Synthesis and Functionalization of Small Silver Nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles in general exhibit interesting properties due to their small sizes. This response shows up as an intense absorption band in the visible region making metallic nanoparticles ideal probes for medical imaging as well as for countless other applications. Functionalizing metallic nanoparticles with DNA enables targeted labeling, controlled by their base sequence. Another purpose of functionalization is to attach the nanoparticle to a DNA substrate allowing controlled bottom up engineering of nanoscale devices. Gold or gold-encapsulated silver is usually used for these purposes instead of bare silver due to the ease with which silver is oxidized although silver nanoparticles show more intense plasmon resonance. The functionalization of silver with DNA is difficult because their surfaces are easily oxidized. The goal of this experiment was to attach thiolated DNA strands to bare 5-10 nm silver nanoparticles proving that it can indeed be done without extensive modification of the functionalization procedure. In order for this to be accomplished silver nanoparticles were synthesized using two different methods: a UV light directed growth method and a sodium borohydride/sodium citrate buffered reduction method. The first method resulted in nanoparticles in the 10-15 nm range while the second resulted in smaller particles (5-10 nm). DNA was then attached to purified particles using a process that has previously been applied to gold nanoparticles. The functionalization was verified using UV-Vis spectroscopy (to measure changes in the Plasmon peak and concentration) and the stability of the final product in a 0.3 M sodium chloride solution. Several samples have exhibited minimal peak shifts and minimal concentration loss indicating that little or no silver was oxidized in the functionalization process. These samples also remained stable as the sodium chloride concentration was slowly brought up to 0.3 M. Control samples precipitated out of solution almost immediately upon the addition of sodium chloride. Successful functionalization of silver nanoparticles opens up the way for the addition of functionalized silver particles and their inherent optical properties onto DNA heterostructures where they can then be used as seeds for directed growth of nanowires or nanoprisms. This will be accomplished by adding target strands to the DNA structure that are complimentary to the sequence bound to the nanoparticles which then hybridize with the strands on the nanoparticle resulting the incorporation of the nanoparticle into the DNA heterostructure

IL-4Rα Blockade by Dupilumab Decreases Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Increases Microbial Diversity in Atopic Dermatitis.

Dupilumab is a fully human antibody to interleukin-4 receptor α that improves the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). To determine the effects of dupilumab on Staphylococcus aureus colonization and microbial diversity on the skin, bacterial DNA was analyzed from swabs collected from lesional and nonlesional skin in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 54 patients with moderate to severe AD randomized (1:1) and treated with either dupilumab (200 mg weekly) or placebo for 16 weeks. Microbial diversity and relative abundance of Staphylococcus were assessed by DNA sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA, and absolute S. aureus abundance was measured by quantitative PCR. Before treatment, lesional skin had lower microbial diversity and higher overall abundance of S. aureus than nonlesional skin. During dupilumab treatment, microbial diversity increased and the abundance of S. aureus decreased. Pronounced changes were seen in nonlesional and lesional skin. Decreased S. aureus abundance during dupilumab treatment correlated with clinical improvement of AD and biomarkers of type 2 immunity. We conclude that clinical improvement of AD that is mediated by interleukin-4 receptor α inhibition and the subsequent suppression of type 2 inflammation is correlated with increased microbial diversity and reduced abundance of S. aureus

IL-4R alpha blockade by dupilumab decreases Staphylococcus aureus colonization and increases microbial diversity in atopic dermatitis

Dupilumab is a fully human antibody to interleukin-4 receptor alpha that improves the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). To determine the effects of dupilumab on Staphylococcus aureus colonization and microbial diversity on the skin, bacterial DNA was analyzed from swabs collected from lesional and nonlesional skin in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 54 patients with moderate to severe AD randomized (1:1) and treated with either dupilumab (200 mg weekly) or placebo for 16 weeks. Microbial diversity and relative abundance of Staphylococcus were assessed by DNA sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA, and absolute S. aureus abundance was measured by quantitative PCR. Before treatment, lesional skin had lower microbial diversity and higher overall abundance of S. aureus than nonlesional skin. During dupilumab treatment, microbial diversity increased and the abundance of S. aureus decreased. Pronounced changes were seen in nonlesional and lesional skin. Decreased S. aureus abundance during dupilumab treatment correlated with clinical improvement of AD and biomarkers of type 2 immunity. We conclude that clinical improvement of AD that is mediated by interleukin-4 receptor alpha inhibition and the subsequent suppression of type 2 inflammation is correlated with increased microbial diversity and reduced abundance of S. aureus

Creative learning environments in education-A systematic literature review

This paper reports on a systematic review of 210 pieces of educational research, policy and professional literature relating to creative environments for learning in schools, commissioned by Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS). Despite the volume of academic literature in this field, the team of six reviewers found comparatively few empirical studies published in the period 2005–2011 providing findings addressing the review objectives. There was, however a reasonable weight of research evidence to support the importance of the following factors in supporting creative skills development in children and young people: flexible use of space and time; availability of appropriate materials; working outside the classroom/school; ‘playful’ or ‘games-bases’ approaches with a degree of learner autonomy; respectful relationships between teachers and learners; opportunities for peer collaboration; partnerships with outside agencies; awareness of learners’ needs; and non-prescriptive planning. The review also found evidence for impact of creative environments on pupil attainment and the development of teacher professionalism. LTS intend to use the review as a basis for recommendations to Scottish schools in promoting creativity within Curriculum for Excellence. However, the findings of the review and methodological gaps in the reviewed studies have implications for policy, practice and research internationally

