Service Learning Models Connecting Computer Science to the Community

Service learning is an educational experience that enables students to apply material learned in the classroom by volunteering in a real-world situation. This paper provides a brief review of service learning and describes two models that the computer science department at Saint Anselm College implemented successfully

Delivery of steric block morpholino oligomers by (R-X-R)4 peptides: structure–activity studies

Redirecting the splicing machinery through the hybridization of high affinity, RNase H- incompetent oligonucleotide analogs such as phosphoramidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMO) might lead to important clinical applications. Chemical conjugation of PMO to arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides (CPP) such as (R-Ahx-R)4 (with Ahx standing for 6-aminohexanoic acid) leads to sequence-specific splicing correction in the absence of endosomolytic agents in cell culture at variance with most conventional CPPs. Importantly, (R-Ahx-R)4–PMO conjugates are effective in mouse models of various viral infections and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Unfortunately, active doses in some applications might be close to cytotoxic ones thus presenting challenge for systemic administration of the conjugates in those clinical settings. Structure–activity relationship studies have thus been undertaken to unravel CPP structural features important for the efficient nuclear delivery of the conjugated PMO and limiting steps in their internalization pathway. Affinity for heparin (taken as a model heparan sulfate), hydrophobicity, cellular uptake, intracellular distribution and splicing correction have been monitored. Spacing between the charges, hydrophobicity of the linker between the Arg-groups and Arg-stereochemistry influence splicing correction efficiency. A significant correlation between splicing correction efficiency, affinity for heparin and ability to destabilize model synthetic vesicles has been observed but no correlation with cellular uptake has been found. Efforts will have to focus on endosomal escape since it appears to remain the limiting factor for the delivery of these splice-redirecting ON analogs

In vivo procjena učinka tripanocidnih lijekova na izolate protozoona Trypanosoma evansi izdvojene iz azijskih vodenih bivola (Bubalus bubalis).

The effects of the trypanocidal drugs against Trypanosoma evansi isolated from Philippine water buffaloes from the three island groups were comparatively evaluated. Specifically, the study determined the duration of the efficacy, relapse and death per drug dosage using laboratory mice. A total of 270 inbred Balb/c mice were divided into three groups corresponding to the three trypanosome isolates (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). Each group had three sets, corresponding to the three trypanocidal drugs used with five treatment levels, and one control group each. Each experimental group was composed of five mice. Each mouse was with 0.2 mL of T. evansi intraperitoneally and blood was examined under the microscope. Parasitemia level was determined using the “Rapid Matching Method”. Effective and curative doses were noted and evaluated through t-test and bio-assay graphical analyses. Results showed that the Luzon isolate was sensitive to ≥5mg/kg of diminazene diaceturate and ≥10 mg/kg of both isometamidium chloride and quinapyramine sulphate + chloride. The Visayas isolate was sensitive to ≥5 mg/kg, ≥10 mg/kg, and ≥3 mg/kg of diminazene diaceturate, isometamidium chloride and quinapyramine sulphate + chloride, respectively. The Mindanao isolate was sensitive to ≥3 mg/kg of diminazene diaceturate and quinapyramine sulphate + chloride and 20 mg/kg of isometamidium chloride. The study suggested diminazene as the recommended drug against Luzon isolates, quinapyramine against Visayas isolates and either diminazene or quinapyramine against Mindanao isolatesIstraženi su učinci tripanocidnih lijekova na izolate vrste Trypanosoma evansi izdvojene iz triju otočnih skupina filipinskih vodenih bivola. Određivano je trajanje učinkovitosti, pojava recidiva i uginuća u laboratorijskih miševa. Ukupno je 270 miševa Balb/c bilo podijeljeno u tri skupine što je bilo sukladno trima izolatima s tri filipinska otoka i to Luzon, Visayas i Mindanao. Svaka skupina bila je podijeljena u tri podskupine koje su peterokratno dobivale tri različita lijeka. Unutar svake skupine određena je i kontrolna podskupina. U svakoj pokusnoj skupini bilo je pet miševa. Svakom mišu bila su intraperitonejski ubrizgana 0,2 mL kulture T. evansi i izvađena krv za mikroskopsku pretragu. Razina parazitemije određivana je brzom metodom (engl. rapid matching method). Učinkovitost i ljekovita doza vrednovane su metodom (engl. rapid matching method). Učinkovitost i ljekovita doza vrednovane su t-testom i grafičkom analizom biološkog pokusa. Rezultati su pokazali da je izolat Luzon bio osjetljiv na ≥5 mg/kg diminazenova diaceturata i ≥10 mg/kg izometamidijeva klorida i kombinacije kvinapiramin sulfata i klorida. Izolat Visayas bio je osjetljiv na ≥5 mg/kg diminazen diaceturata, ≥10 mg/kg izometamidij klorida i ≥3 mg/kg kombinacije kvinapiramin sulfata i klorida. Izolat Mindanao je bio osjetljiv na ≥3 mg/kg diminazen diaceturata i kombinacije kvinapiramin sulfata i klorida, te 20 mg/kg izometamidij klorida. Može se reći da je diminazen bio učinkovit na izolate s otoka Luzon, kvinapiramin na one s otoka Visayas, dok su diminazen ili kvinapiramin bili učinkoviti na izolate s otoka Mindanao

