Bottom-Up Cubosome Synthesis Without Organic Solvents

This dataset contains processed SAXS data for mixtures of phytantriol with different diluents, and also following bottom-up synthesis of cubosomes. This data was collected to demonstrate the phase formations of phytantriol under different conditions.SAXS data was collected on an Anton-Parr SAXSpoint 2.0.SAXS data was collected on an Anton-Parr SAXSpoint 2.0, using an SDD of 556.9mm. The instrument is known to have a single dead pixel which sometimes results in an anomolous single-point peak

Evaluating the demand side: New challenges for evaluation

Evaluation of research and innovation policy faces radical challenges arising from a new policy emphasis upon demand-side measures and linked to this an understanding of innovation policy as a means to achieve societal goals. This article considers the implications for the practice of evaluation at both micro and meso-levels. It uses the exemplar of an evaluation design for the European Union's Lead Market Initiative to expose the extent to which classical approaches to evaluation are valid and where new issues arise. Some problems highlighted include the difficulty of establishing a relevant baseline, the inability of public statistics constructed in supply-side mode to capture actions, the need to engage with actors who do not necessarily see themselves as part of the initiative being evaluated, long timescales and potential wide geographical scope, measures that span from micro to macro, and blurred boundaries between implementation and impact. It is concluded that there is a key role for evaluators to become involved in co-learning and co-evolution of these policy instruments in a manner analogous to the relationship between evaluation and policy development that characterized the emergence of collaborative R&D support programmes

Mechanisms Regulating the Association of Protein Phosphatase 1 with Spinophilin and Neurabin

Protein phosphorylation is a key mediator of signal transduction, allowing for dynamic regulation of substrate activity. Whereas protein kinases obtain substrate specificity by targeting specific amino acid sequences, serine/threonine phosphatase catalytic subunits are much more promiscuous in their ability to dephosphorylate substrates. To obtain substrate specificity, serine/threonine phosphatases utilize targeting proteins to regulate phosphatase subcellular localization and catalytic activity. Spinophilin and its homologue neurabin are two of the most abundant dendritic spine-localized protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) targeting proteins. The association between spinophilin and PP1 is increased in the striatum of animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, mechanisms that regulate the association of spinophilin and neurabin with PP1 are unclear. Here, we report that the association between spinophilin and PP1α or PP1γ1 was increased by CDK5 expression and activation in a heterologous cell system. This increased association is at least partially due to phosphorylation of PP1. Conversely, CDK5 expression and activation decreased the association of PP1 with neurabin. As with dopamine depletion, methamphetamine (METH) abuse causes persistent alterations in dopamine signaling which influence striatal medium spiny neuron function and biochemistry. Moreover, both METH toxicity and dopamine depletion are associated with deficits in motor control and motor learning. Pathologically, we observed a decreased association of spinophilin with PP1 in rat striatum evaluated one month following a binge METH paradigm. Behaviorally, we found that loss of spinophilin recapitulates rotarod pathology previously observed in dopamine-depleted and METH-treated animals. Together, these data have implications in multiple disease states associated with altered dopamine signaling such as PD and psychostimulant drug abuse and delineate a novel mechanism by which PP1 interactions with spinophilin and neurabin may be differentially regulated

Nanostructure in Amphiphile-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an emerging class of modern, often “green” solvents with unique properties. Recently, a deep eutectic system based on amphiphilic surfactant N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (C12 & C14 sulfobetaine) and (1S)-(+)-10-camphor-sulfonic acid in the molar ratio 1:1.5 has been reported. Nanostructuring can be expected in this DES due to the nature of the components. In this work, we have investigated the native nanostructure in the DES comprising C12–C18 alkyl chain sulfobetaines with camphor sulfonic acid and how it interacts with polar and nonpolar species, water and dodecane, respectively, using small angle neutron scattering. By using contrast variation to highlight the relative position of the solvent components and additives, we can resolve the structure of the solvent and how it changes upon interaction with water and dodecane. Scattering from the neat DES shows structures corresponding to the self-assembly of sulfobetaines; the size of the structure increases as the alkyl chain length of the sulfobetaines increases. Water and dodecane interact, respectively, with the hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties in the DES structure, primarily the sulfobetaine, thereby swelling and solvating the entire structure. The extent of the shift of the peak position, and the swelling, depend on concentration of the additive. The solution phase organization and the interaction of polar and nonpolar species as observed here, have the potential to affect the ordering of inorganic or polymeric materials grown in such solvents, paving new avenues for templating applications

Salmonella immunization confers cross protection without confounding pre-harvest serologic monitoring

Food borne Salmonella Typhimurium is a valid concern for the global pork industry. An attenuated oral swine Salmonella Choleraesuis vaccine has proven to be an effective tool for the pre-harvest reduction of carrier rates for multiple Salmonella spp. Serum antibody assays are available to monitor exposure to wild-type Salmonella infection. This clinical study assessed protection induced by an attenuated oral Salmonella Choleraesuis vaccine against challenge infection with S. Typhimurium in swine. A serologic antibody assay was concurrently evaluated for its ability to differentiate vaccinated pigs from those challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium. Vaccination significantly improved clinical scores, pyrexia, and enteric lesion prevalence, while numerically improving average daily weight gain, and group body weight variation in comparison to unvaccinated/challenged pigs. Vaccination, while protecting pigs against disease, did not generate detectable serum antibodies prior to challenge. No vaccinated animals became seropositive prior to challenge, indicating that conventional ELISA tests could be used in vaccinated pigs to monitor wild-type exposure. Following challenge, there was no detectable difference between vaccinated/challenged and non-vaccinated/challenged animals. All strict control pigs remained serum antibody negative. These findings support the use of this vaccine to protect swine against S. Typhimurium, without confounding pre-harvest Salmonella serologic monitoring programs

Facile synthesis of metal-organic framework films via in situ seeding of nanoparticles

A facile in situ nanoparticle seeding method is reported to prepare MIL-101(Cr) films on alumina supports. The in situ seeding of MIL-101(Cr) nanoparticles was promoted by use of dimethylacetamide (DMA). The generality of this approach is further demonstrated for Cu 3(btc) 2 films by using a (poly)acrylate promoter