Alien Registration- Lilley, John A. (Saint Agatha, Aroostook County)

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Micro and Molecular Phase Modulation for Long-Lasting Absorbable, Compliant Polymers for Orthopedic Applications

Traditionally, orthopedic repairs best served by encirclement or binding, such as sternotomy, have employed metallic implants. The permanence and rigidity of this type of implant is not ideal, leading to irritation, wound dehiscence, or other complications. As innovators look to polymeric solutions to support damaged tissue by encirclement in novel ways, long-lasting absorbable polymers present a unique opportunity for use in a cable tie device. While readily available absorbable materials fail to meet the combined requirements of long strength retention, tensile strength, and flexibility, a solution may be achieved by incorporating the strength of poly(lactide) (PLLA) and the flexibility of poly(ε-caprolactone) without reducing the strength retention profile of the construct. To respond to this need, the present study was conducted to assess combinations of l-lactide and ε-caprolactone through melt blending and copolymerization in ratios of 75:25 weight percent in injection molded tensile bar parts. These articles were analyzed for structural, chemical, and mechanical properties, both as-molded and throughout the course of a 12-week in vitro study. This data was used to assess the effects of 1) blending, resulting in modulation at the micro level, and 2) copolymerization, resulting in modulation at the molecular level, through a clinically relevant time period. While all materials exhibited changes from the homopolymer controls, copolymerization resulted in the largest reduction in tensile and bending moduli from that of PLLA. The diblock formulation exhibited the most similar strength and structural properties to the blended materials, with a more rapid reduction in tensile strength in vitro. The triblock copolymer, which exhibited lower initial tensile strength than the diblock copolymer, demonstrated a strength retention profile equal to that of the homopolymers and blends over the 12-week study, as well as a lower bending modulus. These results indicate the triblock formulation is the most likely candidate of the test materials to meet the anticipated combined requirements for use in an absorbable cable tie

Developing Undergraduate Use of OARS: Skill Building for Senior Year Kinesiology Students

 This article discusses course development, teaching, instructional methods and skills acquisition in motivational interviewing (MI) for kinesiology students completing a health coaching course in their senior year of undergraduate studies. The paper outlines how students 1) conducted a brief MI session, 2) applied open questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries (OARS) during a brief MI session and 3) identified the use and quality of OARS through the use of a range of learner centered practices (Weimer, 2002) including multi source feedback opportunities and approaches based on Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning cycle. The authors provide ten recommendations for educators and trainers to help them develop their practice in the teaching, learning and assessment of MI in undergraduate students or new-to-MI learners.

Raising the standards for water quality objectives in Burrard Inlet: interaction between public, ecological and cultural values through Indigenous-Provincial collaboration

Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) in British Columbia set limits within which various parameters should remain to enable sensitive uses of water bodies. The current WQOs for Burrard Inlet are more than 25 years old and do not reflect current science, all pollutants of concern or a complete understanding of uses and values, for example uses of particular importance to First Nations. As part of its work to implement the Burrard Inlet Action Plan, Tsleil-Waututh Nation is leading an initiative with the Province of BC to update the Burrard Inlet WQOs. One goal in doing so is to ensure that ecological and cultural uses are reflected to achieve stewardship responsibilities and obligations. Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s long-term vision includes restoring water quality in the inlet to enable uses such as shellfish harvesting, which has been closed since 1972 due to contamination. This is a major, multi-sector undertaking in a complex body of water. In this session we’ll share what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and what we’ve learned

Communications Challenges In A Smaller World

Technological change and overlapping social, environmental. educational and political issues have increased the need for understandable communications among the different countries of the world. Because EngliSh is wldely used. many Americans have no other language capability and are at a disadvantage in many situations. In addition, changes in the ethnic composition of the United States have intensified the need for skills in other languages. The need for second-language skills is perhaps greater among agriculturalists than it is for other areas. The Cooperative Extension System has Important roles to play in expanding these communication skills

Communications Challenges In A Smaller World

Technological change and overlapping social, environmental. educational and political issues have increased the need for understandable communications among the different countries of the world. Because English is wldely used. many Americans have no other language capability and are at a disadvantage in many situations. In addition, changes in the ethnic composition of the United States have intensified the need for skills in other languages. The need for second-language skills is perhaps greater among agriculturalists than it is for other areas. The Cooperative Extension System has Important roles to play in expanding these communication skills

Identification and characterisation of a hyper-variable apoplastic effector gene family of the potato cyst nematodes.