Antibacterial Solution Using Cinnamomum verum (Cinammon) and Cympobogon citratus (Lemongrass) Essential Oils with Hydrogen Peroxide Against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Amidst the pandemic, millions of impoverished Filipinos lack sufficient access to sanitation services that protect them from bacterial infections. As such, this study endeavored to formulate a disinfectant spray of hydrogen peroxide and varying concentrations of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) essential oils to produce a maximally effective solution. Due to their natural origin, these essential oils were chosen for their extensive antibacterial properties, affordable price, and low toxicity levels. Six disinfectant spray solutions containing different concentrations of either essential oil were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria through the agar disk diffusion method. After analyzing the data using mean, standard deviation, and MANOVA, it was found that including cinnamon and lemongrass essential oil had no statistically significant effect on the antibacterial activity of the hydrogen peroxide solution, regardless of the concentration of essential oil used, p \u3e 0.05. However, the lemongrass samples were slightly more effective than the cinnamon solutions. Thus, future researchers are encouraged to investigate other components that can potentially increase the antibacterial activity of a disinfectant spray

The biogenesis and characterization of mammalian microRNAs of mirtron origin

Mirtrons, short hairpin pre-microRNA (miRNA) mimics directly produced by intronic splicing, have recently been identified and experimentally confirmed in invertebrates. While there is evidence to suggest several mammalian miRNAs have mirtron origins, this has yet to be experimentally demonstrated. Here, we characterize the biogenesis of mammalian mirtrons by ectopic expression of splicing-dependent mirtron precursors. The putative mirtrons hsa-miR-877, hsa-miR-1226 and mmu-miR-1224 were designed as introns within eGFP. Correct splicing and function of these sequences as introns was shown through eGFP fluorescence and RT–PCR, while all mirtrons suppressed perfectly complementary luciferase reporter targets to levels similar to that of corresponding independently expressed pre-miRNA controls. Splicing-deficient mutants and disruption of key steps in miRNA biogenesis demonstrated that mirtron-mediated gene knockdown was splicing-dependent, Drosha-independent and had variable dependence on RNAi pathway elements following pre-miRNA formation. The silencing effect of hsa-miR-877 was further demonstrated to be mediated by the generation of short anti-sense RNA species expressed with low abundance. Finally, the mammalian mirtron hsa-miR-877 was shown to reduce mRNA levels of an endogenous transcript containing hsa-miR-877 target sites in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. This work confirms the mirtron origins of three mammalian miRNAs and suggests that they are a functional class of splicing-dependent miRNAs which are physiologically active

Middle ear microbiome differences in indigenous Filipinos with chronic otitis media due to a duplication in the A2ML1 gene

Middle ear microbial profiles of indigenous Filipinos with chronic otitis media. All panels compare carriers with non-carriers of the A2ML1 duplication variant. Panel description: (A) ι-diversity by observed OTUs; (B) ι-diversity by the Shannon diversity index; (C) β-diversity from unweighted UniFrac principal coordinate analysis; (D) β-diversity from weighted UniFrac principal coordinate analysis. (PDF 1019 kb

Self-authorship and creative industries workers’ career decision-making

Career decision-making is arguably at its most complex within professions where work is precarious and career calling is strong. This article reports from a study that examined the career decision-making of creative industries workers, for whom career decisions can impact psychological well-being and identity just as much as they impact individuals’ work and career. The respondents were 693 creative industries workers who used a largely open-ended survey to create in-depth reflections on formative moments and career decision-making. Analysis involved the theoretical model of self-authorship, which provides a way of understanding how people employ their sense of self to make meaning of their experiences. The self-authorship process emerged as a complex, non-linear and consistent feature of career decision-making. Theoretical contributions include a non-linear view of self-authorship that exposes the authorship of visible and covert multiple selves prompted by both proactive and reactive identity work

Inhibition of Multidrug Resistance by SV40 Pseudovirion Delivery of an Antigene Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) in Cultured Cells

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is known to bind with extraordinarily high affinity and sequence-specificity to complementary nucleic acid sequences and can be used to suppress gene expression. However, effective delivery into cells is a major obstacle to the development of PNA for gene therapy applications. Here, we present a novel method for the in vitro delivery of antigene PNA to cells. By using a nucleocapsid protein derived from Simian virus 40, we have been able to package PNA into pseudovirions, facilitating the delivery of the packaged PNA into cells. We demonstrate that this system can be used effectively to suppress gene expression associated with multidrug resistance in cancer cells, as shown by RT-PCR, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and cell viability under chemotherapy. The combination of PNA with the SV40-based delivery system is a method for suppressing a gene of interest that could be broadly applied to numerous targets

Mechanisms and strategies for effective delivery of antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides

The potential use of antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents has elicited a great deal of interest. However, a major issue for oligonucleotide-based therapeutics involves effective intracellular delivery of the active molecules. In this Survey and Summary, we review recent reports on delivery strategies, including conjugates of oligonucleotides with various ligands, as well as use of nanocarrier approaches. These are discussed in the context of intracellular trafficking pathways and issues regarding in vivo biodistribution of molecules and nanoparticles. Molecular-sized chemical conjugates and supramolecular nanocarriers each display advantages and disadvantages in terms of effective and nontoxic delivery. Thus, choice of an optimal delivery modality will likely depend on the therapeutic context