Thin films of Type 1 collagen for cell by cell analysis of morphology and tenascin-C promoter activity

BACKGROUND: The use of highly reproducible and spatiallyhomogeneous thin film matrices permits automated microscopy and quantitative determination of the response of hundreds of cells in a population. Using thin films of extracellular matrix proteins, we have quantified, on a cell-by-cell basis, phenotypic parameters of cells on different extracellular matrices. We have quantitatively examined the relationship between fibroblast morphology and activation of the promoter for the extracellular matrix protein tenascin-C using a tenascin-C promoter-based GFP reporter construct. RESULTS: We find that when considering the average response from the population of cells, cell area correlates with tenascin-C promoter activity as has been previously suggested; however cell-by-cell analysis suggests that cell area and promoter activity are not tightly correlated within individual cells. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates how quantitative cell-by-cell analysis, facilitated by the use of thin films of extracellular matrix proteins, can provide insight into the relationship between phenotypic parameters

The Anti-Sigma Factor MucA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Dramatic Differences of a mucA22 vs. a ΔmucA Mutant in Anaerobic Acidified Nitrite Sensitivity of Planktonic and Biofilm Bacteria in vitro and During Chronic Murine Lung Infection

Mucoid mucA22 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is an opportunistic lung pathogen of cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients that is highly sensitive to acidified nitrite (A-NO2-). In this study, we first screened PA mutant strains for sensitivity or resistance to 20 mM A-NO2- under anaerobic conditions that represent the chronic stages of the aforementioned diseases. Mutants found to be sensitive to A-NO2- included PA0964 (pmpR, PQS biosynthesis), PA4455 (probable ABC transporter permease), katA (major catalase, KatA) and rhlR (quorum sensing regulator). In contrast, mutants lacking PA0450 (a putative phosphate transporter) and PA1505 (moaA2) were A-NO2- resistant. However, we were puzzled when we discovered that mucA22 mutant bacteria, a frequently isolated mucA allele in CF and to a lesser extent COPD, were more sensitive to A-NO2- than a truncated ΔmucA deletion (Δ157–194) mutant in planktonic and biofilm culture, as well as during a chronic murine lung infection. Subsequent transcriptional profiling of anaerobic, A-NO2--treated bacteria revealed restoration of near wild-type transcript levels of protective NO2- and nitric oxide (NO) reductase (nirS and norCB, respectively) in the ΔmucA mutant in contrast to extremely low levels in the A-NO2--sensitive mucA22 mutant. Proteins that were S-nitrosylated by NO derived from A-NO2- reduction in the sensitive mucA22 strain were those involved in anaerobic respiration (NirQ, NirS), pyruvate fermentation (UspK), global gene regulation (Vfr), the TCA cycle (succinate dehydrogenase, SdhB) and several double mutants were even more sensitive to A-NO2-. Bioinformatic-based data point to future studies designed to elucidate potential cellular binding partners for MucA and MucA22. Given that A-NO2- is a potentially viable treatment strategy to combat PA and other infections, this study offers novel developments as to how clinicians might better treat problematic PA infections in COPD and CF airway diseases

Experimental Investigation of a System of two Vacuum Solar Receivers for the Continuous Reduction of Ceria Particles

A solar receiver for the continuous reduction of redox particles under vacuum conditions has been developed previously as part of a system to produce hydrogen from solar energy. Here, we report about a joint effort of Sandia and DLR to improve the receivers design and to demonstrate a system of two receivers with different vacuum pressures at DLR’s solar simulator Synlight. We focus on the design and experimental investigation of three components: the novel beam down mirror, the novel secondary concentrator and the improved version of the particle conveying plate in the receiver. Irradiation test results and heat transfer analyses of the beam-down mirror and the secondary concentrator are being presented. The motion of the conveyor plate was improved by a MATLAB model, which predicts the transport speed of the particles on the conveyor

Filter system cost comparison for IGCC and PFBC power systems

A cost comparison was conducted between the filter systems for two advanced coal-based power plants. The results from this study are presented. The filter system is based on a Westinghouse advanced particulate filter concept, which is designed to operate with ceramic candle filters. The Foster Wheeler second-generation 453 MWe (net) pressurized fluidized-bed combustor (PFBC) and the KRW 458 MWe (net) integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants are used for the comparison. The comparison presents the general differences of the two power plants and the process-related filtration conditions for PFBC and IGCC systems. The results present the conceptual designs for the PFBC and IGCC filter systems as well as a cost summary comparison. The cost summary comparison includes the total plant cost, the fixed operating and maintenance cost, the variable operating and maintenance cost, and the effect on the cost of electricity (COE) for the two filter systems

The Vehicle, Fall 1980

Vol. 22, No. 1 Table of Contents UntitledSusan Mehlpage 4 MitchJohn Stockmanpage 5 HallwayAndy Leszczynskipage 6 At The MoviesElise Hempelpage 8 HaikuAngie Patrickpage 8 On MagnoliasThersa Kennypage 9 NeighborJohn Stockmanpage 10 WetCathy Georgepage 10 HaikuThersa Kennypage 10 The Speed QueenCarolyn Perrypage 11 A ThoughtThersa Kennypage 14 The Stone Belongs to the LakeRobert Schumacherpage 15 Driving South of WinnipegJerry McAnultypage 16 Travels with the ExecutionerPeter Lindemanpage 17 NightwingLaura Muellerpage 18 Thoughts of an Uninterested StudentDru Seftonpage 19 Rainbird\u27s ManMary McDanielpage 20 EffortlessKevin Stottpage 25 Where the Waves SoundTheresa Whitesidepage 26 \u2745Ray Wallacepage 28 Epigram #1P. James Kruegerpage 28 UntitledSusan Mehlpage 29 RerunsAngie Patrickpage 30 SunsetGloria Rhoadspage 34 Return of the NativeRay Wallacepage 35 The GuitarJoanne Dunnepage 35 In Grandmother\u27s BedroomElise Hempelpage 36 Cindy Poem No. 3John Stockmanpage 36 Dust in the DarkLaura Muellerpage 37 Suspension BridgeLaura Henrypage 39 WavesLeslie Garnerpage 39 Oyama: a Setting and a GirlJerry McAnultypage 40 the middle of the nightKevin Stottpage 41 Old State RoadLaura Henrypage 43 Dairy QueenJohn Stockmanpage 43 Art CoverDennis Wunsch Pen and ink drawingRose Huberpage 3 PhotographIrene Brownpage 7 PhotographIrene Brownpage 27 PhotographIrene Brownpage 42 Pen and ink drawingRose Huberpage 44https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1036/thumbnail.jp