Sedentary endoparasitic nematodes are obligate biotrophs that modify host root tissues, using a suite of effector proteins to create and maintain a feeding site that is their sole source of nutrition. Using assumptions about the characteristics of genes involved in plant-nematode biotrophic interactions to inform the identification strategy, we provide a description and characterisation of a novel group of hyper-variable extracellular effectors termed HYP, from the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida. HYP effectors comprise a large gene family, with a modular structure, and have unparalleled diversity between individuals of the same population: no two nematodes tested had the same genetic complement of HYP effectors. Individuals vary in the number, size, and type of effector subfamilies. HYP effectors are expressed throughout the biotrophic stages in large secretory cells associated with the amphids of parasitic stage nematodes as confirmed by in situ hybridisation. The encoded proteins are secreted into the host roots where they are detectable by immunochemistry in the apoplasm, between the anterior end of the nematode and the feeding site. We have identified HYP effectors in three genera of plant parasitic nematodes capable of infecting a broad range of mono- and dicotyledon crop species. In planta RNAi targeted to all members of the effector family causes a reduction in successful parasitism

Functional C-terminally Encoded Peptide (CEP) plant hormone domains evolved de novo in the plant parasite Rotylenchulus reniformis

This work was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and The James Hutton Institute through a PhD studentship to SE-vdA. The James Hutton Institute receives funding from the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services division. SE-vdA is supported by BBSRC grant BB/M014207/1.Sedentary Plant-Parasitic Nematodes (PPNs) induce and maintain an intimate relationship with their host, stimulating cells adjacent to root vascular tissue to re-differentiate into unique and metabolically active “feeding sites”. The interaction between PPNs and their host is mediated by nematode effectors. We describe the discovery of a large and diverse family of effector genes, encoding C-terminally Encoded Peptide (CEP) plant hormone mimics (RrCEPs), in the syncytia-forming plant-parasite Rotylenchulus reniformis. The particular attributes of RrCEPs distinguish them from all other CEPs, regardless of origin. Together with the distant phylogenetic relationship of R. reniformis to the only other CEP-encoding nematode genus identified to date (Meloidogyne), this suggests CEPs likely evolved de novo in R. reniformis. We have characterised the first member of this large gene family (RrCEP1), demonstrating its significant upregulation during the plant-nematode interaction and expression in the effector-producing pharyngeal gland cell. All internal CEP domains of multi-domain RrCEPs are followed by di-basic residues, suggesting a mechanism for cleavage. A synthetic peptide corresponding to RrCEP1 domain 1 is biologically active and capable of upregulating plant nitrate transporter (AtNRT2.1) expression, while simultaneously reducing primary root elongation. When a non-CEP containing, syncytia-forming PPN species (Heterodera schachtii) infects Arabidopsis in a CEP-rich environment a smaller feeding site is produced. We hypothesise that CEPs of R. reniformis represent a two-fold adaptation to sustained biotrophy in this species; 1) increasing host nitrate uptake while 2) limiting the size of the syncytial feeding site produced.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Prostate Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy Using Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy to Dominant Intraprostatic Lesions

PurposeTo investigate boosting dominant intraprostatic lesions (DILs) in the context of stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) and to examine the impact on tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP).Methods and MaterialsTen prostate datasets were selected. DILs were defined using T2-weighted, dynamic contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Four plans were produced for each dataset: (1) no boost to DILs; (2) boost to DILs, no seminal vesicles in prescription; (3) boost to DILs, proximal seminal vesicles (proxSV) prescribed intermediate dose; and (4) boost to DILs, proxSV prescribed higher dose. The prostate planning target volume (PTV) prescription was 42.7 Gy in 7 fractions. DILs were initially prescribed 115% of the PTVProstate prescription, and PTVDIL prescriptions were increased in 5% increments until organ-at-risk constraints were reached. TCP and NTCP calculations used the LQ-Poisson Marsden, and Lyman-Kutcher-Burman models respectively.ResultsWhen treating the prostate alone, the median PTVDIL prescription was 125% (range: 110%-140%) of the PTVProstate prescription. Median PTVDIL D50% was 55.1 Gy (range: 49.6-62.6 Gy). The same PTVDIL prescriptions and similar PTVDIL median doses were possible when including the proxSV within the prescription. TCP depended on prostate α/β ratio and was highest with an α/β ratio = 1.5 Gy, where the additional TCP benefit of DIL boosting was least. Rectal NTCP increased with DIL boosting and was considered unacceptably high in 5 cases, which, when replanned with an emphasis on reducing maximum dose to 0.5 cm3 of rectum (Dmax0.5cc), as well as meeting existing constraints, resulted in considerable rectal NTCP reductions.ConclusionsBoosting DILs in the context of SABR is technically feasible but should be approached with caution. If this therapy is adopted, strict rectal constraints are required including Dmax0.5cc. If the α/β ratio of prostate cancer is 1.5 Gy or less, then high TCP and low NTCP can be achieved by prescribing SABR to the whole prostate, without the need for DIL boosting