Identification of three stage-specific proteinases of Plasmodium falciparum.

We have identified and characterized three stage-specific proteinases of Plasmodium falciparum that are active at neutral pH. We analyzed ring-, trophozoite-, schizont-, and merozoite-stage parasites by gelatin substrate PAGE and characterized the identified proteinases with class-specific proteinase inhibitors. No proteinase activity was detected with rings. Trophozoites had a 28 kD proteinase that was inhibited by inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. Mature schizonts had a 35-40 kD proteinase that also was inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Merozoite fractions had a 75 kD proteinase that was inhibited by serine proteinase inhibitors. The stage-specific activity of these proteinases and the correlation between the effects of proteinase inhibitors on the isolated enzymes with the effects of the inhibitors on whole parasites suggest potential critical functions for these proteinases in the life cycle of malaria parasites

Stereotactic guidance for navigated percutaneous sacroiliac joint fusion.

Arthrodesis of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) for surgical treatment of SIJ dysfunction has regained interest among spine specialists. Current techniques described in the literature most often utilize intraoperative fluoroscopy to aid in implant placement; however, image guidance for SIJ fusion may allow for minimally invasive percutaneous instrumentation with more precise implant placement. In the following cases, we performed percutaneous stereotactic navigated sacroiliac instrumentation using O-arm® multidimensional surgical imaging with StealthStation® navigation (Medtronic, Inc. Minneapolis, MN). Patients were positioned prone and an image-guidance reference frame was placed contralateral to the surgical site. O-arm® integrated with StealthStation® allowed immediate auto-registration. The skin incision was planned with an image-guidance probe. An image-guided awl, drill and tap were utilized to choose a starting point and trajectory. Threaded titanium cage(s) packed with autograft and/or allograft were then placed. O-arm® image-guidance allowed for implant placement in the SIJ with a small skin incision. However, we could not track the cage depth position with our current system, and in one patient, the SIJ cage had to be revised secondary to the anterior breach of sacrum

Green Polymer Chemistry: Investigating the Mechanism of Radical Ring-Opening Redox Polymerization (R3P) of 3,6-Dioxa-1,8-octanedithiol (DODT)

The mechanism of the new Radical Ring-opening Redox Polymerization (R3P) of 3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanedithiol (DODT) by triethylamine (TEA) and dilute H2O2 was investigated. Scouting studies showed that the formation of high molecular weight polymers required a 1:2 molar ratio of DODT to TEA and of DODT to H2O2. Further investigation into the chemical composition of the organic and aqueous phases by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry demonstrated that DODT is ionized by two TEA molecules (one for each thiol group) and thus transferred into the aqueous phase. The organic phase was found to have cyclic disulfide dimers, trimers and tetramers. Dissolving DODT and TEA in water before the addition of H2O2 yielded a polymer with Mn = 55,000 g/mol, in comparison with Mn = 92,000 g/mol when aqueous H2O2 was added to a DODT/TEA mixture. After polymer removal, MALDI-ToF MS analysis of the residual reaction mixtures showed only cyclic oligomers remaining. Below the LCST for TEA in water, 18.7 °C, the system yielded a stable emulsion, and only cyclic oligomers were found. Below DODT/TEA and H2O2 1:2 molar ratio mostly linear oligomers were formed, with \u3c20% cyclic oligomers. The findings support the proposed mechanism of R3P. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules2004650

Anticancer Effect of Fucoidan in Combination with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Lapatinib

Background:. Despite a number of in vitro and in vivo studies reporting the efficacy of fucoidan in treating various cancers, few studies have measured the efficacy of dietary fucoidan (DF) in combination with cancer drugs. Thus, we examined the sensitivity of DF in combination with the EGFR/ERBB2-targeting reagent lapatinib on cancer cells. Method. We selected six EGFR/ERBB2-amplified cancer cell lines (OE19, NCI-N87, OE33, ESO26, MKN7, and BT474) as an in vitro model and tested their sensitivity to DF alone and to DF in combination with the well-known EGFR/ERBB2-targeting reagent lapatinib. Result. Overall, in drug independent sensitivity test, DF alone did not significantly inhibit the growth of EGFR/ERBB2-amplified cancer cells in vitro. When DF was given in combination with lapatinib, however, it tended to synergistically inhibit cell growth in OE33 but antagonized the action of lapatinib in ESO26, NCI-N87, and OE19. Conclusion:. This study suggests that DF has the potential to increase or decrease the effects of certain anticancer drugs on certain cancer cell types. Further study is needed to explore the mechanism of interaction and synergistic antitumor activity of DF in combination with chemotherapy and targeted therapy

