538 research outputs found
Evaluation of Phage Display Discovered Peptides as Ligands for Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)
The aim of this study was to identify potential ligands of PSMA suitable for further development as novel PSMA-targeted peptides using phage display technology. The human PSMA protein was immobilized as a target followed by incubation with a 15-mer phage display random peptide library. After one round of prescreening and two rounds of screening, high-stringency screening at the third round of panning was performed to identify the highest affinity binders. Phages which had a specific binding activity to PSMA in human prostate cancer cells were isolated and the DNA corresponding to the 15-mers were sequenced to provide three consensus sequences: GDHSPFT, SHFSVGS and EVPRLSLLAVFL as well as other sequences that did not display consensus. Two of the peptide sequences deduced from DNA sequencing of binding phages, SHSFSVGSGDHSPFT and GRFLTGGTGRLLRIS were labeled with 5-carboxyfluorescein and shown to bind and co-internalize with PSMA on human prostate cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy. The high stringency requirements yielded peptides with affinities KD∼1 μM or greater which are suitable starting points for affinity maturation. While these values were less than anticipated, the high stringency did yield peptide sequences that apparently bound to different surfaces on PSMA. These peptide sequences could be the basis for further development of peptides for prostate cancer tumor imaging and therapy. © 2013 Shen et al
Cosmological Models of Gamma-Ray Bursts
We review models of cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The statistical and
-ray transparency issues are summarized. Neutron-star and black-hole
merger scenarios are described and estimates of merger rates are summarized. We
review the simple fireball models for GRBs and the recent work on non-simple
fireballs. Alternative cosmological models, including models where GRBs are
analogs of active galactic nuclei and where they are produced by high-field,
short period pulsars, are also mentioned. The value of neutrino astronomy to
solve the GRB puzzle is briefly reviewed.Comment: 12 pages, no figures, uuencoded compressed postscript file. Invited
review to appear in the proceedings of the 29th ESLAB Symposium "Towards the
Source of Gamma-Ray Bursts," Noordwijk, Netherlands, 25-27 April, 199
A preliminary study of the effect of closed incision management with negative pressure wound therapy over high-risk incisions
Background
Certain postoperative wounds are recognised to be associated with more complications than others and may be termed high-risk. Wound healing can be particularly challenging following high-energy trauma where wound necrosis and infection rates are high. Surgical incision for joint arthrodesis can also be considered high-risk as it requires extensive and invasive surgery and postoperative distal limb swelling and wound dehiscence are common. Recent human literature has investigated the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) over high-risk closed surgical incisions and beneficial effects have been noted including decreased drainage, decreased dehiscence and decreased infection rates. In a randomised, controlled study twenty cases undergoing distal limb high-energy fracture stabilisation or arthrodesis were randomised to NPWT or control groups. All cases had a modified Robert-Jones dressing applied for 72 h postoperatively and NPWT was applied for 24 h in the NPWT group. Morphometric assessment of limb circumference was performed at six sites preoperatively, 24 and 72 h postoperatively. Wound discharge was assessed at 24 and 72 h. Postoperative analgesia protocol was standardised and a Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Score (GCPS) carried out at 24, 48 and 72 h. Complications were noted and differences between groups were assessed.
Results
Percentage change in limb circumference between preoperative and 24 and 72 h postoperative measurements was significantly less at all sites for the NPWT group with exception of the joint proximal to the surgical site and the centre of the operated bone at 72 h. Median discharge score was lower in the NPWT group than the control group at 24 h. No significant differences in GCPS or complication rates were noted.
Conclusions
Digital swelling and wound discharge were reduced when NPWT was employed for closed incision management. Larger studies are required to evaluate whether this will result in reduced discomfort and complication rates postoperatively
AFM, SEM and TEM Studies on Porous Anodic Alumina
Porous anodic alumina (PAA) has been intensively studied in past decade due to its applications for fabricating nanostructured materials. Since PAA’s pore diameter, thickness and shape vary too much, a systematical study on the methods of morphology characterization is meaningful and essential for its proper development and utilization. In this paper, we present detailed AFM, SEM and TEM studies on PAA and its evolvements with abundant microstructures, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The sample preparation, testing skills and morphology analysis are discussed, especially on the differentiation during characterizing complex cross-sections and ultrasmall nanopores. The versatility of PAAs is also demonstrated by the diversity of PAAs’ microstructure
Molecular characterisation of protist parasites in human-habituated mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), humans and livestock, from Bwindi impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Over 60 % of human emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, and there is growing evidence of the zooanthroponotic transmission of diseases from humans to livestock and wildlife species, with major implications for public health, economics, and conservation. Zooanthroponoses are of relevance to critically endangered species; amongst these is the mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) of Uganda. Here, we assess the occurrence of Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Giardia, and Entamoeba infecting mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Uganda, using molecular methods. We also assess the occurrence of these parasites in humans and livestock species living in overlapping/adjacent geographical regions
Signatures of a Maxwellian Component in Shock-Accelerated Electrons in GRBs
Recent particle-in-cell simulations suggest that a large fraction of the
energy dissipated in a relativistic shock is deposited into a Maxwellian
distribution of electrons that is connected to the high-energy power-law tail.