A review of qualitative case methods trends and themes used in technology transfer research

The focus of this paper is to review the qualitative case methods that have been used in technology transfer research over the last 20 years from 1996 to 2015. Case methods allow for more in-depth analyses and provide the opportunity to place research into a certain context due to the selection of e.g. specific sectors, institutions, countries, etc. Using a systematic literature review of five of the top journals in the field of technology transfer research, namely Journal of Technology Transfer, Research Policy, Science and Public Policy, R&D Management and Technovation, it yielded 107 articles using the search terms: “Technology Transfer” AND (“Case Study” OR “Case Method” OR “Qualitative”). Our findings indicate a clustering of themes using qualitative case methods around technology transfer mechanisms and TTOs, academic entrepreneurship, university-industry collaboration, commercialization as well as R&D and firm knowledge transfer. We also identify trends in case method technology transfer research with respect to authorship, location of papers, sectoral contexts, data collection, numbers of cases and data analysis software. We conclude our paper discussing the implications of trends and themes and suggest that researchers need to reflect on used terminology and their utilization and postulate a need for more plurality of data collection methods

Synthesis and DNA-Functionalization of Silver/Gold (Core/Shell) Nanoparticles

The goal of this project is to synthesize silver/gold (core/shell) nanoparticles and attach DNA strands. Silver nanoparticles show stronger scattering at higher energy compared to gold nanoparticles. However, DNA functionalization of silver surface is not trivial because of silver is easily oxidized. Synthesis of core/shell nanoparticle will enable DNA functionalization of nanoparticles with such unique optical properties. The silver particles are synthesized by reducing Ag+ ions (from aqueous silver nitrate) to metallic Ag with either sodium citrate, sodium borohydride, or a combination of both. These particles (10-12 nm) are then coated with gold by reducing Au3+ (from aqueous HAuCl4•3H2O) with sodium citrate in a solution of boiling silver nanoparticles. The DNA functionalization was accomplished by first cleaving disulfide bonds using DTT (1,4-dithiothreitol) in a phosphate buffer followed by incubation with nanoparticles in the same buffer. The core-shell structure has been directly imaged via TEM. The DNA-functionalized nanoparticles will be assembled into functional heterostructures using DNA origami-based templates

A review of qualitative case methods trends and themes used in technology transfer research

The focus of this paper is to review the qualitative case methods that have been used in technology transfer research over the last 20 years from 1996 to 2015. Case methods allow for more in-depth analyses and provide the opportunity to place research into a certain context due to the selection of e.g. specific sectors, institutions, countries, etc. Using a systematic literature review of five of the top journals in the field of technology transfer research, namely Journal of Technology Transfer, Research Policy, Science and Public Policy, R&D Management and Technovation, it yielded 107 articles using the search terms: "Technology Transfer\u27\u27 AND ("Case Study\u27\u27 OR "Case Method\u27\u27 OR "Qualitative\u27\u27). Our findings indicate a clustering of themes using qualitative case methods around technology transfer mechanisms and TTOs, academic entrepreneurship, university-industry collaboration, commercialization as well as R&D and firm knowledge transfer. We also identify trends in case method technology transfer research with respect to authorship, location of papers, sectoral contexts, data collection, numbers of cases and data analysis software. We conclude our paper discussing the implications of trends and themes and suggest that researchers need to reflect on used terminology and their utilization and postulate a need for more plurality of data collection methods

Scottish qualification for headship Key issues from the evaluation

Includes bibliographical references. Title from cover. Also available via the InternetSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:4518. 176475(8) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

IL-4Rα Blockade by Dupilumab Decreases Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Increases Microbial Diversity in Atopic Dermatitis

© 2019 The Authors Dupilumab is a fully human antibody to interleukin-4 receptor α that improves the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). To determine the effects of dupilumab on Staphylococcus aureus colonization and microbial diversity on the skin, bacterial DNA was analyzed from swabs collected from lesional and nonlesional skin in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 54 patients with moderate to severe AD randomized (1:1) and treated with either dupilumab (200 mg weekly) or placebo for 16 weeks. Microbial diversity and relative abundance of Staphylococcus were assessed by DNA sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA, and absolute S. aureus abundance was measured by quantitative PCR. Before treatment, lesional skin had lower microbial diversity and higher overall abundance of S. aureus than nonlesional skin. During dupilumab treatment, microbial diversity increased and the abundance of S. aureus decreased. Pronounced changes were seen in nonlesional and lesional skin. Decreased S. aureus abundance during dupilumab treatment correlated with clinical improvement of AD and biomarkers of type 2 immunity. We conclude that clinical improvement of AD that is mediated by interleukin-4 receptor α inhibition and the subsequent suppression of type 2 inflammation is correlated with increased microbial diversity and reduced abundance of S. aureus