Assessing Ozone-Related Health Impacts under a Changing Climate

Climate change may increase the frequency and intensity of ozone episodes in future summers in the United States. However, only recently have models become available that can assess the impact of climate change on O(3) concentrations and health effects at regional and local scales that are relevant to adaptive planning. We developed and applied an integrated modeling framework to assess potential O(3)-related health impacts in future decades under a changing climate. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration–Goddard Institute for Space Studies global climate model at 4° × 5° resolution was linked to the Penn State/National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model 5 and the Community Multiscale Air Quality atmospheric chemistry model at 36 km horizontal grid resolution to simulate hourly regional meteorology and O(3) in five summers of the 2050s decade across the 31-county New York metropolitan region. We assessed changes in O(3)-related impacts on summer mortality resulting from climate change alone and with climate change superimposed on changes in O(3) precursor emissions and population growth. Considering climate change alone, there was a median 4.5% increase in O(3)-related acute mortality across the 31 counties. Incorporating O(3) precursor emission increases along with climate change yielded similar results. When population growth was factored into the projections, absolute impacts increased substantially. Counties with the highest percent increases in projected O(3) mortality spread beyond the urban core into less densely populated suburban counties. This modeling framework provides a potentially useful new tool for assessing the health risks of climate change

Transcriptional Regulation of Lipophorin Receptors Supports Neuronal Adaptation to Chronic Elevations of Activity

Activity-dependent modifications strongly influence neural development. However, molecular programs underlying their context and circuit-specific effects are not well understood. To study global transcriptional changes associated with chronic elevation of synaptic activity, we performed cell-type-specific transcriptome profiling of Drosophila ventral lateral neurons (LNvs) in the developing visual circuit and identified activity-modified transcripts that are enriched in neuron morphogenesis, circadian regulation, and lipid metabolism and trafficking. Using bioinformatics and genetic analyses, we validated activity-induced isoform-specific upregulation of Drosophila lipophorin receptors LpR1 and LpR2, the homologs of mammalian low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) family proteins. Furthermore, our morphological and physiological studies uncovered critical functions of neuronal lipophorin receptors (LpRs) in maintaining the structural and functional integrities in neurons challenged by chronic elevations of activity. Together, our findings identify LpRs as molecular targets for activity-dependent transcriptional regulation and reveal the functional significance of cell-type-specific regulation of neuronal lipid uptake in experience-dependent plasticity and adaptive responses

The Grizzly, October 4, 2018

We Ought to Listen : Professors Gather with Students to Watch Kavanaugh-Ford Hearings • Where\u27s the Money?: Students Reflect on Their Unpaid and Paid Summer Internship Experiences • How Students Feel About Tuition Increases (Badly): Paying for School can be Stressful • Where Does Your Tuition Go? • Students Investing Real Money • Opinions: A Look Back at the 2008 Financial Crisis; Real Cost of Applying to Medical Schools; Division I Athletes Should Not be Paid • Hunter Tabbed for Associate ADhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1603/thumbnail.jp

Standardized or simple effect size: what should be reported?

It is regarded as best practice for psychologists to report effect size when disseminating quantitative research findings. Reporting of effect size in the psychological literature is patchy – though this may be changing – and when reported it is far from clear that appropriate effect size statistics are employed. This paper considers the practice of reporting point estimates of standardized effect size and explores factors such as reliability, range restriction and differences in design that distort standardized effect size unless suitable corrections are employed. For most purposes simple (unstandardized) effect size is more robust and versatile than standardized effect size. Guidelines for deciding what effect size metric to use and how to report it are outlined. Foremost among these are: i) a preference for simple effect size over standardized effect size, and ii) the use of confidence intervals to indicate a plausible range of values the effect might take. Deciding on the appropriate effect size statistic to report always requires careful thought and should be influenced by the goals of the researcher, the context of the research and the potential needs of readers

A Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Computer-Based Education in Nursing

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of education effectiveness between computerbased education and traditional education methods in nursing. Methods: Medical and nursing literature databases were searched to identify studies regarding the effectiveness of computer-based education in nursing. Overall effect sizes for three outcome variables (knowledge, attitude, and practice level) were calculated. The effects of study characteristics on the outcome variables were analyzed. Results: Twenty-seven studies published from 1990 to February 2009, which that met the inclusion criteria, were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis showed that computer-based education generally had positive effects on knowledge, attitude, and practice, with overall effect sizes of 0.43, 0.35, and 0.34, respectively. This study also showed that the type of learner and the total education period had different effects on knowledge. Conclusions: This metaanalysis found that computer-based education in nursing had positive effects on knowledge, attitude, and practice. Keywords: Meta-analysis, Computer-based, Education, Nursing I

The Grizzly, October 11, 2018

Student Athletes Distressed by Possible NCAA Violations • Clinica de Migrantes Screens on Campus • Externship Deadline is Rapidly Approaching • Ursinus\u27 Website Receives a New Makeover • Sigma Rho Lambda: Past, Present, Future • Finding Truth: 12 Angry Jurors • Opinions: Juuls Shouldn\u27t be Marketed to Teenagers; Family Separations a Lingering Problem • Ursinus Mourns Loss of Coach Racich • Men\u27s Golf Flourishes in its Opening Matcheshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1604/thumbnail.jp