Here, we explore the observational implications of such a mixed
thermal-nonthermal particle distribution for the afterglow and prompt emission
of gamma-ray bursts. When the Maxwellian component dominates the energy budget,
the afterglow lightcurves show a very steep decline phase followed by a more
shallow decay when the characteristic synchrotron frequency crosses the
observed band. The steep decay appears in the X-rays at ~100 sec after the
burst and is accompanied by a characteristic hard-soft-hard spectral evolution
that has been observed in a large number of early afterglows. If internal
shocks produce a similar mixed electron distribution, a bump is expected at the
synchrotron peak of the nu*f_nu spectrum.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, with added fig. to compare with observations,
MNRAS, 400, 330 (2009
Gamma-Ray Burst Energy Spectra: Theoretical Models, Old and New
The modelling of gamma-ray burst (GRB) spectra has considerable potential for
increasing the understanding of these enigmatic sources. A diversity of ideas
and analyses has been generated over the last two decades to explain line
features and continuum shapes, encompassing both older galactic neutron star
and ``new age'' cosmological source models. This paper reviews some of the
highlights of these studies, discussing the merits and limitations of various
ideas, and in particular their compatibility with the observational data. The
first focus will be on continuum models for GRBs, which include optically thin
synchrotron emission and resonant Compton upscattering near galactic neutron
stars, while the synchrotron and non-magnetic inverse Compton scattering
mechanisms are prominent in the less well-developed cosmological scenarios.
Line formation scenarios will then be discussed, in particular the scattering
model for producing cyclotron features, which remains the only viable
explanation for the Ginga observations of double lines. Absorption-like line
production in cosmological burst models is generally difficult, though
interesting notions such as femtolensing interference patterns have been
proffered.Comment: 8 pages with no figures, as a compressed, uuencoded, Postscript file.
Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and Space Science as part of the
proceedings of the 29th ESLAB Symposium ``Towards the Source of Gamma-Ray
Bursts'' held in Noordwijk, 199
The Ninth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III) presents the first spectroscopic
data from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). This ninth data
release (DR9) of the SDSS project includes 535,995 new galaxy spectra (median
z=0.52), 102,100 new quasar spectra (median z=2.32), and 90,897 new stellar
spectra, along with the data presented in previous data releases. These spectra
were obtained with the new BOSS spectrograph and were taken between 2009
December and 2011 July. In addition, the stellar parameters pipeline, which
determines radial velocities, surface temperatures, surface gravities, and
metallicities of stars, has been updated and refined with improvements in
temperature estimates for stars with T_eff<5000 K and in metallicity estimates
for stars with [Fe/H]>-0.5. DR9 includes new stellar parameters for all stars
presented in DR8, including stars from SDSS-I and II, as well as those observed
as part of the SDSS-III Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and
Exploration-2 (SEGUE-2).
The astrometry error introduced in the DR8 imaging catalogs has been
corrected in the DR9 data products. The next data release for SDSS-III will be
in Summer 2013, which will present the first data from the Apache Point
Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) along with another year of
data from BOSS, followed by the final SDSS-III data release in December 2014.Comment: 9 figures; 2 tables. Submitted to ApJS. DR9 is available at
http://www.sdss3.org/dr
Influence of intense multidisciplinary follow-up and orlistat on weight reduction in a primary care setting
BACKGROUND: Obesity is the most common health problem in developed countries. Recently, several physicians' organizations have issued recommendations for treating obesity to family physicians, including instructions in nutrition, physical activity and medications. The aim of this study was to examine if effective weight-reducing treatment can be given by a family physician. It compares regular treatment with intensive treatment that include close follow-up and orlistat treatment. METHODS: The study was conducted in three primary care clinics. 225 patients were divided into three groups according to their choice. Group A received a personal diet with fortnightly meetings with the family physician and dietitian and orlistat treatment. Group B received a general diet, monthly meetings with the family physician only and orlistat treatment. Group C received a personal diet, monthly meetings with the dietitian only and no drug treatment. The primary endpoint was reduction of at least 5% of the initial weight during the study period. RESULTS: A greater percentage of patients in group A achieved their weight reduction goals than in other groups (51%, 13% and 9% in groups A, B and C, respectively, p < 0.001). There was a significant reduction in triglycerides in all groups, a significant reduction of low density lipids (LDL) in groups A and B and no significant difference in high density lipids (HDL) in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Significant weight reduction was obtained in a family physician setting. Further research is needed to evaluate if, by providing the family physician with the proper tools, similar success can be achieved in more clinics
Measurement of Lifetime and Decay-Width Difference in B0s -> J/psi phi Decays
We measure the mean lifetime, tau=2/(Gamma_L+Gamma_H), and the width
difference, DeltaGamma=Gamma_L-Gamma_H, of the light and heavy mass eigenstates
of the B0s meson, B0sL and B0sH, in B0s -> J/psi phi decays using 1.7 fb^-1 of
data collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron ppbar
collider. Assuming CP conservation, a good approximation for the B0s system in
the Standard Model, we obtain DeltaGamma = 0.076^+0.059_-0.063 (stat.) +- 0.006
(syst.) ps^-1 and tau = 1.52 +- 0.04 (stat.) +- 0.02 (syst.) ps, the most
precise measurements to date. Our constraints on the weak phase and DeltaGamma
are consistent with CP conservation.
Dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and colleague, Michael P. Schmid
- …