, collegial principal leadership, and collective responsibility
This is a study of the predictors of collective responsibility. Research indicates strong links between collegial behavior, faculty trust in colleagues, and effectiveness (Tarter, Sabo, & Hoy, 1995). Trust as a construct related to collective responsibility is grounded in the logic that building trust between teachers leads to the development of school cultures that promote teacher collaboration (Whalan, 2012). This study examined surveys from 60 elementary schools in Northwest Alabama investigating faculty trust in the principal, collegial trust, and collegial principal leadership, to determine predictors of collective responsibility while controlling for SES. Faculty trust in the principal and faculty trust in colleagues were measured using the Omnibus Trust Scale, collegial principal leadership was measured using the Organizational Climate Index, and Collective Responsibility was measured using the Collective Responsibility Scale. The research results indicated a significant relationship between trust in colleagues and collective responsibility. A significant relationship was not indicated between trust in the principal and collective responsibility or collegial principal leadership and collective responsibility. Also, noteworthy was the finding that SES was not a significant predictor of collective responsibility. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries